Policymakers face a critical challenge: electrifying the U.S. vehicle fleet while establishing stable transportation funding, as traditional fuel taxes become obsolete. This event explores new

Policymakers face a critical challenge: electrifying the U.S. vehicle fleet while establishing stable transportation funding, as traditional fuel taxes become obsolete. This event explores new models like mileage fees or carbon taxes. An electronic program detailing the event and panelists is available here.

Supported by the Mineta Transportation Institute, the program features U.S. Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg, U.S. Senator Alex Padilla, and Caltrans Director Toks Omishakin. The Commonwealth Club of California, the nation's oldest and largest public affairs forum, hosts this discussion.

U.S. wetlands, vital ecosystems like marshes and swamps, face an urgent crisis. Half of these critical habitats in the lower 48 states have vanished since the 1780s. A 2023 Supreme Court decision

U.S. wetlands, vital ecosystems like marshes and swamps, face an urgent crisis. Half of these critical habitats in the lower 48 states have vanished since the 1780s. A 2023 Supreme Court decision further stripped federal protections, leaving remaining wetlands vulnerable to destruction.

This loss devastates biodiversity; nearly 50% of threatened and endangered species rely on wetlands, with over a third living exclusively there. Wetlands also protect water quality and mitigate flood risks. Act now: Tell the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to protect more critical habitat for wetland-dependent species. Learn more at www.saveourfreshwater.org.

Transportation policymakers face a critical dual challenge: electrifying the nation's vehicle fleet and establishing a stable funding source. As the U.S. shifts to electric vehicles, the

Transportation policymakers face a critical dual challenge: electrifying the nation's vehicle fleet and establishing a stable funding source. As the U.S. shifts to electric vehicles, the traditional reliance on motor fuel taxes is unsustainable, necessitating new models like mileage fees or carbon taxes.

This vital discussion features U.S. Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg, Senator Alex Padilla, and other experts. The program is supported by the Mineta Transportation Institute at San José State University.

The Commonwealth Club of California, the nation's oldest and largest public affairs forum, hosts this event. For more information and upcoming events, visit: SUBSCRIBE | UPCOMING EVENTS | BECOME a MEMBER | DONATE NOW | Watch & Listen | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter

Lake Erie, part of Earth's largest surface freshwater system, provides drinking water for 11 million people. Its water quality is threatened by increased fertilizer-derived

Lake Erie, part of Earth's largest surface freshwater system, provides drinking water for 11 million people. Its water quality is threatened by increased fertilizer-derived nutrients.

Researchers Anna Michalak, Tom Bridgeman, and Pete Richards are studying how farming practices and severe weather contribute to these nutrient levels, which diminish water quality and threaten the lake's ecosystem and public health. This research was published on July 12, 2013.

Plastic in our ocean is a complex issue but it is not rocket science. The change we want to see starts with ourselves because there is no magic bullet or an overnight fix. Ocean Plastics can be

Plastic in our ocean is a complex issue but it is not rocket science. The change we want to see starts with ourselves because there is no magic bullet or an overnight fix. Ocean Plastics can be solved by accepting responsibility for our own actions and using both Reactive and Preventative Solutions in parallel, in fact, the most gimmicky and fantastical ideas the better. The Seabin Project is just one example of this. #saveourseas Pete Ceglinski, the Aussie surfer who in 2015 successfully crowdfunded an invention designed to rid our waterways of rubbish. The Seabin Project went viral and has quickly become one of the most environmentally promising ways of turning the tide in our planet's war against plastics.

It’s a rubbish bin that lives in the water of marinas and collects floating plastics, bottles, bags, oil, fuel and micro-plastics down to 2mm in size.

Right now our business activities are 50% for profit and 50% not for profit. The reason for this is that we are in a unique situation where we have innovative technology to capture debris efficiently, but at the end of the day, Seabins are not the solution. Education, Science, Research and Community is the real solution, and so we have built this into our business model with growing success. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx

Biologist Sean B. Carroll discusses nature's remarkable ability to rebound, even after significant human impact. He highlights how dedicated conservation efforts, like those at Gorongosa National

Biologist Sean B. Carroll discusses nature's remarkable ability to rebound, even after significant human impact. He highlights how dedicated conservation efforts, like those at Gorongosa National Park, demonstrate our capacity to restore biodiversity and coexist with the natural world. This video explores the power of awareness and action, no matter how small.

Explore more: Reduce caffeine with $20 off MUDWTR and a free frother at MUDWTR.com/bigthink. Subscribe to Big Think on YouTube: youtube.com/BigThink. Watch "Finding meaning at the quantum level": youtu.be/gt0rpqnVdPI. Go deeper with Big Think membership or Big Think+ for Business: members.bigthink.com | bigthink.com/plus.

Pete Carroll, one of only three coaches to win both a Super Bowl and a college football national championship, is in his seventh year as head coach and executive vice president of the NFL's

Pete Carroll, one of only three coaches to win both a Super Bowl and a college football national championship, is in his seventh year as head coach and executive vice president of the NFL's Seattle Seahawks. His 42-year coaching career, including a highly successful run at USC, is defined by his unique "Always Compete" philosophy. Visit petecarroll.com for more.

Interviewed by transformational leadership consultant Joyce Anastasia, Carroll discussed his relationship-based approach to success. He highlighted the importance of ongoing communication, a common language, and commitment to process. Carroll advocates for a disciplined, yet non-authoritarian, leadership style, challenging traditional views on effectiveness.