Author: Ben Young

Twenty years after carpet industry executive and environmental pioneer Ray Anderson launched Mission Zero, sustainability has entered the business mainstream.

More than ever, it will take shared expertise to come up with the kind of solutions we need for the state’s environmental issues.

Now that even some of the big oil companies are looking toward new energy solutions, alternative fueled vehicles are set to dominate, and the shift is gaining momentum.

Any sustainability effort must be sensitive to preserving our culture as well as our environment. Especially here in the South, it takes a united effort to grow in a way that won’t wipe out the past and leave hurt feelings.…

Cities thrive when galleries flourish in multiple communities. In Atlanta, several galleries and museums have helped revive surrounding neighborhoods and businesses.

The Institute for Georgia Environmental Leadership brings Georgians together from diverse backgrounds and different regions to discuss environmental challenges and find progressive and innovative solutions.

For Georgia’s coastal communities, climate change is no myth. A projected 3.2-foot rise in ocean levels will shift the coastline inward by half a mile, but there are solutions to combat rising sea levels.

Another water war with Florida, in the form of a lawsuit that’s been filed with the Supreme Court, could last another expensive 10 years, a water official warns.

The Georgia Council for the Arts has survived the recession and emerged stronger than ever, even taking its message on the road.

The cutting of public education funds has at least leveled off, but charter schools haven’t solved the problem.

EarthShare is a lean and effective network mechanism, bringing existing partners to new potential collaborators to advance their reach.

Georgia colleges and their dining services are on top of the sustainability game, improving food choices and helping the environment.

In Augusta, the Southeastern Natural Sciences Academy is helping achieve a balance between a strong economy and a strong river system.

Houston and Atlanta share a big problem: sprawling poverty. The contrast between suburban blight and urban glitz was glaring.

The military’s green movement in Georgia is significant, with programs designed to reduce bases’ impact on our air, land and water.

The new Falcons stadium offers hope for improvements to an area that is already benefiting from conservation initiatives.

Reaching out to other states to solve transportation problems makes good sense, just as it does when the issue is water resources.

Many of the larger players in the logistics industry deserve recognition for their sustainability initiatives.

Georgia is a business-friendly state, and our economy depends on our ability to fill the jobs that are created.

Land use will drive smart growth; but on a grassroots level, there is evidence that a rising number of Georgians do want options, and one in particular is gaining traction: bicycles.

Public art plays a role in getting people to get out of their cars and walk around. This has not been lost on the Atlanta Regional Commission.

What does a green school look like? Most of them are LEED certified, including more than 80 in Georgia.

Each at-risk child who is properly prepared for kindergarten saves the state approximately $100,000 over the course of a lifetime.

By 2010, demand for public transportation on behalf of the elderly is expected to grow by 81 percent.

Georgia has the second worst child obesity rate in the nation. Nearly 40 percent of our children are obese.

It makes good sense for fleet- oriented companies like UPS and Delta to incorporate sustainability into their mission.

Teleworking has emerged as the go-to option for alternatives to driving alone, according to The Clean Air Campaign.

Parks make adjacent neighborhoods safer, but they are expensive to patrol and keep up. Good parks can go bad with alarming swiftness.

Land banks help community groups and local governments obtain abandoned or derelict properties and put them to good use.

Water pollution is all over the state. It is not an Atlanta vs. Georgia issue or even a rural vs. urban issue. It concerns everyone.