Going green

I saw Al Gore's "The Inconvenient Truth" last night. Simply terrifying.

The most basic point is that human emissions have caused the amount of Carbon Dioxide (CO2) in our atmosphere to go off the radar (far beyond the natural variation seen between ice ages). This causes global warming.

We are just starting to see the impacts; droughts, floods, tornadoes, an array of natural disasters. At the rate that we're producing emissions, they will get much worse (terrifyingly so) unless we make immediate changes.

Today I've been online, researching how to make myself greener. I recycle, I don't own a car, I don't use much water, but it's time to do more. If you feel the same way, here are some suggestions:

1. The basics.

From ClimateCrisis.net:

"You do have the power to make a difference. Small changes to your daily routine can add up to big changes in helping to stop global warming."

• Reduce your impact AT HOME
• Reduce your impact WHILE ON THE MOVE
• Help bring about change LOCALLY, NATIONALLY AND INTERNATIONALLY (US, but still relevant)
• Download these 10 SIMPLE TIPS to take with you!

You can apply before 30 Sept to get a free residential 'Climate Change Action Kit' (available if you live in NSW or ACT.) Get it here.

2. Switch to Green Power.

From: Green Power:

"When you buy Green Power your electricity company purchases energy from renewable sources and feeds it into the National Grid Network. This increases the amount of renewable electricity in the grid, reducing the need for electricity derived from the burning of fossil fuels."

You don't need to change your energy provider to buy Green Power.

More info, plus the full list of Green Power providers is available here (just select your state).

If you're with Energy Australia you can switch to "PureEnergy", no 2 on this page, by calling 13 15 35. PureEnergy is a Green Power accredited product. It is a bit more expensive but it won't cost the earth (te he).

3. Buy Carbon Credits to become Carbon Neutral.

It's very important to follow steps 1 (the basics) and 2 (buy Green Power) above. Buying Carbon Credits allows you to offset the emissions you can't help causing.

Buying Carbon Credits does not fully resolve the problems you're causing by producing emissions. A study conducted by Duke Uni in Dec 05 concluded that storing carbon to combat global warming may cause other environmental problems (but it's much better than doing nothing).

From: CarbonPlanet

"Carbon credits certify the removal of carbon dioxide from the air. Each carbon credit is associated with the removal of a single tonne of carbon dioxide from the Earth's atmosphere."

There seem to be four companies / organisations in Australia that currently sell Carbon Credits: CarbonPlanet, Greenfleet, Climate Friendly and Easy Being Green.

An example of CarbonPlanet packages:

• Carbon Credit Subscriptions — Offset your emissions on an ongoing basis. Set and forget!
• Carbon Credit Packages — Offset specific events or activities on a one-off basis. Offset your car for a year, or specific flights. It's up to you. If you are unsure of what to buy, you can buy a starter pack which provides two carbon credits and more information.
• Offset Your Lifetime Emissions — You can offset your whole life in one purchase! Choose between the whole of your life so far, or your entire life.

Find out more, go to the faq index page, read the philospohy faq and buy Carbon Credits from CarbonPlanet. And why not bookmark the CarbonPlanet blog to keep abreast future developments.

For more info, check out the Sydney Morning Herald article, Wikipedia entries for Carbon Credits or Emissions Trading.

An interesting point from Emissions Trading:

"Critics argue that emissions trading does little to solve pollution problems overall, as groups that do not pollute sell their conservation to the highest bidder. Overall reductions would need to come from a reduction of permits available in the system. Likely this would occur over time through central regulation, though some environmental groups acted more immediately by buying credits and refusing to use or sell them. Nevertheless, the transfer of wealth from polluters to non-polluters provides incentives for polluting firms to change, especially if the market price for pollution credits is very high."

So buying carbon credits also reduces the amount of credits in the market, making it more expensive for companies that pollute. This will help force them to comply.

Here's a link to the 50 top climate change sites.

If you have any other ideas or suggestions on what to do, please add them as comments below. Thanks!

The Greenie

Comments

[Ravi]

Thanks for all the links. We all need to make more of an effort to help the climate. I am not sure if Al Gore is the best person to sell the message, but we need to look beyond the messenger. The message is finally starting to get through.

[Clare]

I want to watch that film as well. Apparently it's one of the scariest things you'll ever watch - cos it's true!