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TED Theme: A Greener Future?

The environmental debate has traditionally been characterized as a conflict between economic progress and preservation of the planet. Most TED speakers, however, insist that we can have both -- provided we're smart about it. Al Gore, the world's leading voice on the climate crisis, argues ...

The environmental debate has traditionally been characterized as a conflict between economic progress and preservation of the planet. Most TED speakers, however, insist that we can have both -- provided we're smart about it. Al Gore, the world's leading voice on the climate crisis, argues that the simple steps we might take to avert disaster would also fuel the economy. Architect William McDonough shows how the power of great design -- working on entire systems rather than local components -- can foster an abundant, sustainable future. And Majora Carter discusses her work to bring green spaces to the blighted South Bronx. Edward Burtynsky's eerily pretty photographs of environmental damage and economic development document humanity's ever-expanding footprint. And biologist E.O. Wilson shares his grandest wish -- that the human community band together to save life on Earth.

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    Lian Pin Koh: A drone's-eye view of conservation

    Ecologist Lian Pin Koh makes a persuasive case for using ...

    Ecologist Lian Pin Koh makes a persuasive case for using drones to protect the world's forests and wildlife. These lightweight autonomous flying vehicles can track animals in their natural habitat, monitor the health of rainforests, even combat crime by detecting poachers via thermal imaging. Added bonus? They're also entirely affordable.

    Nov 18, 2013 Read more
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    Mohamed Hijri: A simple solution to the coming phosphorus crisis

    Biologist Mohamed Hijri brings to light a farming crisis no ...

    Biologist Mohamed Hijri brings to light a farming crisis no one is talking about: We are running out of phosphorus, an essential element that's a key component of DNA and the basis of cellular communication. All roads of this crisis lead back to how we farm -- with chemical fertilizers chock-full of the element, which plants are not efficient at absorbing. One solution? Perhaps … a microscopic mushroom. (Filmed at TEDxUdeM.)

    Oct 29, 2013 Read more
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    Andras Forgacs: Leather and meat without killing animals

    By 2050, it will take 100 billion land animals to ...

    By 2050, it will take 100 billion land animals to provide the world's population with meat, dairy, eggs and leather goods. Maintaining this herd will take a huge, potentially unsustainable toll on the planet. What if there were a different way? In this eye-opening talk, tissue engineering advocate Andras Forgacs argues that biofabricating meat and leather is a civilized way to move past killing animals for hamburgers and handbags.

    Sep 19, 2013 Read more
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    Sanjay Dastoor: A skateboard, with a boost

    Imagine an electric vehicle that can get you to work ...

    Imagine an electric vehicle that can get you to work -- or anywhere in a six-mile radius -- quickly, without traffic frustrations or gasoline. Now imagine you can pick it up and carry it with you. Yes, this souped-up skateboard could change the face of morning commutes.

    Apr 2, 2013 Read more
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    Tristram Stuart: The global food waste scandal

    Western countries throw out nearly half of their food, not ...

    Western countries throw out nearly half of their food, not because it’s inedible -- but because it doesn’t look appealing. Tristram Stuart delves into the shocking data of wasted food, calling for a more responsible use of global resources.

    Sep 16, 2012 Read more
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    Jonathan Trent: Energy from floating algae pods

    Call it "fuel without fossils": Jonathan Trent is working on ...

    Call it "fuel without fossils": Jonathan Trent is working on a plan to grow new biofuel by farming micro-algae in floating offshore pods that eat wastewater from cities. Hear his team's bold vision for Project OMEGA (Offshore Membrane Enclosures for Growing Algae) and how it might power the future.

    Sep 8, 2012 Read more
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    Pam Warhurst: How we can eat our landscapes

    What should a community do with its unused land? Plant ...

    What should a community do with its unused land? Plant food, of course. With energy and humor, Pam Warhurst tells at the TEDSalon the story of how she and a growing team of volunteers came together to turn plots of unused land into communal vegetable gardens, and to change the narrative of food in their community.

    Aug 9, 2012 Read more
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    Stephen Ritz: A teacher growing green in the South Bronx

    A whirlwind of energy and ideas, Stephen Ritz is a ...

    A whirlwind of energy and ideas, Stephen Ritz is a teacher in New York's tough South Bronx, where he and his kids grow lush gardens for food, greenery -- and jobs. Just try to keep up with this New York treasure as he spins through the many, many ways there are to grow hope in a neighborhood many have written off, or in your own.

    Jul 31, 2012 Read more
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    Cesar Harada: A novel idea for cleaning up oil spills

    When TED Senior Fellow Cesar Harada heard about the devastating ...

    When TED Senior Fellow Cesar Harada heard about the devastating effects of the BP Oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico in 2010, he quit his dream job and moved to New Orleans to develop a more efficient way to soak up the oil. He designed a highly maneuverable, flexible boat capable of cleaning large tracts quickly. But rather than turn a profit, he has opted to open-source the design.

    Jul 5, 2012 Read more
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    Wolfgang Kessling: How to air-condition outdoor spaces

    During the hot summer months, watching an outdoor sports match ...

    During the hot summer months, watching an outdoor sports match or concert can be tantamount to baking uncomfortably in the sun -- but it doesn’t have to be. At the TEDxSummit in Doha, physicist Wolfgang Kessling reveals sustainable design innovations that cool us from above and below, and even collects solar energy for later use.

    Jun 22, 2012 Read more
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