Here’s what you can and must do.

The Union of Concerned Scientists, Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration are but a few of the organizations reporting dire statistics about consequences to our planet as the level of CO2 rises beyond any level seen for 800,000 years. The longer we wait to make drastic and broad sweeping changes, the less chance we have of avoiding horror, and possibly even of surviving as a species. You may have a hard time comprehending the magnitude of what’s happening and cast it off as drama. But this isn’t about drama. If anything, we haven’t been dramatic enough. We’re talking about losing the beauty we all hold most dear. What’s at stake are whales and polar bears and blue jays. Without the beauty of oaks and orchids and brooks what is there? Without BREAD and RICE, the most basic of foods, what is there? We’ve reached the point of apocalyptic wildfires and floods.

Many politicians are joined at the hip with the oil and gas industry. They make a lot of money off this dirty business. That’s why they don’t want you to believe that global warming is science. But unlike Medieval times, when The Church made policies based on The Word then wouldn’t allow people to read The Bible for fact checking, we can read today’s  scientific studies and reports and come to our own conclusions about the realities of global warming and its causes.

In the graphic to the right we can see that although there is more than one greenhouse gas responsible for global warming, CO2 is by far the greatest contributor. (Note, Methane doesn’t only come from cows.)

 

 

 

 

In the graphic to the left we can see that the majority of CO2 comes from the fossil fuel industry. That’s our gas-powered transportation, our coal powered electricity, and the chemical processes involved in producing products such as concrete and steel. The dip you see in emissions was caused by the drop in production of goods during the Great Recession.

 

 

For decades, environmentalists have been begging for all of us to make simple changes in our lifestyles. These actions are still necessary, but now they’re not enough. Many of you ask me, “Before we’ve changed our planet beyond recognition, is there anything that can be done?”

  • VOTE

Ending greenhouse gas emissions is the only way to stop global warming. That’s why, hands down, the most important thing you can individually do to help save the planet is to elect leaders who will make reversing climate change their number one piority. It is they who levy taxes on industries for their uncontrolled pollution, pass regulations forcing reductions in emissions, and award grants and offer incentives for research and implementation of technologies to capture carbon at its source and pull it from the air. I cannot stress the importance of this enough. Without climate concerned elected officials we are lost.

  • INVEST

With conscientious representatives, we will be able to phase out fossil fuels, but first we must make it unprofitable. Changes to our global economy, such as sustainability challenges, have introduced new risks and opportunities. Impact Investing is the term for socially responsible, values and morals -based investing in the stock market. These are investments in funds that do not support the fossil fuel industry. Environment, Social, and Governance (ESG) portfolios seek to bring about a positive social and environmental impact alongside a financial return. ESG factors and the sustainable business practices behind them can have an impact on corporate revenues and costs. Be sure to ask your wealth manager about this opportunity.

  • TRAVEL LESS, BUY CARBON OFFSETS

Airplane travel is the worst choice for transportation, but If you must travel, drive an electric car or a hybrid. If air travel is the only way to get to your destination, fly responsibly. Someday there will be airplanes with lower or hopefully no harmful emissions. Until then, choose direct flights whenever possible; take-offs burn a lot of fuel. Fly economy class. I know we all complain about it, but the more people per square foot seated on a plane, the less CO2 is emitted per person and the fewer airplanes there are in the air. Choose an airline that does whatever possible to reduce emissions and decrease waste. Today, the ten most eco-conscious airlines on course to meet their lower emissions goals by 2020 are: EasyJet, Alaska Air, Qantas, United, JetBlue, Southwest, LATAM, Delta, Lufthansa, and Turkish Airlines.

For those who fly for business, or just cannot give up that bucket list vacation, you can buy carbon offsets. This is paying someone or something else to pull your CO2 from the atmosphere, combating your own carbon emissions and decreasing your net carbon footprint. This is not intended to be a way to ease your conscience, but as a measure to help until cleaner airline technology comes along.

Here’s how it works. First, google “Carbon Footprint Calculator,” to figure out your carbon footprint for the flight. This is calculated based on the airport you fly from and into, whether the flight is direct, what model of airplane you will be on, and whether your seat is economy, business or first class. After you know the amount of CO2 for which you are responsible, go to a carbon offsetting website where you will be able to buy credits supporting carbon sequestering projects around the world, reducing emissions and pulling carbon out of the atmosphere. You may choose which project your money supports. Forestry and tree planting projects are popular, tending to cost the least, but they are not always dependable. Purchasing energy efficient cook stoves for third world countries and supporting methane capture technologies are more permanent investments.

The company you donate toward should be verified by a third-party such as  Green-e Climate and Gold Standard. Check to see what percentage of your contribution goes to office expenses. Some offer certificates as proof of your purchase. I found Terrapass’s website clear and easy to navigate. They offer an “EcoTourist Bundle” for a set amount of credits to cover an extended calendar of emissions.

Another way to purchase carbon offsets is to look locally. Figure what your offset would cost with one of the projects listed on the above websites and donate that money to a local organization planting trees or helping low-income families with renewable energy.

Costs are based on tons of CO2 being offset and will vary by project, but on average, will cost about what you would pay for an in-flight meal or a checked bag. Unlike other actions you can take to decrease your overall carbon footprint (energy efficiency in your home, purchasing an electric car, installing solar panels), you will not see an immediate monetary return on your investment from purchasing carbon offsets. The exception is the deduction you get on your taxes if you donate to a non-profit organization such as Cool Effect, carbonfund.org, myclimate, and The Climate Trust.

  • DITCH THE LUXURY SUV

Transportation is one of the largest contributors of carbon emissions. The rule of thumb is, don’t take public transit if you can ride a bicycle or walk. Don’t drive if you can take public transit and shared rides. Don’t fly if you can drive.  If you drive, go electric or at least drive a hybrid (or take the motorcycle). For couples and solo travelers, a nonstop economy flight is almost always a cleaner choice than an SUV or the average car, especially for trips of more than 500 miles. Once at your destination, drive an electric or hybrid rental.

My first hybrid is eight years old now. I recently hit 100,000 miles on the odometer. In that time, I figure I spent roughly $7,775 on gas. I get thirty-eight to fifty-two miles to the gallon on regular gasoline. (There are hybrids now that get much more than that!) Based on driving 12,500 miles each year, my hybrid needs about 110 trees to absorb the CO2 it releases into the atmosphere. The Mercedes SUV I was driving before I bought the hybrid would have cost me about $30,000 for gas for the same number of miles and required about 335 trees to absorb its CO2 in a year. Of course, an electric car needs no trees because it emits no CO2. These are great for commuting and shorter distance trips, but there are still kinks to be worked out to be able to drive longer distances, and to then recharge the battery during a trip. By the way, I’ve heard conversation about how expensive it is to own a hybrid, with all the repairs and maintenance required. That’s entirely false. The only maintenance I have had performed is regularly scheduled oil changes. It still runs as smoothly and quietly as the day I bought it.

  • RENEWABLE ENERGY

There are programs available in most states to help homeowners (including low-income homeowners) run their homes on renewable money-saving energy. Change your home to renewable energy sources. Contact your local officials and ask about programs in place to help you with the cost of changeover. If your city offers a way to purchase renewable energy from your grid, opt in.  A few years ago, I decided to put solar panels on my roof. I researched various ways to accomplish this and since I don’t intend to stay in this house for long, and I didn’t have the money to buy the panels outright, I chose a company that installed the panels completely free of charge! I honestly didn’t pay a single nickel for my solar panels. I buy the solar energy from the company who owns the panels, and what I can’t use travels into the city’s electric grid. I pull electricity off the grid on rainy days and during the nighttime hours. Since the panels were installed, my energy bill has been cut in half, and as an added bonus, at the end of the year my energy company pays me for the difference between my solar energy that goes into the grid and the amount of energy I pulled from the grid (net metering).

  • BECOME AWARE OF YOUR CARBON FOOTPRINT

Why not figure and buy offsets for the carbon emissions of your entire life! The more electricity you use the more CO2 you are personally responsible for in our atmosphere, and the more biodiversity you are responsible for killing. You really can make a difference with the simplest efforts. Everyone knows the basics, but they bear repeating. Change out ALL your light bulbs to eco-friendly versions (such as halogen incandescents (HI), compact fluorescents (CFLs) and light emitting diodes (LEDs). They typically use up to 80% less energy and can last up to 25 times longer). Make your home more energy efficient. Lower the thermostat in winter; raise it in summer. Install attic fans. Install energy efficient windows. Don’t forget to flip the switch, turning off the lights and appliances when you leave the room.

  • BUY LOCALLY

The closer to your home your fruits and vegetables are grown, the less trucking and thus the less CO2 emissions are required to get them to your table. This may mean visiting the farmer’s market weekly, lucky you! And while you’re at it, go organic. Pesticides and chemical fertilizers are polluting our air and our waterways and killing our fish, bees, and butterflies, decreasing the amount of food we can grow, not to mention how they cause unexpected cancers in children.

  • CONSUME LESS

Recently we have been hearing more about “fast fashion”. This is the term used for clothes that are made from cheaper fabrics, priced inexpensively, and expected to be tossed after a single season. The industry is responsible for huge amounts of carbon emissions, but this is a symptom of a bigger problem. We purchase more than we need. If we decreased our overall material consumption, the lowered production would contribute less greenhouse gasses and other poisonous chemicals into our environment. It requires a lifestyle change, but who of us doesn’t have clothes in our closet that we haven’t worn in years? Quit paying for storage units to hold the overflow of your stuff.

  • CARBON CAPTURE

At this point in global warming, even reducing emissions and replacing the fossil fuel industry aren’t enough to keep from overshooting the temperature boundaries protecting the planet from destruction. The second most immediate thing we need to do is develop more technology to capture CO2 from the atmosphere and store it permanently far underground. Some companies have already developed this technology and are operating successfully, but not on a large enough scale. When you research carbon offsets, look for and invest in carbon capturing technologies. Also, be sure to remind those newly elected officials how important this is.

 

The worst thing you can do is be indifferent or cavalier. Do what you can! Despite the committed path global warming is on, your choices can and will make a difference to the quality of life for every soul on this planet. If we all pull together, we can eventually bring back our beautiful world