What Happens to Wine Country’s Empty Bottles? This Recycling Program Turns Waste Into Green Job Training

As sustainability efforts expand across the country, a growing number of initiatives are rethinking how packaging waste is handled in industries like wine and spirits — from glass bottles to shipping boxes and plastic wrap. In Northern California, one program is offering a practical, scalable model that reduces landfill waste while building green career skills […]

'Mates for Life': Chicago Filmmaker and Joffrey Dancers Fuse Ballet and Bird Conservation in New Film Series

An unlikely collaboration between a Chicago-based filmmaker, dancers at The Joffrey Ballet, and the International Crane Foundation became a passion project and the beginning of the conservation short film series Mates for Life. Shot in a prairie setting, Mates for Life features two dancers, Joffrey artists Olivia Duryea and Dylan Gutierrez, portraying whooping cranes in […]

In an Era of Worsening Wildfires, These Young Conservation Corps Members Are Clearing a Path to Safety and Opportunity

With cutbacks to federal government programs and layoffs of civil servants around the country, there’s been a lot of confusion about funding for wildfire prevention and mitigation under the new presidential administration. Yet, Santa Rosa, California resident Lynn Garric feels encouraged. “I’m a very hopeful, optimistic person,” she explains. “I’m the one who came back […]

'One Image Can Change the World': How Ami Vitale Uses Her Camera to Confront Extinction and the Climate Crisis

Ami Vitale has spent her career on the front lines of our planet’s most urgent crises, using her camera not only to witness the world but to change it. A National Geographic photographer, writer, documentary filmmaker, and Nikon Ambassador, Vitale began her career covering conflict zones — places where human suffering was raw and unrelenting. […]

Photographer Cristina Mittermeier’s 'HOPE' Confronts the Climate Crisis with a Powerful Visual Call to Action

Award-winning photographer Cristina Mittermeier’s new book, HOPE, offers a powerful counterpoint to the growing sense of despair that often surrounds conversations about our planet’s future. As Mittermeier poignantly observes, “Hope may not be a plan or a strategy, but it is vital for our survival.” For decades, Mittermeier has traveled the globe, documenting both the […]

National Geographic Photo Ark: Joel Sartore’s Urgent Mission to Document and Protect Earth’s Vanishing Species

“People protect what they love — and they love what they understand.” This simple message, shared by Dr. Jill Tiefenthaler, CEO of the National Geographic Society, captures the heart of The National Geographic Photo Ark, a groundbreaking project by National Geographic Explorer and award-winning photographer Joel Sartore. The Photo Ark is more than just a […]

Sustainable Travel: Disney Cruise Line’s Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Point

As travelers become more eco-conscious, they are looking for destinations that provide more than just stunning beaches and a break from reality — they’re seeking experiences that are mindful, sustainable, and aligned with their values. Enter Disney Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Point, Disney Cruise Line’s new private island retreat on the Bahamian island of Eleuthera. […]