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10 things you can do to slow climate change
Lee Enterprises ^ | April 20, 2024 | Sean Sublette

Posted on 04/20/2024 11:56:56 AM PDT by Diana in Wisconsin

Planetary warming, also known as climate change, continues to accelerate. The last eight years have been the warmest on global record, which is well-documented, with information dating back to 1850. Additional warming will continue in the years to come, but how much more warming depends on the decisions we make in the coming decades about energy use.

For those looking to take individual actions, and in recognition of Earth Day, there are many that are relevant across income levels:

1. Reduce food waste

This can be as simple as being sure that food is consumed before it goes bad and preparing only what you plan to eat. Wasted food means the energy and resources used to produce and transport food also go to waste. More viscerally, rotting food produces methane — a greenhouse gas more potent than carbon dioxide.

2. Eat less meat

No one is going to take away your burger, but the energy needed to raise animals for food is much higher than what is needed for plants. Every farming and ranching operation is different, but in general, beef and lamb require the most energy and resources to raise, and thus produce the most greenhouse gas emissions.

3. Change your light bulbs

Lighting from LEDs (light-emitting diodes) uses less energy and lasts longer than both incandescent bulbs and CFLs (compact fluorescent lamps). Plus, LEDs do not contain the poisonous mercury found in CFLs.

4. Install a programmable thermostat

Replacing the thermostat in your home will give you more control over when and how much your home is heated and cooled, allowing you to save energy — and money — when you are not at home.

5. Use public transportation

In smaller cities and towns, this is not always an option. But using a bus or passenger rail takes an additional vehicle off of the road. At minimum, this decreases congestion and increases the efficiency of travel on roadways. And if you have a gasoline or diesel car, it eliminates another source of greenhouse gas emissions. Where feasible, walk or ride a bicycle.

6. Consider an electric car

The price of all-electric cars has fallen substantially in the last few years, now competitive with gas and diesel cars. Charging infrastructure continues to expand, making them more feasible for longer trips. For commuting and running errands, the battery life between charges is more than sufficient.

Where you charge an electric car matters, so find out how electricity is generated where you live.

7. Plant some trees

Trees also have an impact at the local level, as their shade helps cool communities in the hot summer sun, and their root systems create more permeable soils — decreasing the amount of water running off into streams and creeks during heavy rain. Trees also take in carbon dioxide, although the sheer number of trees needed to appreciably bring down atmospheric carbon dioxide is overwhelming.

8. Replace gas appliances

Natural gas — mostly methane — is a fossil fuel that releases carbon dioxide when it is burned. When used for cooking, it also releases carbon monoxide and nitrogen dioxide, both toxic in high enough concentrations. Additionally, evidence continues to mount indicating the use of gas stoves in the home raises the risk of pediatric asthma. If your budget allows, explore the newer generation of conduction ranges for cooking at home.

Many of these processes do add up. Leah Stokes, professor of Climate and Energy Policy at the University of California-Santa Barbara, refers to the collection of these solutions as deep decarbonization, “Electrifying everything, and powering those electric technologies with renewable energy sources like wind and solar, can slash carbon pollution by 75 percent, and individuals have a crucial role to play in making it happen.”

9. Support solar energy

The price of solar energy has plummeted over the last decade. According to Joey Marquart at Silverline, a Virginia-based clean energy communications firm, “Utility and business-scale power plants are the biggest way to mitigate climate change with solar, but rooftop solar is also an essential part of our energy arsenal — as well as a great way for customers to lower utility bills and, when paired with batteries, keep the lights on during power outages.”

If your rooftop orientation is conducive for solar, an investment in rooftop panels will often pay for itself within a decade.

10. Do not despair

About 20 years ago, there was grave concern about the worst-case scenario — a global increase in temperature of 9 degrees Fahrenheit by 2100. With coal use on the decline, especially in the United States, that scenario is on the verge of being eliminated.

Climate scientists will differ on the precise details, but current global policies — if we adhere to them — put us on track to see about 5.5 degrees Fahrenheit of warming by the time today’s newborns are ready to retire.

This means that there is still more work to be done if we are to slow the pace of planetary warming below the 3.6 degrees Fahrenheit (2 degrees Celsius) threshold that nations agreed to in the 2015 Paris Agreement.

At its core, additional warming puts more energy into the climate system. While Earth is not in danger of turning into the hellish landscape of Venus, every little bit of warming increases the risk to people from temperatures that tend to be hotter, rains that tend to get heavier, seas that tend to rise further, and droughts that tend to develop more quickly.

Earth has already warmed about 2 degrees Fahrenheit since the end of the 19th century, with most of the warming coming in the last half-century. The decisions we make about energy use in the coming couple of decades will effectively set the thermostat for the decades to follow.


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Conspiracy; Food; Science
KEYWORDS: climate; cult; endtimes; erfday; falsereligion; globalwarming; godless; weather
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If you made it through this BS, add #11 to your 'Things To Do' List:

11. Despair. Kill yourself right now. *SMIRK*

1 posted on 04/20/2024 11:56:56 AM PDT by Diana in Wisconsin
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To: Diana in Wisconsin

Hold your breath! . . . Don’t worry, we’ll let you know when to breathe again! 😀


2 posted on 04/20/2024 12:01:19 PM PDT by the_Watchman
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To: Diana in Wisconsin

“Climate Change” out
“Planetary Warming” in


3 posted on 04/20/2024 12:04:00 PM PDT by Organic Panic (Democrats. Memories as short as Joe Biden's eyes.)
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To: Diana in Wisconsin

12. Plug your methane hole.


4 posted on 04/20/2024 12:04:23 PM PDT by Fledermaus (Is it me, or all of a sudden have the buried trolls come out on FR like cicadas? It's all noise.)
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To: Diana in Wisconsin

I’ve planted trees and I have a programmable thermostat. To offset the carbon reduction that I have caused, I grill steaks over charcoal at least 3 times per week.


5 posted on 04/20/2024 12:04:46 PM PDT by bwest
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To: Diana in Wisconsin

Global warming can be stopped with just a 2 actions.

1. Pull funding and jail those that make predictions that fail to come true.

2. Expose all calculations, methods and other data to open source peer review.

A little sunlight will expose the GW fraud and it will go away.


6 posted on 04/20/2024 12:06:07 PM PDT by Dutch Boy (The only thing worse than having something taken from you is to have it returned broken. )
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To: Diana in Wisconsin

Reminder: the people who tell us that gas appliances are bad are the same people who told us in the Obama years that we would save the world by switching to “clean burning” natural gas.


7 posted on 04/20/2024 12:06:27 PM PDT by Tell It Right (1st Thessalonians 5:21 -- Put everything to the test, hold fast to that which is true.)
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To: Diana in Wisconsin

who writes this nonsense.

None of those things will have any impact on anything.

10. Don’t despair?

Does that mean if we all just dont despair then by golly, global warming will stop? Wow, just wow. These people are insane.


8 posted on 04/20/2024 12:07:06 PM PDT by Jonny7797
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To: Diana in Wisconsin

11. Follow the lead of climate change alarmists: travel by private jet whenever possible; buy multiple mansions with incredibly large footprints, preferably on or near the beach; if possible, use large SUV’s for yourself and your entourage (the bigger the better!) when traveling local; make copious use of air conditioning and gourmet meals.


9 posted on 04/20/2024 12:07:29 PM PDT by Stosh
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To: Diana in Wisconsin

“Planetary warming, also known as climate change, continues to accelerate.” Nonsense.


10 posted on 04/20/2024 12:07:40 PM PDT by Fungi
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To: bwest

“I’ve planted trees and I have a programmable thermostat. To offset the carbon reduction that I have caused, I grill steaks over charcoal at least 3 times per week.”

Well, ok - but don’t dare let it drop below 3!


11 posted on 04/20/2024 12:08:25 PM PDT by Magic Fingers (Political correctness mutates in order to remain virulent.)
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To: Diana in Wisconsin

#11 Turn on your air conditioning and open all your doors and windows.....


12 posted on 04/20/2024 12:09:14 PM PDT by Hot Tabasco (Uncle Boozie was eaten by cannibals....)
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To: Diana in Wisconsin

11 do nothing, because there is nothing any can do about the climate changing like it always has and always will.


13 posted on 04/20/2024 12:09:44 PM PDT by TexasFreeper2009
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To: Diana in Wisconsin

From #8: Electrifying everything, and powering those electric technologies with renewable energy sources like wind and solar…

There is zero chance of wind and solar being able to replace the energy available from carbon-based fuels. Zero chance.

But I’m sure these Climate Change idiots never gave that a moment’s thought. Just plug your electric appliance (or electric car) into a wall socket, and presto! It’s gonna work first time, and every time.

Because that’s just what electricity is. It’s magic. The laws of physics do not apply.


14 posted on 04/20/2024 12:10:34 PM PDT by Leaning Right (The steal is real.)
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To: Diana in Wisconsin
No one is going to take away your burger,

"But fear not, we're trying to find a way and as soon as we can, we'll be taking away your burgers."

15 posted on 04/20/2024 12:12:13 PM PDT by Drew68
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To: Hot Tabasco

#12 Burn your old tires.


16 posted on 04/20/2024 12:12:51 PM PDT by EvilCapitalist (Pets are no substitute for children)
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To: Diana in Wisconsin

2. Eat less meat

3. Eat me


17 posted on 04/20/2024 12:14:45 PM PDT by Bonemaker (invictus maneo)
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To: bwest

“I’ve planted trees and I have a programmable thermostat. To offset the carbon reduction that I have caused, I grill steaks over charcoal at least 3 times per week.”

Well, ok - but don’t dare let it drop below 3!


18 posted on 04/20/2024 12:16:33 PM PDT by Magic Fingers (Political correctness mutates in order to remain virulent.)
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To: Diana in Wisconsin
Yep. Liberals, just do this:

#########################

Not this way. Too much heat created:


19 posted on 04/20/2024 12:17:07 PM PDT by Eccl 10:2 (Prov 3:5 --- "Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding")
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To: Diana in Wisconsin

Great! We can still use our private jets and yachts. What a relief!


20 posted on 04/20/2024 12:17:55 PM PDT by MCF (If my home can't be my Castle, then it will be my Alamo)
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