Fred Khedouri took this photo of a land iguana on a recent trip to the Galapagos. In our just-posted story about their trip there, Sarah Glazer writes: “Rakan Zahawi, executive director of the Charles Darwin Foundation, which studies how to protect native species in the Galapagos, acknowledges what is often called ‘the Galapagos paradox’: The archipelago’s unique, seemingly pristine environment is what attracts tourists, but their very presence threatens to harm it.” Read more about how Fred and Sarah’s trip, and others like them, can help support conservation in the Galapagos.

From wasting less food to choosing more plant-based meals or rethinking how you shop — small changes add up. We’d love to hear what’s different for you. This quick, 3-minute survey is a chance to reflect on your habits and help shape future Bluedot Living content around what matters most to you.

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“When workplaces democratize, the employee learns the tools of community activism and collaborative practices. That, in turn, impacts the community and the issues that are important to the community.”

– John Abrams, founder of South Mountain, a construction company focused on sustainable building, and author of From Founder to Future: A Business Roadmap to Impact, Longevity, and Employee Ownership. Abrams has made a (second) career out of coaching business owners in becoming either B Corp companies or creating a succession plan whereby workers become owners. Today, on Workers’ Day, we salute visionaries like Abrams. 

More people are discovering the climate and health advantages of cycling. And the growing popularity of e-bikes means two-wheeled transportation is more accessible than ever. But all those bikes means a growing need for people to keep them in road-worthy condition. Which is where Charlie’s Free Wheels in Toronto, Canada, comes in. As they put it in a Field Note, “During our five-week program, 10 participants receive 40 hours of hands-on bike mechanic training to prepare them for entry-level jobs doing bike repairs. The program runs from January to early March, so when bike shops begin their hiring for the season, our mechanics will be freshly trained and ready to apply for jobs. We also serve a nutritious home-cooked vegetarian meal with each class to ensure that food insecurity is not a barrier to participation in our program.”  

For just $5/month, you can become a Bluedot Living member — investing in a healthier planet while unlocking real, everyday benefits for yourself. You'll enjoy 10% off every purchase from Bluedot Living Collection, our editor-curated marketplace of planet-friendly brands and products and you'll receive additional member-only store discounts each month. Many members recoup the cost of membership in just a handful of purchases from our store. From there, the savings continue — making sustainable living more accessible, affordable, and impactful.

Still on the fence about heat pumps? Let Dot’s Climate Champ Sarah Lazarovic explain why her job pitching them makes her want to dance: “I talk about heat pumps all the time because I’m a big believer in one-and-done-ish, high-leverage climate actions. That is to say, the larger decisions we make that really impact our emissions.” We all need to heat (and, as the planet warms, cool) our homes. So we need to use something. And why wouldn’t we use something that can bring our household emissions down by 70% to 80% while also being really good at heating and cooling our homes? Heat pumps are so effective that Sarah calls them “magic.” Read Sarah’s extremely compelling, extremely amusing sales pitch. And then tell your neighbor why you’re getting a heat pump. 

This is excerpted from Dot’s daily blog, Daily Dot. Sign up to get it straight to your inbox!

Leslie Garrett has been covering climate stories for close to two decades.  She makes her home in Canada, west of Toronto. She’s still figuring out her favorite spot but it’s definitely near the water.

Jamie Kageleiry, a longtime magazine and newspaper editor from Martha’s Vineyard, says her favorite spot on earth is out on a kayak there, looking at birds.

Robin Jones is a Southern California native who served as an editor at Westways magazine for more than a decade. She lives in Long Beach and teaches journalism at Cal State Long Beach.

Emily Cain is a recent graduate of Cal State Long Beach, where she wrote and edited for the university’s award-winning magazine, DIG.