Now comes news that strikes at the heart of every greenie – with all that we are doing to improve the environment and stop global warming, it may not make a bit of difference. This is hard news to take. What is a self-professed “tree hugger” to do?
The Bad News
Yes, you heard it right. Some climate change is irreversible, according to a report released by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Earth System Research Laboratory on January 26, 2009. “People have imagined that if we stopped emitting carbon dioxide the climate would go back to normal in 100 years, 200 years; that’s not true,” climate researcher Susan Solomon said in a teleconference. The truth is some of the damage is already done, and there isn’t much we can do to change it in our lifetimes.
One of the biggest culprits in the planet’s warm-up is carbon dioxide. Not only because of the “greenhouse effect,” but because it takes hundreds of years to break down. Other gases take much less time. We are currently dealing with not only our own emissions, but possibly the emissions from centuries ago as well. And our actions today will influence the environment of generations to come.
So what can we do?
Call to Action
I have to admit when I first read the source article for this posting, I was stunned and taken aback. Does this mean that it really doesn’t matter what kind of car I drive, how much garbage I throw away, what types of food I eat? The news caused me to question what I have deemed my “purpose in life:” save the planet, or at least my corner of it. It begs the question, why are we (greenies) all here and what are we fighting for?
After pondering for a while, I realized what I must do – I must become a “super greenie!” [No, that does not mean I put on a green leotard and cape, flying around, saving the planet from the forces of Carbon Dioxide (my Arch Enemy, of course). 
] What it does mean is that I have to step up my actions, and do even more of the thinking that I advocated on my rant.
The way I see it, what we do does have an effect: it has an effect on our immediate environment and our communities. If I use a no-VOC (volatile organic compound) paint in my bedroom, I am going to have a better environment in that room than if I had used regular latex. If I increase the ventilation in my home, I am going to have better air quality than if I did not (yes, I realize that the air will be polluted anyway, but it will be less polluted). If I build a green house or building, and make a big to-do about it, invite people in to see how it saves energy and keeps its occupants more comfortable than a traditional building, I am going to improve my community. I am going to educate them, and then, hopefully, they will decide to use no-VOC paint at their place, and improve their own environment.
Small actions can have large effects. Remember that, even in the face of all the nay-sayers. They call it the “butterfly effect.”
Dawn,
I’m glad that you are eager to take action to stop climate change!
Purchasing products that have a low-impact on the environment (VOCs, CO2, etc) is one great way to tell companies that we want them to be more environmentally conscious.
There are great resources out there for consumers looking to be more sustainable- we wrote about 5 simple things you can do to reduce your carbon footprint here:
http://cleanairconservancy.org/blogDetail.php?id=483
You should also check out the Energy Star website which has many great resources for reducing energy consumption: http://www.energystar.gov/
Another great way to help the environment is to talk to your legislators about regulating carbon. The U.S. has no federal carbon regulation program, though 1 regional carbon cap and trade program has been established: http://www.rggi.org
At the Clean Air Conservancy, we promote market-based solutions, like carbon cap and trade, to climate change.
There are many great ways to keep your corner of the world in good shape for future generations- we commend you for taking the first steps towards doing so!
Ashley
Clean Air Conservancy
Dawn,
I’m glad that you are eager to take action to stop climate change!
Purchasing products that have a low-impact on the environment (VOCs, CO2, etc) is one great way to tell companies that we want them to be more environmentally conscious.
There are great resources out there for consumers looking to be more sustainable- we wrote about 5 simple things you can do to reduce your carbon footprint here:
http://cleanairconservancy.org/blogDetail.php?id=483
You should also check out the Energy Star website which has many great resources for reducing energy consumption: http://www.energystar.gov/
Another great way to help the environment is to talk to your legislators about regulating carbon. The U.S. has no federal carbon regulation program, though 1 regional carbon cap and trade program has been established: http://www.rggi.org
At the Clean Air Conservancy, we promote market-based solutions, like carbon cap and trade, to climate change.
There are many great ways to keep your corner of the world in good shape for future generations- we commend you for taking the first steps towards doing so!
Ashley
Clean Air Conservancy
I think anyone that honestly believed solar powering their home, driving a Prius and having a compost pile was going to make a measurable difference is sadly mistaken.
Sorry Global Warming fans, you and Al Gore have yet to convince me that humans are causing any real temperature change. Global Warming advocates point to a couple degree temperature change over the past century – can all of you tell me with certainty that temperature measuring devices from 1900 were as dead-on accurate as ones today? This planet has gone through incredible change over billions of years – our single century of supposed damage is but a speck of time in the planet’s history, one where its seen extremes of heat and cold and periods of warming and cooling. Heck, barely 25 years ago, the same scientists screaming about global warming today were in a Time magazine cover story about whether we were heading for another Ice Age.
I am all for the green movement and everything that’s happened over the past decade to improve our environment, but I just can’t buy global warming being caused by humans. Sorry.
I think anyone that honestly believed solar powering their home, driving a Prius and having a compost pile was going to make a measurable difference is sadly mistaken.
Sorry Global Warming fans, you and Al Gore have yet to convince me that humans are causing any real temperature change. Global Warming advocates point to a couple degree temperature change over the past century – can all of you tell me with certainty that temperature measuring devices from 1900 were as dead-on accurate as ones today? This planet has gone through incredible change over billions of years – our single century of supposed damage is but a speck of time in the planet’s history, one where its seen extremes of heat and cold and periods of warming and cooling. Heck, barely 25 years ago, the same scientists screaming about global warming today were in a Time magazine cover story about whether we were heading for another Ice Age.
I am all for the green movement and everything that’s happened over the past decade to improve our environment, but I just can’t buy global warming being caused by humans. Sorry.
While we do need to step up our efforts with regard to our personal lifestyle and its connection to climate change, the root of the matter lies in a shift of consciousness toward a new lifestyle that is grounded in respect for the planet.
No amount of legislation or green initiatives will do the trick unless we are committed to changing how we life – its that simple.
While we do need to step up our efforts with regard to our personal lifestyle and its connection to climate change, the root of the matter lies in a shift of consciousness toward a new lifestyle that is grounded in respect for the planet.
No amount of legislation or green initiatives will do the trick unless we are committed to changing how we life – its that simple.
Global Patriot, you said it better (and much quicker) than I did. Thanks.
Global Patriot, you said it better (and much quicker) than I did. Thanks.