Think you’re doing enough to stop global warming? Think again!
In the spirit of today’s Live Earth festivities, I feel it’s important to add my voice to the millions around the world calling for change on a global scale, and action to solve the growing climate crisis.
Knowledge vs. Action
I could spend this time telling you how to take action and how easy it is to save energy at home and at work; or tell you how to go carbon neutral. I could write about those things, but I won’t. Personally, I think the majority of us already know how to be more environmentally friendly, it’s just a matter of acting accordingly.
Personal Accountability
So how can we convince people who already have the knowledge, to start acting like it? Here’s the missing link: personal accountability.
If people knew exactly what effects their individual actions were having on the planet, I really do believe that they would act differently.
I used to think that I led a fairly eco-friendly lifestyle. That was until this morning when I learned that I actually generate approximately 10 tonnes of carbon dioxide pollution each year!
To be fair, the average Canadian produces a whopping 17 tonnes, so I’m not doing too bad; but 10 tonnes is still a lot of pollution!
I was able to figure out my personal impact by using the handy calculator on the Live Earth site and I strongly encourage all of you to go calculate your own scores.
People need to know the impact that their own personal actions have; it’s only then that we can really see the importance making better choices in our everyday lives.
Ok, I know my impact. Now what?
Well, now that you’ve been enlightened, it’s time to take appropriate action.
I went through the calculator a few times to see what effect various actions might have.
- Driving about 2000 less miles per year would save a literal tonne of carbon in the atmosphere.
- 1 less round-trip flight to Vancouver each year, and bringing a re-usable bag to the market, another 1 tonne less.
When you can see the cause/effect relationship so clearly, it makes it much easier to find the motivation to do the right thing.
The “Debate”
Personally, I’m not sure how anyone can still be debating the fact that we humans have had, and continue to have, a severely negative impact on this planet.
There are those, however, who insist on considering any warning about the state of affairs as alarmist propaganda, and firmly believe that taking action will ruin our economy and drive us in to a depression. To those people, I say “Wake up!”
Whether you think the Climate Crisis is, or is not, a reality the fact remains that any action to benefit the state of our planet is not wasted! Living your life in a way that contributes to clean air, clean water, and a clean earth, just makes good sense.
Tags: Environment