I was once called a “take no prisoners denmother”. I took that to mean I can get shit done AND have empathy.
After a lot of hand wringing, I have come to the realization that everyone I have asked wants to do the right thing and save the planet from global warming, but find it hard to understand where they can effectively make a dent. The tasks seem too big, and the largest impacts lie with industry and global leadership or lack thereof. Where do I start ? What do we do? How can collective pressure be applied and in what areas?
By many accounts and sources we have 10 years, or less, to turn a very large ship around and avoid a global catastrophe. This blog intends to share manageable insights and methods that will help you to join the combat global warming on a daily level. or may link you to others through collective action.
I am not a scientist, or environmentalist, but I know we have a problem and we all own the solution to it.
This year I look forward to finding and sharing concrete actions each of us can take going forward, as well as creating this online community to share and learn within. Please Join me !
If you are like me, the urgency is real but where to start? With a dizzying number of articles and posts on the topic of climate change and the impending doom, I found myself mind numb and still lacking concrete direction. By all accounts we only have 10 years, maybe less, to avert real disaster, so where to begin?
Get the measure of your Footprint
Understand why energy sources matter
Reduce.
With knowledge comes power.
Much like checking your free credit report, checking your personal carbon footprint is quick and easy to do. There are many, some more granular than others, and much like your credit report they won’t all give you the same score, but it will be in the same ballpark. For context, in the United States we average 21-22 tons of CO2, while the average per person in , say Canada is 15-16 tons. Once you have a base line it will be less abstract and you can begin to understand how to maximize your impact. Pull out your utility bills ( electricity, gas, oil) you will need them.
Extra credit points: try 2 or 3 other calculators and don’t be shocked by the variations.
What we haven’t understood about energy types.
To complicate things, energy sources across the country have different impacts. Not all electricity is created equal. In some parts of the country coal is still being burned to create electricity, whereas other utilities are completely carbon neutral. The decision to, for instance, invest in a home solar power array is still great in either location, and will pay you back. But the immediate carbon benefit is much higher if it will be replacing fossil fuel generated electricity. Often this information is included in your monthly billing statement, or is available on the website of your local utility. If you cannot find it, call them up and ask them to put it in the FAQ’s section, so others can !
Reflect and Reduce.
Part of the reason we may all be feeling frustrated about making an impact on Climate Change is, there are no easy linear cookbook set of actions. And we are tired and our lives are already complicated and cluttered with to do lists. Yup.
So…..
Armed with your Carbon footprint, and your localized energy information, you are probably still wondering now what? The first step is so simple you are going to, at first, reject it. In future blogs we will begin to unpack a lot of climate change information, choices and strategies to maximize your impact. But the biggest gift you can give the planet and yourself, right now, is simply to reduce consumption. I’m not exactly saying we are all going on a diet, but think about it. Everything you do, use, consume or waste has had a carbon impact. So ease into 2020 with less. Less trips to the store, less lights on in the house, or less food wasted.
OK immediate reaction- rejection ? Too simple, not sexy ??? Trust me that as the year unfolds there will be some shinier slicker actions to take, but between now and 1/1/2020, just do less. And give yourself some credit that it is actually a great place to start.
Up Next: What would Greta do, or WWGD?
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I would love it if you would tell me what, in any of the three actions outlined above, was an eye opener for you.
About trendbendr
Imagine a very steep hockey stick trend curve, shooting up at a rapid pace. Now imagine you and I and the entire planet grabbing the end of it and pulling it down to a manageable gradient. That’s what we have to do folks, bend the trend starting now.
