Judith D. Schwartz: Healing the water cycle to restore climate and ecological balance
Judith D. Schwartz (@judithdschwartz), previously featured in episode 130, is a journalist who focuses on nature-based solutions to global environmental, economic, and social challenges. She's the author of Cows Save the Planet , Water in Plain Sight: Hope for a Thirsty World, and the new book The Reindeer Chronicles.
In this podcast episode, Judith sheds light on why we need to look beyond how much water we use to the water cycle itself when talking about water scarcity and conservation; why we need to understand and address climate change through the lens of water (and not just carbon dioxide); and more.
To start, get a glimpse below into the conversation between Judith and Green Dreamer Podcast's host, Kamea Chayne.
Musical feature: Trust The Sun by Yarrow by Kim Anderson
“Once we look at the water cycle and we understand how that works, not only do we understand a lot more deeply where many of our climate problems come from, but also where the solutions are.”
If you feel inspired by this episode, please consider donating a gift of support of any amount today!
This is a conversation on Green Dreamer with Kamea Chayne, a podcast and multimedia journal illuminating our paths towards ecological regeneration, intersectional sustainability, and true abundance and wellness for all. This preview has been edited for clarity. Subscribe to Green Dreamer Podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or any podcast app, and support Green Dreamer on Patreon so we can keep the show going and accessible to a wider audience!
On addressing climate change through understanding the water cycle:
"If we step back and ask ourselves the question, “How does the planet manage heat?” Then we're looking at the water cycle.
The way we've talked about climate, as a society, is we've tended to look only at the carbon cycle. But once we look at the water cycle and understand how that works, not only do we understand, a lot more deeply, where many of our climate problems come from, but also where the solutions are."
On how deforestation in coastal areas affects rain levels further inland:
"Most of our rain comes from plants. So it cycles from the ocean to plants, and those plants transpire. And that moisture then moves inland pulled through the biotic pump.
This is why it is so concerning that we are losing in-tact forests."
Final words of wisdom:
"Stay hopeful! I just believe so deeply that at some point, our collective work will be recognized as that of healing the earth.
Look for opportunities to learn about earth repair, know that it's happening, look out for where it is happening, and [notice] the beauty that is being created through these efforts."
