The tale that follows must begin with a disclaimer. I do not have the answers to global warming. I will tell you what convinced me that global warming is one of the most important problems facing the long-term viability of this planet, how I have tried to change my life to do my part, and what I have learned about myself and my efforts from making these changes. I also must confess that this article is a little long. If you have time, read on. If you want to skip the brief overview of the science of global warming and population growth and go right to what changes I have made in my life, then scroll down to "Act Locally" and "Act Worldly". For a critical look at my efforts and the social phenomena of "going green" scroll to near the bottom of the article for the section entitled "A Cautionary Tale".
Although I never made a formal resolution to transform my behaviors as a consumer, looking back over the past half year there have been a number of significant lifestyle changes to protect our health, improve the environment and be more respectful of life on this plant. I realized early on that the lack of legislation, intelligent or otherwise, from the federal government means we, as individual citizens and as community members, have to take more responsibility for finding better ways to slow and reverse the ecological changes effecting this planet.How to act in this manner is a personal one. It is one made by you and members of your family.As more people recognize the impact human activity has upon the earth and respond to counteract the waste and pollution generated by those activities, these acts will grow more powerful and have far reaching benefits for our ourselves and for our planet for generations to come. At the very least, I hope this web article will give you a brief overview of the causes and consequences of global warming, help you find the resources to get you more organized, and give you one living example of someone trying to make changes to lower their CO2 footprint.
Science is convincing to me when it has the ability to construct a theory of why past events occurred and current trends are occurring. Then, through extrapolation, successfully predict the outcome of a future event. Such is the case with the climate scientists studying global warming and human activity. Some will argue that it is not the warming of the earth that they dispute, it's the causes of the warming that are still open to question. Solar radiation, for example, may be the reason for the increasing warming trend on the planet. Scientists, since the early 1970's, started to theorize and create mathematical models identifying potential factors that contribute to global warming. They could then see how changes in the combination of and quantity of these different factors effect the level of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere and the subsequent climate changes at various locations on the planet, like the earth's poles, or how water and rainfall is distributed to various places around the planet. How well do the predictions of the various models match the actual measurements taken by climatologists? The models are very successful. The conclusions: The planet is warming, and by far the biggest cause is greenhouse gases primarily generated by human activity.
Understanding What is at Stake with Global Warming
The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), established in 1988 by the United Nations, uses peer review of published scientific and technical literature to evaluate the risks of climate change brought about by human activity. Earlier this year the IPCC, in collaboration with over two thousand scientists from around the world, released its forth and most caustic report ever on the impact human activity is having on the environment. Even after intense pressure from various governments around the world to soften the language used to describe the impacts of global warming, the message remained clear. Global warming must be addressed now or the devastating changes predicted by scientists will become inevitable.
Similar to the previous reports released in 1990, 1995 and 2001, the current report focused on three areas:
From my perspective it is very good news that global warming is being caused by human activities.The alternative, that the planet is warming on its own without human help, and it is just another long-term climatological change for this 4.5 billion old planet, would mean that there is little hope that science and technology can control the greenhouse gases in the atmosphere and prevent the earth's temperature from rising.
Now that it is accepted that human activity causes global warming, what can science and technology tell us about the sources of CO2? Table 2 from the World Resources Institute shows the latest human causes of greenhouse gases and their percentage of total emissions.
Table 2 World Greenhouse Gas Emissions by source:
24.5% Electricity 18.2% Deforestation
13.8% Industry
13.5% Agriculture
13.5 % Transportation
12.6% Other
3.6% Waste
Meanwhile the world’s population continues to grow, putting more pressure on the planet’s ecosystems and increasing the levels of CO2 emissions. According to a recent United Nations (UN) assessment, the world’s population is projected to increase from 6.7 billion to 9.2 billion by 2050. At the current rate, the combination of a growing human population and increasing greenhouse gases will result in fewer natural resources that sustain the diversity of life, like drinkable water, breathable air and undeveloped land.
On March 10, 2007 the CNN website released news about the impacts of global warming. Given the current predictions of the IPCC, the bullet points below represent a conservative estimate of what would take place in the world later this century:
Hundreds of millions of Africans and tens of millions of Latin Americans who now have water will be short of it in less than 20 years. By 2050, more than 1 billion people in Asia could face water shortages. By 2080, water shortages could threaten 1.1 billion to 3.2 billion people, depending on the level of greenhouse gases that cars and industry spew into the air.
Death rates for the world's poor from global warming-related illnesses, such as malnutrition and diarrhea, will rise by 2030. Malaria and dengue fever, as well as illnesses from eating contaminated shellfish, are likely to grow.
Europe's small glaciers will disappear with many of the continent's large glaciers shrinking dramatically by 2050. And half of Europe's plant species could be vulnerable, endangered or extinct by 2100.
By 2080, between 200 million and 600 million people could be hungry because of global warming's effects.
About 100 million people each year could be flooded by 2080 by rising seas.
Smog in U.S. cities will worsen and "ozone-related deaths from climate (will) increase by approximately 4.5 percent for the mid-2050s, compared with 1990s levels," turning a small health risk into a substantial one.
Polar bears in the wild and other animals will be pushed to extinction.
At first, more food will be grown. For example, soybean and rice yields in Latin America will increase starting in a couple of years. Areas outside the tropics, especially the northern latitudes, will see longer growing seasons and healthier forests. >
The impact of all these changes to the earth results in what is known as the "Sixth Extinction." Many scientists have spoken publicly and written very important books about how environmental changes will have devastating impacts for all life on this planet. The world has been shaped by five mass extinctions over the past 440 million years. These extinctions have been the result of natural catastrophe and natural selection. Homo sapiens, as made evident by the latest IPCC report, may be awarded the distinction of being responsible for the sixth extinction, destroying more species and habitats like no other species before it.
Solving the global warming problem seems as daunting as trying to eliminate poverty or working to end the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction. It is true that this issue is one of global proportions and global complications. I cannot think, however, of a more important national and international issue. This is not a problem left to our children to solve. It is one that should be addressed with ourselves and our children now, for we are the ones that have opportunity to turn the tide away from the special interests supporting the auto, oil and coal industries to energy solutions that will sustain a growing human population while safeguarding the earth’s beauty, diversity and bounty. Here are four living principles that I have found to be effective in my life:
Learn more about how human activities impact the environment and find alternative more eco-friendly ways to act.
Protect land from future commercial development or when it is developed make sure that maximizing energy and water efficiencies are top priorities.
Save species from extinction as best you can.Pick one or some of them and support their habitats.
Find ways to support and pass legislation that limits greenhouse gas emissions.
What follows is how these principles have been translated into my actions.
Staying educated on the impacts of Global Warming and talking about it to others when the opportunity arises is one way to understand impacts and spread the word. There are various media resources available to help you better understand the impacts of global warming. The movie “An Inconvenient Truth ”is probably still the best introduction for adults and children to learn about the topic. There are books by about it from experts from all fields: meteorology, climatology, biology, economics, religion, ecology, and political science.A search on Global Warming under Amazon Books will give you thousands of books to choose from. Sort the books by latest publication date to see what’s being published currently on the topic and find the ones that interest you. I also have magazine subscriptions to and Vegetarian and occasionally I pick up a free copy of Conscious Choice to help us stay on top of what’s new. It is also important to keep pace with the current scientific findings and understand how our society is responding or not responding to these findings. The CNN News website, FoxNews website and the Worldwatch Institute are quick and informative.
The simplest and one of the most powerful ways to act is to examine and then change your habits regarding your household activities with respect to the water and energy consumed, the methods of transportation used, and how you purchase, consume, and dispose of products. Prana Yoga Center’s Ecology in the Home link has a wonderful resource page to start you on this exploration. Picking where to start from the Ecology in the Home list and expanding from there has had a powerful additive effect for me over the last few months.
I have come a long way from my first act, switching to fluorescent light bulbs in our home. I also found it easy to maximize our recycling and cut down on landfill waste. We save up our hazardous waste from our household (paints, batteries, electronics, etc.) and periodically bring these items to DuPage County and the Illinois EPA’s waste collection sites. We learn about these collection sites from SCARCE (School and Community Assistance for Recycling & Composting Education).Kane County also has recycling and hazardous waste collection.
We already drive fuel-efficient cars and try to minimize the number of automobile trips. We try not to accept paper or plastic but use cloths bags that we bring to the store. We don’t put chemicals on our lawn, and when we bought a new air conditioning system for our home just recently, we got the most energy efficient one possible given the cooling needs for our home.
We also try to avoid purchasing items from corporations that are morally and/or ethically bankrupt. My wife slips the handy pocket size version of The Better World Shopping Guide into her purse and off we go shopping. Buying products from companies that support human rights, protect the environment and animals, make an effort to be involved in the community and support principles and practices of social justice make us feel better about our purchases, and its rewards those companies who take a more enlightened approach to making and distributing their products.
Since April, I moved toward a vegetarian diet. My reasons for doing this are threefold. I feel better physically, and I believe my body is healthier without eating meat. It allows me to more closely follow the Buddhist and yogic teachings of bodhisattvic compassion and ahimsa (non-violence) towards all beings. It also cuts down on my C02 footprint because raising animals for consumptions generates methane gas, contributing to global warming.
We have also decided to make a weekly visit to farmer’s market near us for the summer. By choosing to shop at a local farmer’s market we know that:
The fruits and vegetables are grown locally which means the taste, texture, aroma and nutritional content of the produce is at its peak.
Often, farmer’s market prices are lower than at grocery stores, so we save money.
The transportation and distribution of food requires enormous amounts of energy and resources. Food, on average, will travel 1,300 miles to get to your dinner plate. This inefficiency creates more C02 emissions than if you by your produce locally.
Shopping at the Farmers’ Market benefits the local farmer and strengthens your local community.
Farmer’s Markets are available this summer in the following locations:
Aurora - Every Saturday from June 17 through October 21 located at the Aurora Transporation Center. The hours are from 7 a.m. to Noon.
Bartlett - Every Saturday from June through October located at 228 South Main Street. The hours are 8 a.m.-1:00 p.m.
Wheaton - Every Thursday from June 8 through September located at Cross Street and Wesley. The hours are 8 a.m.-1:00 p.m.
Winfield – Every Wednesday, except July 4th, from June 7 through October 25 located at Geneva and County Farm Roads . The hours are 8 a.m. - 1 p.m.
As our politicians continue struggle with and lose out to special interest groups, most recently the oil and automobile manufacturing lobbies regarding increasing fuel efficiency and increasing funding for alternative fuels, global warming continues unimpeded. Until this country finds the political will to act, the responsibility to protect our environment falls squarely on our shoulders. The only way to act globally is to support those organizations that can act as an agent for our concerns and interests. To protect our lands for future development, I support the Nature Conservancy. I also are contributors to the World Wildlife Fund, to help protect animal species and their habitats.
To give ourselves a fighting chance in the halls of Congress we also support The Environmental Defense Fund, Earth Justice and TheNational Resource Defense Council. These organizations will also keep you informed of the latest eco-political developments.They even have e-mail alerts and tools to help you get organized and to get your voice heard by your state and federal politicians when important environmental issues are being debated or are up for vote. There are a lot of not-for-profit organizations out there that can support your concerns on the world stage. Find those organizations that fit your political and environment objectives and join.
A Cautionary Tale: "It Ain't Easy Bein' Green"
My story, however, is in the end, a cautionary tale. If I could play you a tune, it would be the eco-blues rendition of Kermit the Frog's classic "It's Not Easy Being Green." I have no illuisons about the impact of my efforts. To simplify the matter, most Americans are left with few eco-choices available to them that have any significant impact on controlling global warming. Other nations and areas of the world are working much harder and faster to create changes to their energy infrastructures and industries and are actively looking to employ technological solutions to minimize waste and greenhouse gas emissions.
Even worse, with the choices we have we are more confused than ever over which is better for the environment, is it the plastic or wooden handle garden spade? Do we save the forests or lower the use of non-biodegradable materials?
I also learned that it is very easy to have certain eco-friendly behaviors and then discount other not so friendly ones out of lifestyle convenience, balance or pleasure: The organic, free-trade coffee that I so love from Central and South America had to travel many CO2 miles to get to my doorstep. It is difficult not becoming a hypocrite when trying to act Green.
It is not lost on others how the United States, the leader in greenhouse gas emissions, is responding to this issue. One social critic, Paul Hawken, commented recently how many middle and upper class Americans have fallen into an "eco-narcissistic" lifestyle:
“Green consumerism is an oxymoronic phrase. The news media and marketers are partly to blame for turning environmentalism into fashion and distracting from serious issues. We turn toward the consumption part because that’s where the money is. We tend not to look at the ‘less’ part. So you get these anomalies like 10,000-foot ‘green’ homes being built by a hedge fund manager in Aspen. Or ‘green’ fashion shows. Fashion is the deliberate inculcation of obsolescence.”
Michael Albeman, an environmental author and long-time organic farmer commented on the same issue:
"The assumption that by buying anything, whether green or not, we’re solving the problem is a misperception. Consuming is a significant part of the problem to begin with. Maybe the solution is instead of buying five pairs of organic cotton jeans, buy one pair of regular jeans instead.....A lot of what we need to do doesn’t have to do with what you put in your shopping basket. It has to do with mass transit, housing density. It has to do with the war and subsidies for the coal and fossil fuel industry.”
A colleague of mine at work, a brilliant man and an avowed materialist, also sees the coming train wreck, or as he characterizes it, "the slowest train wreck in human history." He has concluded that there is less than a 50% chance that humanity has the will to reverse this warming trend, so he is trying to amass as much wealth as possible to protect his children and their children’s future. He believes he will be in the best position to last when the time comes, when things really start heading for the long downturn. From an economic perspective, I can definitely see his point. Unless there is a technological breakthrough, natural resources will dwindle. Those governments, coprorations and individuals who have amassed the most wealth and power will be best positioned to survive in the battle for the remaining resources. Those with fewer resources will be left to fend for themselves or seek charity from others.
Our biggest challenge is not getting you or me to go to the farmer’s market. For global warming to be abated, it must be our government setting serious CO2 standards, industry abiding by such standards while subsidized by our tax dollars to find innovative ways to make alternative energy possible and to remove as much waste as possible from the production consumption cycle. We also need to include the true costs of greenhouse gases and waste in the price of CO2 intensive products.
From a spiritual perspective I cannot accept my colleague's fatalism or his position that materialism is the only reality that matters. Spirit matters. I have seen it work across time and space. Spiritual principals like compassion for all beings, non-violence towards others, stewardship and sustainability for the land and respect for beings that indigenously inhabit the space can be the guiding principals for ourselves, our government and our industries. It is from all these sources that we might find the wisdom and the will to save this planet.
