We can take many constructive actions to reduce carbon dioxide’s influence on our climate and I have found something that speaks to me. It requires some writing, but persistence reigns over eloquence, grammar and punctuation.
In Ready to resist and don't know where to start? there’s a link for writing to your representatives and also a petition to sign. It is more compelling for the recipient if you actually send a letter or email in your own words, and you don’t have to be a published writer to get your point across. Just write from the heart, sign with your address to show that you’re a constituent and send it off.
Here are some phrases to get started:
- I’m worried about the continued use of fossil fuels…
- We can do something about climate change...
- We need more EV charging stations…
- 73.2% of greenhouse gas emissions come from Energy...
- I cannot afford to solve the climate crisis without everyone’s help…
- The United States is one of the highest emitters of greenhouse gasses…
- I’m worried about climate change, and I vote!
In an MIT Technology article, The rare spots of good news on climate change, by James Temple, four actions outline the good news. Momentum, the first, shows how the prediction of temperature increases has lowered from 8C to 2.7degrees C - not good but not as catastrophic as was predicted by earlier climate models. Write a letter to your elected representatives arguing that this is still not good enough.
The second bit of good news is Progress. Technology is developing ways to produce cement and steel without carbon emissions. Weather changes have influenced new ways to protect communities through better prediction of natural disasters and taking care of people after disaster strikes. Write a letter to your representatives asking them to support new technology and programs that help all people affected by climate change.
In A Realistic Baseline Temple states that we’re making progress but we must not feel complacent because we have much more to do. But considering emerging policies and subsidies, we are no longer looking at predictions of 5C or 8C degrees warming. It’s closer to 3C; while not ideal, if the trend toward mitigating global warming continues, there may be hope that the increase will become closer to 2 degrees C or even 1.7C. Write a letter to your representatives reminding them to support COP26 promises and tell them that you will encourage their constituents to vote for those who support COP26.
The fourth topic involves Balancing the Tradeoffs. This means that eliminating fossil fuels must be offset by green energy solutions that will not throw economies and people into a tailspin. Temple says,
Those in rich countries, especially, have no business telling poor countries that they must halt development, perpetually locking billions of people in economic and energy poverty.
If we’re worried about climate change because of the suffering it will impose on people, then we have to care about the human trade-offs entailed in how we address it as well.
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It’s a cruel and dangerous fantasy that we’ll ever halt climate change by counting on or forcing people to live impoverished lives, forgoing food, medicine, heating, or air conditioning in an increasingly erratic and menacing world.
We need more activist pressure and more aggressive climate policies to confront the threats of climate change. But ultimately, we must invent and build our way out of the problem. And the rare bright spot of good news is that we’re beginning to see evidence that we can.
This is where you come in, dear reader. Keep up that activist pressure. Resolve to write once a week to your representatives, make and display green energy signs and keep track of your personal progress by using this January Climate Calendar.
The writers in Climate Brief work to keep the Daily Kos community informed and engaged with breaking news about the climate crisis around the world while providing inspiring stories of environmental heroes, opportunities for direct engagement, and perspectives on the intersection of climate activism with spirituality, politics, and the arts.