Tag Archives: climate action

What Can I Do to Prevent Climate Breakdown? (IPCC Part 3)

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This chart is from Chapter 5, p.45. It’s a section about social and individual choices and ability to make change. Of course we need government and business and widespread changes in policy.

However, between 10-30% of committed individuals are required to set new social norms. (That’s in the report). So that’s our job. To be the ones who are committed.

That said, the report is clear about what we can do:

  1. Drive less or not at all. Walk, use a bike, get an EV (electric vehicle). It’s that critical. It’s the single most important thing we can all do and will have the most impact. Above everything else.
  2. Fly less or not at all. Take one less long trip via air. Or please stop traveling by air.
  3. Use public transportation.
  4. Use fewer appliances, or less energy overall. Turn up your air conditioning so it’s not so cold. Switch to electric stoves, or induction cooking (for friends in the Midwest). Turn off appliances when you can.
  5. Stop eating meat. Or at least eat further down the food chain. Beef is the worst culprit and the Amazon rainforest, the lungs of the planet, is being burned to the ground for pasture land for cattle to supply places like McDonald’s, Walmart etc. Put down the beef and use ground turkey or plant-based patties, or give up meat all together. You’d be surprised at alternatives and you will likely be healthier too.

Yes, industries will be affected. Forewarned is forearmed. We don’t have a choice.

These things are doable right now. If I sound desperate, it’s because I am getting there. Reading the IPCC report is a Master Class in humility, responsibility and comprehension.

I am guilty.

But as Maya Angelou used to say, “When we know better, we do better.”

I plan to do better. Please join me.

Speed and Scale–An Action Plan for the Climate Crisis

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I want to introduce you to a book by John Doerr, in collaboration with Ryan Panchadsaram. “Speed and Scale: An Action Plan for Solving our Climate Crisis Now” by John Doerr. I was skeptical at first. Yes, yes, we’ve heard these things.

However, Doerr is a Kleiner Perkins guy…familiar with funding, presentations, evaluations and strategies. He also knows about tactics–the work it takes to make things happen.

Years ago, when I was in the business world, I worked with plenty of people like Doerr. He speaks a language I understand. Charts, bullet points, clarity and simplicity. The task of climate resilience distilled down to 6 major tasks.

I could understand.

I read the entire book. While I was not terribly eager to read through the points of view of all the entrepreneurs, some of them have valuable insights. I can take a pass on John Kerry and Bill Gates…folks I’ve heard from before. But some of the others are worth a listen.

We don’t have the time to shuffle around in the muck.

This book finally, refreshingly, takes all the data and info and organizes it into a plan. A plan that is easy to follow, if not easy to implement.

Many will argue over aspects of it, especially those whose interest lie in maintaining the status quo. We don’t have time for those people. Get out of the way. We will accommodate those who will be affected, but if you cling to your old way of life, you will be left behind.

His main point is that there is so much investment and money to be made in cleantech. While we clearly don’t know who the winners and losers will be, we certainly know that there will be winners and losers.

The longer the U.S. clings to old ways and doesn’t adapt, the better the chance that China and others will run off with the resources we need to lead.

We have no choice but to get out in front.

The book is easy to process. Find your area of expertise or the place where you can contribute, if only in a tiny way.

And do it.

We need all hands on deck.

Welcome to the New Reality

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Remember that you are dust and to dust you shall return. (we are essentially carbon neutral).

Or more colloquially…

I beg your pardon.

I never promised you a rose garden.

Actually, it’s our turn to save the rose garden. And the vegetables. And the oceans. And the dirt. And most importantly the very air we breathe.

We’re all in this together and we cannot escape. Unless, of course, you’re a billionaire who can spend lots of money to escape for moments at a time.

But if you live and work and breathe here on Earth, we have a job to do. Our job is to stop wasting resources, end fossil fuels, and learn to live a more sustainable existence in cooperation and not exploitation of this one great, nurturing provider of a planet.

We must change basically everything, and that will not be easy. Starting with ourselves. If you haven’t noticed, this website is designed to help me cope with the changes along the way. I recognize that I cannot do it alone…physically, mentally, emotionally, spiritually.

I invite you to get on board, and tell your stories as well. Whether it’s the hurricane you lived through, the power outage, the wildfire you fled, to just a simple transition to eating less meat or doing your best to eliminate single use plastics.

It’s my goal to provide you with information, based on science, in simple, easy-to-use articles, references and guides.

No one can do this alone. We must all join hands. (Clean, washed hands.)

A good place to start is the RESOURCES page on this website. Every journey starts with a single step, and for some of us, it means education. I know that’s where it all starts for me.

Are you ready to be a part of the solution? Let’s go!