Last week, CCGKC posted the eleven (11), “Fast Facts: On climate and the physical science” that appeared in the IPCC AR6 report this month. Let’s take Fact #11 as follows:
#11. Achieving low or very low greenhouse gas emissions would lead within years to discernible effects on greenhouse gas and aerosol concentrations and air quality. Discernible differences in global surface temperature would emerge in around 20 years.
Source: fast-facts-physical-science.pdf based on findings and projections from the IPCC’s Climate Change 2021: The Physical Science.
Where and How do we start to make a difference?
Get ready for lots of information. What it will ultimately take to reduce our carbon footprints is reeducating and breaking old habits of ourselves, our families, and friends. By acting in unison, to substantially reduce our current output, we can make a substantial difference. However, it will take an overwhelming majority of us to do so.
As there is a lot of information in this post. I hope that you will save this article for future reference, as you consider which measures you, your family and friends might take to lessen the burden on our climate. CO2 reduction is a huge step in reversing global warming.
So, let’s start with some of our partners and their YouTube videos produced here at CCGKC. These experts in their fields, offer some very simple measures and guidelines that could have a huge impact on lowering greenhouse gases.
Home Electricity Usage:
Electricity is used to light, to cook, to heat water, heat and cool our house, wash our clothing, and power all of our digital equipment throughout our homes.. The US is on the verge of producing more electricity through renewable energy sources; beyond that of oil, gas and coal use. The simplest and quickest way is to replace all of your incandescent and fluorescent light fixtures with LED fixtures. While the bulbs are a bit higher in price they can save you big bucks on your monthly electric bills. Another simple thing to do is turn off the lights, digital equipment, and turn down the thermostat just a few degrees in Winter and a few degrees higher in Summer. The following presentations were made as educational videos that take a deeper dive into power usage, renewable energy and incentives programs:
“Renewable Energy Programs and Incentives.” From CCGKC partners at ReNew Missouri, “This presentation will be an all-encompassing summary of access to renewable energy for your home or business. This will include currently available solar rebates, net metering details, how to find a good solar installer, details on the federal tax credits, and information on how to sign up to utility community solar programs. We can also provide details on financing options available for net metered solar systems.” YouTube link: https://youtu.be/qgv6iJ42Fss
“Going Solar the Right Way” From CCGKC partners at Heartland Renewable Energy Society. Their YouTube presentation walks you through the many facets of Renewable Energy at https://youtu.be/gfPN3SsjCoA. The video gives very cost effective and affordable DIY methods to reduce your energy loss throughout the year. Visit HRES at https://heartlandrenewable.org/
“Sustainable Energy: The Environmental Impact of What We Plug In” Panel of experts discussing the impact of Electricity on Greenhouse Gas production. This KKFI 90.1 FM broadcast explores how electrifying our lives can save money and save the planet. Their presentation link: https://youtu.be/MFT_iGtQp28
Mobility — How We Get Around:
We spend a lot of time traveling, by car, back and forth, from our homes to school, work, grocery stores, general shopping, after school activities and errands, mostly in gas fueled vehicles. That is a lot of CO2 emission. Here are a few videos that may inspire you to make your next vehicle electric or to make more use of public transportation in your own community:
“Drive Electric Virtual EV Tour” presented by Drive Electric EarthDay 2021 in Platte City, Missouri, and guided by Yanik Dhont at Drive Electric Virtual EV Tour
“Green Transportation Re-Imagined” this is both a social issue as well as an environmental issue for its impact not only on greenhouse gas but also on our society. “How much transportation do we really need? How does transportation impact civil rights? Are there better ways to live? Do we need to commute to work? What does the city of the near future look like? How do we re-imagine transportation?” Green Transportation Re-Imagined
Food: How We Eat and Dispose of Food Waste Can Adversely Impact the Climate
As living breathing organisms, we have to eat to survive. Likewise, we need a healthy planet in order to survive as well. Our relationship with food can have an adverse effect on climate change directly causing global warming. We have already discussed the impact of plastic that is used in food presentation but now let’s get down to those hamburgers and steaks and see just how sustainable they aren’t.
“Carbon Footprint Eating: Lower Your Carbon Footprint the Easy Way” with David Hakan of KC Drawdown “Finally, a pathway for meat-eaters to transition to a plant-based diet. This unique initiative is centered around complete dense protein from plants that your body will not be able to distinguish from a serving of meat. People across the country have found this their pathway to success. It is free, and will probably save you money, too.” See: Carbon Footprint Eating: Lower Your Carbon Footprint the Easy Way
There are no videos available for these two partners. You may have seen bins and buckets around town on certain days of the week as you head out for work in the morning. Maybe your neighbors have these receptacles sitting at the curb. This is the second part of food and its role in global warming and the work of these two partners play an important role in battling global warming. Compost Collective with their white and green lidded buckets, at Compost Collective KC – Kansas City. And KC CAN Compost known for their bright orange buckets, can be found at https://kccancompost.com. Kitchen food waste adds up and if you are not a seasoned self-composter you may be throwing those scraps in regular trash. Please stop and check out these two services to keep food waste out of the landfills where it will do some good as it recycles into usable soil, as you will see in the following, rather impressive, video.
“Composting Food Waste & Trying To Stop It” Stan Slaughter of Missouri Organic Recycling brings us the other side of FOOD — the WASTE. “Missouri Organic Recycling uses a unique system of handling food waste to process a regional flow of 60 tons per week. This operation reaches from Warrensburg to Lawrence to St. Joseph, and collects from over 330 sources.” You will find out that there are a few things that are compostable that you never knew. THIS video is outstanding and exactly why it is here: Composting Food Waste & Trying To Stop It
Here is a personal story of initiatives taken by CCGKC partner David Hakan, with KC Drawdown Society, in applying the measures from Drawdown, the book, as edited by Paul Hawken. “Climate Solutions Supercharged: How to Get the Most Impact for your Community” This brief presentation will introduce some individual and impactful solutions to reversing global warming, both at the personal level and at the community level. You will see how people around the country have gone beyond recycling to supercharging their community to make a big impact and help us build a sustainable, just world that works for all. YouTube link: Climate Solutions Supercharged: How to Get the Most Impact for your Community (See also: Link to Project Drawdown: Climate Solutions Supercharged: How to Get the Most Impact for your Community)
Also for consideration is Urban Farming, buying what is local, making bulk produce purchases rather than plastic wrapped produce (yeah, Plastic did sneak in). Namely, visit your local farmers markets, which are growing exponentially as more and more people flock to them, OR start your own Urban Farm. Here is an interview with Ophelia’s Blue VIne Farm’s, Mike Rollen. Please watch: https://youtu.be/cR0eXfRwsEk
Last, What the Kansas City Regional Area is Doing to Combat Global Warming:
Important global warming initiatives and information of what is going on regionally comes from “KC’s Regional Climate Action Plan: Achieving a Net Zero Region by 2050 “ presentation from EarthDay 2021. “The Kansas City Regional Climate Action Plan (CAP) aims to transform the metropolitan area into a more resilient, equitable and healthy community. An ambitious set of interrelated strategies will help to mitigate climate change by achieving net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 and adapt to and bounce forward from the many risks climate change poses. Linkages among plan strategies are abundant and intentional.” KC’s Regional Climate Action Plan: Achieving a Net Zero Region by 2050
CCGKC thanks you, the reader, for considering the ideas and suggestions that have been covered in this article. The more people that are proactively learning and readjusting their lives, the faster we can turn around the global warming crisis. It will take all of us pulling together in a positive, loving, and caring manner. It will not be easy until every human accepts the reality that we are running out of time. Big changes, such as sacrificing convenience for doing the right thing for the planet, are necessary.
CCGKC thanks the partners who have been featured here. Your informative contributions are invaluable in learning how to navigate the largeness of Climate Change and its impact on every facet, of every life, on every square inch of our earth. To the rest of our partners, CCGKC says thank you for your continued support. Please share with your groups, family and friends, as that is why CCGKC exists … to educate and give support to each other. And btw, we are continuing to grow with new partners….so thank you all for walking together on this very important and educational journey.
NOW, GO PLANT SOME TREES TOO!
