
The Nebraska Shades of Green Library is an edited compendium of essential reading and viewing incorporating a wide range of subjects, with an array of origins. With the support of the Nebraska Environmental Trust (NET), we have gathered here videos, white papers, articles, as well as some select NET-sponsored projects that demonstrate how our concept of The Five Domains of Sustainability
and our trademarked Sustainometrics© can be applied to projects of all sizes and types, in terms of design, planning, and measurement of effects/outcomes. You will also find here a section called Global Shades of Red, which includes articles and reports which indicate potential warnings of unsustainable conditions for communities. Please check back often for additions and updates.
Select Videos
Nebraska Nexus: Resources, Conservation, Development and Change – JISC’s award-winning video addresses a sustainable path forward in the face of climate change.
EcoSpheres – A documentary featuring highlights from JISC’s pathbreaking EcoSpheres conference with world experts on population migration, climate change, urban challenges.
Communities on the Prairie: Exploring Sustainability – A series of short videos examines the growing need for sustainable development and systems needed for it in Nebraska cities and towns.
Sustainable Design & Planning in Omaha – Cecil Steward talks about smart, sustainable planning and design for Omaha with Grow Omaha’s Jeff Beals and Trenton Magid.
Conservation and the Quest for Quality Nebraska Places – Cecil Steward gives a presentation on conservation and quality of life for the SLPS webcast series.
Wetlands of Nebraska – A documentary from Nebraska Game & Parks exploring the value wetlands and their wildlife provide and the role they play in the lives of Nebraskans.
The High Plains Aquifer: Perspectives from Nebraska – Hydrogeologist Ann Bleed discusses the unique aspects of the Ogalalla Aquifer at the American Geosciences Institute.
Understanding and Assessing Climate Change: Implications for Nebraska – Climate scientist Dr. Don Wilhite gives an in-depth presentation for the Heuermann Lecture Series.
The Nebraska Environmental Trust – A short video on the origins, imperatives, objectives, mission and vision of Nebraska’s unique Environmental Trust.
Conversations Conferences Panel Discussion – Regional experts discuss five critical Nebraska resources—water, land, food, materials, and energy—and pressures upon them due to global flux. Two videos.
Urban Thinkers Campus – A collection of 11 videos hosted on Vimeo detailing highlights from JISC’s international conference on sustainable development for small to mid-size cities.
Meeting of the Minds – Two videos provide a range of selections from our international conference on sustainable urban development from global experts in transportation, infrastructure, finance, and more.
Nebraska Sustainability Leadership Workshops – Over 3 years, JISC held workshops aimed at developing sustainability leaders throughout 26 Nebraska communities statewide.
Covering Climate Change – How have the media failed in covering the most important story humanity faces? A series of panels, speakers and a town hall address what can be done to get it right.
What Is the Solution to Disposable Plastic? – A short video from Greenpeace Nederland
Innovative Approaches to Food Waste – In the U.S., 40% of food is wasted. This remarkable PBS Newshour 3-part series explores how innovative thinkers from coast to coast are changing that, using food waste for such things as generating electricity.
Why Millenials Are Moving Away from Large Urban Centers – This piece from PBS Newshour examines the recent phenomenon of migration from urban centers to small cities and towns, where opportunities are made and life is easier and less expensive.
Climate and Urban Health: Feeding Healthy and Resilient Cities – From CDP, a forum on how cities can work to incorporate sustainable food policies and programs that work for their citizens
Trauma and Recovery: A New Story of Interconnection and Action – Mary Pipher’s lecture for the E. N. Thompson series at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln
White Papers, Essays, Articles
The Role and Need for Sustainability Planning in Small and Mid-Size Cities: Exploring Challenges, Solutions, Leadership and Activism
The LNK Eco Market Park – A proposal showing how Sustainometrics© was used in the planning of the proposed LNK Eco Market Park
Regional Food Hub: A feasibility analysis of a regional food hub, Lincoln Public Market, and support facilities
The Flatwater Metroplex – The final report of regional dialogue, design and planning to help shape the environmental future of the Flatwater Metroplex.
Drake Court: Revitalizing an Omaha Landmark – Original report on design and planning for an urban core neighborhood’s sustainable future
Greensburg: Exploring the challenges Greensburg, Kansas, faced after being decimated by a tornado, and how it rebuilt sustainably.
Finding, Measuring and Addressing Urban Equity – Understanding the profound implications for urban planners and ways to allocate resources.
Six Degrees of Acquisition: How to Improve Public Procurement – Marketplace/City’s Chris Foreman has some innovative ideas.
A Novel and Green Solution to Border Security: A wall? Who needs a wall? W. Cecil Steward proposes an innovative solution to border infrastructure.
The Transformation of Community Development – W. Cecil Steward’s white paper on the democratic rationale for applications of a conservation-based system of development metrics for a sustainable global habitat
Ending Conflicts Over Water: Solutions to Water and Security Challenges. This Pacific Institute report explores several dozen strategies to reduce water-related conflicts in key water-insecure hotspots around the world.
Global Shades of Red
We Have 12 years to Limit Climate Change Catastrophe – Urgent changes needed to cut risk of extreme heat, drought, floods and poverty
Change in Timing of Seasons – Massachusetts Wildlife’s Climate Action Tool demonstrates effects of the changes in the timing of seasons due to climate change.
Global Fossil Fuel Consumption Surges – The burning of fossil fuels is one of the greatest contributors to climate change.
Why Fresh Water Shortages Will Cause the Next Great Global Crisis – More than a billion people have no access to safe drinking water.
Insect Apocalypse – Climate change and other deadly factors are upsetting the balance in the natural world.
Do Red and Green Mix? – A response to the article just preceding this one in the Nebraska Shades of Green Library
Covering Climate Change Now – The Columbia Journalism Review and The Nation have formed a working group to improve news coverage of climate change.
PowerPoints & Presentations
Sustainable Development: Planning, Designing, Administering from the Principles of the Five Domains presentation
Sustainometrics Infographic – Demonstrates the interconnectedness and interdependencies of the Five Domains and shows how the metrics of this tool are applied.
Select NET-Sponsored Projects
In its 25-year history, the Nebraska Environmental Trust (NET), has funded hundreds of projects that have led to a stronger, more vital and sustainable ecosystem and conservation of our natural resources. The Joslyn Institute has studied these NET-funded projects and selected a number that demonstrate how our concept of The Five Domains of Sustainability and our trademarked Sustainometrics© can be
applied to projects of all sizes and types, in terms of design, planning, and measurement of effects/outcomes. Below are three examples. We have created a page featuring 17 projects which demonstrate our methodologies of the Five Domains and Sustainometrics©, and have included a project map and other features. Click here to see more.