What YOU can do about Global Warming

Speak up – to your friends, neighbors and elected officials. Tell California officials you are proud of their policies on fuel economy standards. A pushback is coming immediately from the Trump administration.  Stay tuned.

Follow Swedish teenager Greta Lundberg as she mobilizes youth to fight climate change. They want to inhabit a livable world.  She is currently at the U.N. in NYC.  I have her on Google Alert, so I can read about her every day.  

What would happen if everybody in the United States cut back on driving?It turns out that even driving just 10 percent less — if everyone did it — would have a big impact on greenhouse gas emissions. That’s because Americans drive trillions of miles every year, helping to make transportation the biggest contributor to United States greenhouse gas emissions. In 2017, light-duty vehicles in the United States (including cars, S.U.V.s, pickups and most of the vehicles used for everyday life) produced 1,098 million metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalents.  That’s about one fifth of the country's total emissions footprint. A 10 percent cut, therefore, would be roughly 110 million metric tons of carbon dioxide, or the same as taking about 28 coal-fired power plants offline for a year.  While not easy, that target is realistic for most people, said Tony Dutzik, a senior policy analyst at the Frontier Group, a nonprofit research organization. Walk, bike or take public transit when possible. Car-pool, and work from home when you can. Emissions from a full bus or train are vastly lower than a car.  Fly less – take a train or bus instead.  

Weatherize your dwelling – make sure to seal drafts and have good insulation.  There may be federal tax breaks for some of this.  Invest in energy efficient appliances – look for the Energy Star label on them.  Find power plug-in devices that are rarely used and turn them off – I found two immediately in my apartment.  

It takes energy to heat your water and make it clean.  Take shorter showers, turn off the tap when you brush your teeth, wash your clothes in cold water. 75 to 90% of the energy used by your washing machine goes to warming the water.   Set a timer to run your dishwasher at night, to save on electricity, gas and water costs.  If you have time, dry your clothes on a bamboo clothes drying rack.  

Eat less meat – there are large energy and water costs in producing meat and cleaning animal refuse.  Eat vegetable protein such as nuts, and organic soy.  Combined with wholegrains, you will get a complete protein. Consider drinking nut milk instead of milk and cream.  Follow the Monterey Bay Aquarium Guide for advice on sustainable seafood.  

Buy LED lightbulbs – they use 90% less power than incandescent bulbs and are much longer lasting. They will cost you more up-front but save money and power.  

Find a way to plant trees in your community – either on your property if feasible, or possibly through a local school where the children participate.  Contact the Arbor Day Foundation to find suitable trees for your area.  

Keep at it!   Sadja Greenwood, MD, MPH

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