Carbon Pricing and Tips to Deal with Climate Change
Most people feel frustrated, and are unaware of what can be done globally and individually to reverse climate change. Following are a couple of thoughts for consideration.
Most climate scientist agree that in order to have a real effect on climate change, we MUST change the way we deal with fossil fuels. The fossil fuel industry will not give up the way they produce energy because they are making a lot of money. We, the consumers, keep using fossil fuel because it is the cheapest form of energy.
Solution? What is referred to as a "carbon tax". A carbon tax is actually a fee. A cost is set for a particular company yearly, based on fossil fuel production, distribution, and pollution emitted. Making fossil fuel more expensive by reflecting what it really costs our world, will I believe, get the attention of the citizenry as paying more for energy will not be welcomed. But, if we have ways to counter global warming, like investing in efficiency and cleaner alternatives, then people will get on board.
We know carbon fees work because Sweden started using a carbon fee in 1991. Over the years, the country's carbon dioxide emissions have gone down by 26%, without negatively effecting the economy. (A big fear for governments.)
A carbon tax is one of many solutions. Saving our planet will require a profound change in how we generate energy, but we can't afford to do nothing.
Outside of government involvement people often wonder what they can do in their everyday lives. As the previous post by Jenny suggests, be vigilant about plastic.
As surprising as it may seem, eating everything in the fridge helps! It has been estimated that American's waste adds up to 40% of all food purchased. Thrown away food takes up a large chunk in landfills. Decomposing food adds methane to the air. Before shopping for groceries, make meal plans and use a list. Freeze food before it goes bad.
Buy organic, not only is it healthier, it avoids synthetic fertilizers. Synthetic fertilizers are a byproduct of oil refining! Yuck.
Reduce consumption of meat and dairy. The Worldwatch Institute estimates the emissions of greenhouse gases from animal agriculture to be 51%! That is over half of the cause for climate change. Don't eat it, or try cutting down to a couple days a week.
The most powerful way people can combat climate change is to be informed. Becoming "climate literate" is a large focus of this blog.
Most climate scientist agree that in order to have a real effect on climate change, we MUST change the way we deal with fossil fuels. The fossil fuel industry will not give up the way they produce energy because they are making a lot of money. We, the consumers, keep using fossil fuel because it is the cheapest form of energy.
Solution? What is referred to as a "carbon tax". A carbon tax is actually a fee. A cost is set for a particular company yearly, based on fossil fuel production, distribution, and pollution emitted. Making fossil fuel more expensive by reflecting what it really costs our world, will I believe, get the attention of the citizenry as paying more for energy will not be welcomed. But, if we have ways to counter global warming, like investing in efficiency and cleaner alternatives, then people will get on board.
We know carbon fees work because Sweden started using a carbon fee in 1991. Over the years, the country's carbon dioxide emissions have gone down by 26%, without negatively effecting the economy. (A big fear for governments.)
A carbon tax is one of many solutions. Saving our planet will require a profound change in how we generate energy, but we can't afford to do nothing.
Outside of government involvement people often wonder what they can do in their everyday lives. As the previous post by Jenny suggests, be vigilant about plastic.
As surprising as it may seem, eating everything in the fridge helps! It has been estimated that American's waste adds up to 40% of all food purchased. Thrown away food takes up a large chunk in landfills. Decomposing food adds methane to the air. Before shopping for groceries, make meal plans and use a list. Freeze food before it goes bad.
Buy organic, not only is it healthier, it avoids synthetic fertilizers. Synthetic fertilizers are a byproduct of oil refining! Yuck.
Reduce consumption of meat and dairy. The Worldwatch Institute estimates the emissions of greenhouse gases from animal agriculture to be 51%! That is over half of the cause for climate change. Don't eat it, or try cutting down to a couple days a week.
The most powerful way people can combat climate change is to be informed. Becoming "climate literate" is a large focus of this blog.
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