Cool ToolsA suite of curated applications to provide deeper insight into highly relevant issues
Earth Now - Vital Signs of the planet
(NASA)
The earth is a living, breathing, closed-looped system with critical vital signs that measure the health of our planet. This immersive, real-time environment enables users to interact with and monitor those vital signs - air temperature, carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, sea level, soil moisture, ozone, water vapor, and gravity fields - to see first-hand the effect global warming is having on our planet.
All planetary ecosystems are connected, with sea-level rise being influenced by increased air temperatures and levels of carbon dioxide. To understand ocean health and the investable Blue Economy, we must understand all that affects it.
EN-Roads (Climate Interactive)
Before we can even begin to significantly reduce our greenhouse gas emissions we must first understand the primary drivers of global warming and how these drivers will influence future emissions. To do this, academically rigorous, predictive modeling is essential. This MIT Sloane, open-source tool enables users to explore simple climate change solutions - energy, transportation, land use, etc. - to better understand how they affect our greenhouse gas emissions and average global temperatures.
Oceans are one of our primary defenses in mitigating the effects of global warming, absorbing one-quarter of all carbon dioxide humans produce. This additional carbon dioxide causes ocean acidification, wreaking havoc on underwater ecosystems around the globe. It is crucial we understand the projected pathways of reducing emissions if we hope to protect our oceans for generations to come.
Copernicus (European Commission)
Interpreting the state and health of the planet is key to understanding the immediate effects of climate change. This open-source, global and EU based tool provides holistic and granular views of six key pillars of planet and community health - atmosphere, marine, land, climate change, security, and emergency - to help users understand and visualize the changing world around them.
The Blue Economy is affected by changes to the land, atmosphere, and climate as a whole. The better we understand the interacting ecosystems around us, the more successful we can be at cultivating change and building resiliency through our investments.
Surging Seas (Climate Central)
10% of the world's population (780 million people) live in coastal areas that are less than 10 meters above sea level. Rising seas and increased coastal flooding will have a direct effect on these communities, putting the people who live there at great risk. This interactive tool provides a clear and granular view of sea-level rise and coastal flood hazards, both locally and globally, to illustrate how communities will be affected in the years to come.
Sea level rise is a necessary factor to consider when investing in the Blue Economy. It is important that we understand its projected impacts so that capital can be deployed effectively.
Aqueduct (World Resources Institute)
Droughts, floods, and overall water stress are increasing in frequency and severity, affecting millions of people each year. As climates shift and global resources become more stressed it's critical we understand the regions of the world that will be most affected. This tool helps users visualize regions of the globe affected by the growing water crisis, both today and in the years to come.
Both freshwater and saltwater resources are connected through the global water cycle. The better we understand the risks and impacts affecting each water resource, the more effective we can be at deploying capital in the blue economy to address them.