Plastics are ubiquitous, found in electronics, food packaging, and home insulation. Their total mass now doubles that of all living organisms, impacting Earth's climate systems.

Plastic

Plastics are ubiquitous, found in electronics, food packaging, and home insulation. Their total mass now doubles that of all living organisms, impacting Earth's climate systems.

Plastic pollution researcher Patricia Villarrubia-Gómez details the consequences of plastic production, from fossil fuel extraction to the disposal of single-use items in landfills and oceans. Acknowledging this pervasive problem is the crucial first step toward addressing it.

Communities of color are disproportionately affected by climate change and air pollution. We will hear from Rev. Louis Tillman, Senior Pastor of St. Philip's Evangelical Lutheran Church in

Communities of color are disproportionately affected by climate change and air pollution. We will hear from Rev. Louis Tillman, Senior Pastor of St. Philip's Evangelical Lutheran Church in Baltimore, about his work in these communities. Thais Lopez Vogel, Co-Founder of VoLo Foundation, will discuss their environmental justice projects, including her creation of Florida Climate Week. Her full bio is available here: VoLo Foundation Team.

Patricia Rubio, CCL Diversity and Inclusion Program Coordinator, supports effective communications and transformative justice. Her background as an Environmental Educator helps unite people with nature and foster connections with indigenous flora and fauna.

On December 3, 2009, Ecotrust recognized five of the West's most innovative Indigenous leaders for their efforts to improve community conditions. Jim Manion, Janeen Comenote, Allen Pinkham, Sr.,

On December 3, 2009, Ecotrust recognized five of the West's most innovative Indigenous leaders for their efforts to improve community conditions. Jim Manion, Janeen Comenote, Allen Pinkham, Sr., A. Brian Wallace, and Patricia L. Whitefoot were honored for their work spanning youth advocacy, education, renewable energy, cultural restoration, and scholarship.

The Ecotrust Indigenous Leadership Award is a preeminent program supporting tribal, First Nation, and Alaska Native leaders. These groups are vital nations, governments, landowners, resource co-managers, and economic drivers, contributing long-range vision and sustainable values to the global economy.

Not all green solutions are created equal. Many eco-friendly alternatives, from corn-based biofuels to biodegradable plastics, promise to save the planet—but do they truly deliver? In this

Not all green solutions are created equal. Many eco-friendly alternatives, from corn-based biofuels to biodegradable plastics, promise to save the planet—but do they truly deliver? In this engaging talk, sustainability researcher and Georgia Tech professor Patricia Stathatou shares a powerful 3-question framework to cut through the hype and assess the true environmental impact of emerging technologies. Drawing on surprising case studies, such as the unintended consequences of ethanol and the progress of electric vehicles, she reveals how to evaluate products and policies across their full lifecycle, from production to disposal.

As an assistant professor in Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering at Georgia Tech, Patricia specializes in sustainable water and energy systems, working to redefine their design and assessment. Her research, featured in Forbes and WSB-TV, integrates life cycle and techno-economic assessments with real-world data to drive sustainability. With a doctorate from the National Technical University of Athens and postdoctoral research at MIT, she has also contributed to international standards, including marine fuel guidelines for the International Maritime Organization, accelerating the transition to cleaner technologies and more sustainable environmental solutions.

This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx.