There has been some fantastic writing on this site about Climate Change and the connection between the extreme weather we are now experiencing. And brilliant reporting about the rolling catastrophes of the past few years including; Katrina, The BP Oil Spill and The Coal Miners Disaster and their connection to our use of fossil fuel. This is supposed to be a reality based community I doubt there are many here who are not concerned about the future of our planet and the survival of our species
We also hear the outrage "Why isn't someone doing something?", "We have to pressure them!" and frustration that not much is getting done and the little that is may be too late. I imagine the 'they' that is being referred to is the US government. I don't think we are alone I think the world is waiting for the US government to take a bold stand to mitigate Climate Change.
And what do we want the US government to do? Solutions vary but put a tax on carbon is one solution also outlaw industries climate destroying policies is another. Also, transition to clean energy and build a green manufacturing base. And build a transportation infrastructure that gets us out of our cars and while you're at it make our cars get fantastic mpg ratings. Oh and clean up our food system and get rid of factory farms! Make us live a non-polluting low carbon life for gods sake the Earth is dying!
With our current political environment does anyone really think that these things can be accomplished rapidly? Really, do you think the house republicans would vote for any of this? And do you think that the polluters will just roll over? The Obama Administration is trying to use the EPA to solve some of these problems while the republicans are fighting to destroy or weaken the EPA as much as possible.
And the things that need to be done even if given a fast go ahead will take a long time to implement and build such as transitioning to clean energy and building a green manufacturing base. These are things that will take a decade at least. And how much time do we have to solve this problem so as to mitigate the most serious effects of climate change?
Looks like we don't have any window of time available to take the long road to transition to a cleaner, greener outcome. We have to take action now. When I say we I do mean you and me, all of us together. We can't wait for some entity, government or otherwise to legislate that we live a low carbon life. We have to do it now.
I propose that for now we stop spinning our wheels and we eliminate the idea that the government will solve the Climate Change problem in a comprehensive way in the near term. We must of course continue to push and influence and especially work to elect more and better Democrats because that is the way we will be able to get a comprehensive energy bill enacted into law. The best case scenario would be that Obama is reelected and the Democrats regain the House in 2012 and at that point we would have much more to work with in trying to pass a comprehensive energy bill. So I will put my political energy into reelecting Obama and trying to regain the House. Still even if successful at that point we will have lost precious time and that is the best case scenario, the worse case I refuse to contemplate at this time
All we have to do is change our thinking for expectations of a top-down solution to one of a bottom-up solution. And assume responsibility for reducing our own carbon footprint rather than waiting for government to make us do it.
We all know ways to do this such as turning off lights, unplugging appliances and computers when not in use. Walk or use public transport as much as possible. I actually made this change in my own life a few years ago and moved to a walkable neighborhood where I can do my food shopping and most home business by walking, riding my bike or taking public transport. At times, I have leased a car for travel but have not driven my car for about two years and will sell it soon. If it can be done in the car culture and heat of Florida it can be done almost anywhere.
But, the most important and effective way I keep my carbon footprint low is that I don't eat meat and very little animal products such as cheese and eggs. This also happens to be the easiest, cheapest, healthiest and most effective way to reduce carbon use As easy as a peanut butter and jelly sandwich.
I have been writing about reducing our carbon footprint and The Oil We Eat for the past three years. Just click on my user name for over one hundred diaries on the subject. This is some of the information I've learned in my research from the conservative EDF.
If every American skipped one meal of chicken per week and substituted vegetables and grains, for example, the carbon dioxide savings would be the same as taking more than half a million cars off of U.S. roads.
If every American had one meat-free meal per week, it would be the same as taking more than 5 million cars off our roads.
Having one meat-free day per week would be the same as taking 8 million cars off American roads.
Not only do we reduce our carbon footprint by reducing our meat consumption we also drastically reduce our use of water
Nearly half of all the water used in the United States goes to raising animals for food.
It takes more than 2,400 gallons of water to produce 1 pound of meat, while growing 1 pound of wheat only requires 25 gallons.
Really staggering what you can accomplish by reducing your meat consumption. We have momentum on our side with the astonishing news that 18% of US homes have joined the Meatless Monday campaign!. And this is a people's movement, an activist's movement. It's done with no advertising and had no media support but a lot of push back from the meat industry. At one point the Meatless Monday website was hacked and it took at least a month to get it operational.
Changing our thinking from expectations of having the problem of Climate Change taken care of without our active participation can be difficult or it can be as easy as making the choice to have a peanut better and jelly sandwich for lunch rather than a meat burger.