No, they haven’t been featured in yet another nostalgic Coca Cola commercial (although we love watching polar bears and penguins frolic and drink carbonated beverages together as much as the next person).

If we were just given our own designated "protection area," we'd celebrate with a relaxing swim too.

Rather, this news is of the more long-term, sustainable variety: the Obama administration has recently designated an extensive “polar bear protection area” off the northern coast of Alaska.

Approximately 187,000 square miles, this special zone is comprised mainly of sea ice in the Chukchi and Beaufort seas: the critical element of a polar bear’s habitat, that in recent decades has been extremely threatened by the melting polar ice caps.

While the bears are currently listed as “threatened” under the U.S. Department of the Interior’s Endangered Species Act, it is estimated that unless some changes are made to stop global climate change, 2/3 of the world’s polar bear population could be gone by 2030.

The Chukchi and Beaufort seas stretch from Siberia, across Alaska's northern coastline.

The new protection area is contained in a scarcely populated region of our 50th state that makes its living through oil and gas exploration. Opposition groups are arguing that the zone will lose hundreds of millions of dollars in economic activity and revenues for the state, as well as “disproportionally impact Alaska Natives,” the primary residents of the area.

Various interest groups, the White House, and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service are currently at odds over the extent to which the new ruling will slow job growth and economic recovery. As of now, economic development is not completely banned in the region, just required to analyze the impact on polar bears  before it can be approved. But regardless of one’s political views, it is great news to see strides being made that will help ensure the survival of this incredible species.

And that’s something we’ll all crack open a Coke and toast to!

For the common sports fan, it’s easy to focus our thoughts on “who’s the most expensive athlete on their payroll?” or “who won the game last week?”

But the Seattle sports world is looking at things a little differently, aiming to change the world one arena at a time.  The big wigs in the Seattle front offices are asking questions more along the lines of “how do we further reduce our carbon footprint this year?” Which, in our books, is a touchdown, home run, or any other sports euphemism you want to throw in.

The Seattle Seahawks organization understands a more unusual need that their fans want filled: sustainability.  As such, the team has created a sustainability department at Qwest Field.  The Seahawks encourage their guests and fans to leave their trash in their seats, for cleaning crews to hand sort the trash from the recycling after each game.

Qwest Field used to generate 20 tons of trash per game, but through its efforts, 13 tons are now diverted from the landfill and successfully recycled.  The stadium also uses specific computer technology to compare outside air temperature and inside air temperature, and determine if air conditioning and heating are necessary (thus seriously streamlining their energy efficiency).

ShoWare Center, home of the Western Hockey League (WHL) Seattle Thunderbirds, has become the first sports arena in North America to become LEED Gold Certified in its green practices.  The team, already managing an $80 million building, noticed that “going green” would only cost an additional $200,000 (a relative drop in the bucket). As a result, the facility uses 508,000 less kilowatt-hours than a standard arena, or the equivalent of 50 homes’ power!

Stadiums around the country are beginning to notice the Seattle sports world’s efforts, and see the city’s stadiums as “best practice companies” to emulate. With this new direction gaining momentum, other teams will not be far behind. Going green will create a better sports experience for everyone, guaranteed…even if a hot dog still costs $6.

-BN with the Roozt team

P.S. Does your hometown team have its own sustainable practices? Let us know!