In the last few months a number of reports from international and national agencies have come out with dire news about the speed at which climate change is occurring (IPCC, Global Carbon Project, National Climate Assessment). California continues to experience record-breaking wildfires. Antarctica’s ice is melting 6 times faster than in 1980. Greenland’s ice is also melting faster than earlier models predicted. After a few years of declining carbon emissions, 2017 and 2018 saw increases in greenhouse gas emissions (GHG). We’re clearly going in the wrong direction, mostly due to stronger economies that mean more manufacturing, transportation, and general energy use.
The urgency to do more is upon us all. Look at your personal life and decide what you can change. Then look at the larger landscape and support programs that aim to lower GHG like Community Choice Energy in our region, building infrastructure that supports public transportation use, and electrification of our communities. The old mentality isn’t working any longer. We must must be aspirational now.
