With much green talk amongst industries and households, eco industry watchers are saying the world has officially entered an emerging green economy – a trend that will only continue to gain momentum, says eco-expert Kim Carlson.

“As the economy rebounds, more investment will pour into green start-ups of all kinds,” she says. “Businesses of all sizes will begin to go beyond greening their facilities and products focusing on greening their corporate cultures to insure that sustainability permeates every nook and cranny of their organization for lasting change.”

Kim says green products will expand into more consumer product categories hitting health and wellness first, including: baby and childrens clothing, personal care and toys, the pet category and home and garden.

“Despite the gloomy economy of the past year, green has been on an unprecedented upswing.”

Here, Kim shares some examples with The Green Dove:

Sustainable Business: The recession has seemed to help green rather than hurt it as businesses large and small are finding ways to do more with less during the recession. After all, wasted resources do have a hefty price tag and do-gooder corporate differentiation does have a revenue upside. According to a September McGraw Hill report 76% of firms in the U.S. have made significant commitments to sustainability. While 57% believe sustainability practices are either unaffected or aided by the down economy. Some big announcements from the biggest corporations on the planet: In March, Disney announced a company wide sustainability initiative that will cut their carbon emissions in half by 2012 and waste – much from construction – eventually to zero.

Green Tech: According to PricewaterhouseCoopers, nearly 40% of all tech investment in the U.S. went to green tech start ups in 2008. Even though venture capital dried up in early 2009, there are signs that money is flowing back into green tech start-ups once again as investors are placing big bets on the “next big thing” as governments work on legislation to clean up the environment. This category includes bio fuels, plant-based cleaning products, renewable energy technologies, transportation and green chemistry.

Green Food: On the green foodie scene, the farm-to-table movement has taken root all over the US. The reality is that the food is fresher and perhaps even more nutritious when it doesnt ride in a truck across the country. According to the National Restaurant Association, green is playing big with chefs and customers this year. There is a trend of reducing waste, energy and water use by restaurateurs and suppliers. Technology has now made it possible to convert used fryer oil into electricity for hot water or to keep the lights on. And maybe for the first time ever, the environment trumps service as chefs are feeling emboldened to say “no” to customers who want out of season produce or seafood that is over-fished. Editor’s Note: The best way for restaurateurs to reduce waste, energy and water is by limiting meat and dairy based on their menus, as meat and dairy production is the number one global polluter.

Green Lifestyles: Out of the 27.5% of the U.S. work force that telecommutes, the Millennials or Generation Y workers are the largest group influencing this work behavior trend. There are 14 million Millennials telecommuting in 2009 according to the Gartner Dataquest report. The reason is that Millennials are tech-savvy, multi-tasking, non-cube dwellers that dont want to be chained to a desk or spend time in an office. They have begun to change the way we live and work. As a result we are becoming more virtually than physically connected resulting in a lower carbon footprint. Millennials are not only changing the way that we work, they are also moving us toward green living with their eco-enthusiasm.

In the third edition of Greenpeaces seafood sustainability scorecard Carting Away the Oceans, more than half of the leading supermarket chains in the U.S. have made some sign of progress in increasing the sustainability of their seafood operations.

The supermarket chain Wegmans received top ranking followed by Ahold USA, while Whole Foods dropped to third place from its December 2008 first place ranking. Trader Joes remains ranked at # 17, the worst ranking of the national supermarket chains surveyed. Three regional chains ranked at the bottom.

Of the 20 largest supermarket chains in the United States, nine remain that have made no visible effort to increase the sustainability of their seafood operations and continue to ignore scientific warnings about the crisis facing global fisheries and the marine environment. These include: Aldi, Costco, Giant Eagle, H.E.B., Meijer, Price Chopper, Publix, Trader Joes, and Winn Dixie. Despite the progress of many companies, all continue to stock “red list” seafood like orange roughy, swordfish, or Chilean sea bass – some of the worlds most critically imperiled species. None of the companies featured in the report guarantee that they wont sell seafood from fisheries that are harming sea turtles, dolphins, seals, sea lions, or other marine mammals.

“The good news is that seafood sustainability is now on the radar of many major retailers so we are seeing a shift in practices, but much more progress is needed,” said Greenpeaces Senior Markets Campaigner, Casson Trenor. “Unfortunately, our oceans remain in crisis and retailers that ignore this fact are contributing to the collapse of our marine ecosystems.”

The rankings are:

1. Wegmans
2. Ahold USA (Stop & Shop, Giant)
3. Whole Foods
4. Target
5. Safeway (Dominicks, Genuardi’s, Pavilions, Randall’s, Von’s)
6. Harris Teeter
7. Walmart
8. Delhaize (Bloom, Food Lion, Hannaford Bros., Sweetbay)
9. Kroger (Baker’s, City Market, Dillon’s, Fred Meyer, Frys, King Soopers, Ralph’s,
Smith’s, Quality Food Center – QFC)
10. Costco
11. Aldi
12. A&P (Food Emporium, Pathmark, Super Fresh, Waldbaum’s)
13. Supervalu (Acme, Albertson’s, Bristol Farms, Jewel-Osco, Save-A-Lot, Shaw’s)
14. Giant Eagle
15. Publix
16. Winn-Dixie
17. Trader Joes
18. Meijer
19. Price Chopper
20. H.E. Butt (H.E.B., Central Market)

To help ensure the long-term sustainability of fisheries and marine ecosystems, Greenpeace advocates the creation of a worldwide network of marine reserves and fisheries management based on a precautionary, ecosystem-based approach. Today, supermarkets can help the oceans and meet consumer demand for sustainable products by refusing to sell seafood from fisheries that:

exploit endangered, vulnerable and/or protected species, or species with poor stock status;
cause habitat destruction and/or lead to ecosystem alterations;
cause negative impacts on other, non-target species;
are unregulated, unreported, illegal or managed poorly, and
cause negative impacts on local, fishing dependent communities.

Photo: Mike Johnston Flickr Creative Commons

From a living roof to the natural lighting and ventilation system, the new California Academy of Sciences has implemented sustainable building practices that work in unison with nature — environmentally sensitive practices that are very much in tune with its mission to explore, explain and protect the natural world.

The San Francisco-based Academy is home to an aquarium, planetarium, natural history museum, as well as world-class research and education programs.

Founded on the heels of the gold rush in 1853, it is the oldest scientific institution west of the Mississippi River, says Director of Exhibits and Programming Chris Andrews (below), who has been with the Academy since 2005.

“Its early members conducted the first comprehensive survey of the states flora and fauna. Over the past 156 years, its scientists have explored some of the most remote places on earth, from deep ocean trenches off the coast of the GalĂ

Besides having less of an impact on the planet when you travel, what exactly defines eco tourism?

According to the Centre for Ecotourism, Hector Ceballos-Lascurain created the term “eco tourism” in 1983 to mean “nature-based travel to relatively undisturbed areas with an emphasis on education.”

The term “eco” is a combination of three words environment, culture and oriented travel. The International Ecotourism Society says eco tourism can be defined as “responsible travel to natural areas which conserves the environment and improves the welfare of the local people”. In short, ecotourism is an insightful, mindful and participatory travel experience to natural and cultural environments, assisting the well-being of the local cultures and environments for future generations. Eco tourism, however, is different from nature tourism because it puts more emphasis on conservation, education, traveler responsibility and active community participation.

Eco Tourism…

Minimizes the negative impacts of the tourism.
Contributes to the efforts to preserve the environment.
Employs local people for any eco tourism work.
Produces viable economic opportunities for the host areas.
Educates visitors about the local environment and culture.
Cooperates with local people to manage natural areas.
Provide a positive experience for visitor and host.

Eco-lodges

There has been a dramatic increase in the number of eco lodges

As the first county in the US to ban genetically modified organisms (GMOs), Mendocino has long been recognized as eco-friendly and environmentally-oriented. Mendocino County has been at it so long say some, they have actually advanced living in harmony with the earth to the point where being green doesn’t forsake luxury.

The Green Dove found 10 ways to plan an earth-friendly (and budget friendly) Mendocino getaway.

Sip on an organic wine. Mendocino County has the highest percentage of organic vineyards of any other appellation in the United States, with more than 18% of the vineyards certified as organic. Its also home to more than a third of all certified organic vineyards in California. One standout amongst the organic wineries is Parducci Wine Cellars, the first winery in the US to be carbon-neutral. Parducci practices biodynamic farming as well (in addition to using tree-free papers and soy based inks for its labels and utilizing biodiesel tractors in the field), making Parducci a model of quality and environmental sustainability for other wineries to follow. Most Mendocino wineries are still mostly family owned and wine tasting is usually still free! www.mendowine.com

Go Solar. The Hopland-based Solar Living Institute is one of the premiere places in the world to learn how to minimize your energy impact on the earth. They offer everything from classes on making your home solar, to how to retrofit your car to run on bio-fuels, to workshops on energy-efficient building, organic gardening and more. Their increasingly popular annual SolFest celebration in August is educational and fun for the whole family. www.solarliving.org

Behold the Wonder of Whales. California Grays, Humpbacks and Orcas can be seen migrating north along the Mendocino Coast from March through April, and then returning south from late September through December. Three weekend festivals are dedicated to whales in March and April in Fort Bragg, Mendocino Village and Gualala. www.mendowhale.com

Enjoy an Organic Beer. Owned and operated by the Cooperrider family since 1999, the Ukiah Brewing Co. & Restaurant is the nation’s first all-organic brewpub and restaurant. They also produce Pilsner Ukiah, the nation’s first organic beer in a can. At the brewpub, all ingredients used in the restaurant and brewery must be grown and produced on certified organic farms without the use of artificial or toxic chemicals. www.ukiahbrewingco.com

Savor the Taste of Local Bounty. Mendocino County yields delectable edibles year round, including mushrooms and locally harvested sea vegetables. Tour an organic vege farm and see how local farmers maximize flavor while minimizing resources, then visit a Mendocino County restaurant to enjoy world-class cuisine prepared with local vegetarian produce, paired meticulously with local wines. Farmers Markets throughout the county sell fresh local organic produce. www.gomendo.com

Admire the Worlds Oldest Trees; Beautiful Birds. Some of the worlds tallest redwood trees rise up to the heavens in Mendocino County – the county with the highest percentage of certified sustainable forest in the U.S. Visit Jackson State Demonstration Forest and learn firsthand how Mendocino County is making sustainable forestry a reality. Mendocinos many state parks feature waterfalls, bike and hiking trails, wildflowers, wild mushrooms and historic exhibits. MacKerricher State Park, just outside of Fort Bragg, has recently implemented the “Save Our Shorebirds” project, where visitors can learn about and contribute towards the preservation of the endangered American golden-plover, black turnstone, and red knot species. www.parks.ca.gov

Visit the Only Coastal Botanical Gardens in the West. Discover 47 acres of beauty and serenity while strolling in the Mendocino Coast Botanical Gardens by the sea. An easy half-mile walk takes you from well-tended gardens, through a fern-filled canyon, to spectacular vistas at the oceans edge. A must for bird-watchers and picnickers alike! Winesong!, Mendocinos acclaimed wine auction takes place at the gardens in September.
www.gardenbythesea.org

Rolling Down the River. Meander down the Big River, Northern Californias largest undeveloped estuary, comprised of 7,334 prime acres of river, estuary, wetlands, and forest. Rent a handcrafted boat made from a single piece of local wood! For the more adventurous, theres always sea kayaking on the Pacific Ocean, and landlubbers can bike or hike up the old logging road next to Big River. www.stanfordinn.com/innlight/canoe.html or www.liquidfusion.com

Relax at an Eco-Spa. Enjoy a massage or a facial at one of the many spas in Mendocino County that offer environmentally friendly products and services and make use of the very finest organic botanicals and ecologically sensitive methods. www.gomendo.com

Green to a Tee. The Little River Golf Course is a member of the Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary Program which recognizes golf courses that protect the environment, conserve natural resources, and provide wildlife habitats. Plus, the ocean views are pretty darn amazing. www.littleriverinn.com

For more information visit www.gomendo.com or call 866-STAY-MENDO (866-782-9636)

Australia’s Sustainability Drinks events, held in each month in Adelaide and Melbourne, provide an opportunity for those interested in creating a more sustainable world to exchange ideas and hear different perspectives about social and environmental challenges. Organizers say the events attract people who are interested in making a positive difference.

Attendees range from sustainability managers from various industries, board directors, CEO’s, marketing and advertising managers, engineers from various sectors, representatives from government agencies, students and anyone interested in finding out more about creating positive change for a more sustainable future.

Sustainability Drinks is a non-sponsored event (which means you buy your own drinks) and is the perfect spot to meet new people and exchange ideas.

The Adelaide Sustainability Drinks will be held on Wednesday, June 17; and in Melbourne on July 1. Sydney events will be announced soon.

For further information, head to www.sustainabilitydrinks.com