We are all polluters when it comes to the greenhouse gases that cause global warming. These emissions come from everywhere — our buildings, vehicles, and the production of the things we consume — not just from a few smokestacks.
Individually, you don't always have control over the big sources of greenhouse gasses. For instance, you can't go out one day and change the region's transportation system to make it convenient to take transit instead of driving to work (which is why it's important to emphasize the things we can do together as a region).
Still, there are many important steps you can take as an individual or family — many of which will save you money and improve your quality of life. Below are some suggestions.
By joining the millions of others around the world who are making personal changes, you are not only making a tangible contribution to protect the Earth's life-sustaining climate, but you are helping to build the public will for the large-scale policy changes that will also be needed to reduce the carbon footprint of our civilization.
Sites for activism
- We Can Solve It
- 1Sky.org
- Carbonrally
- Ohio's Tomorrow
- An Inconvenient Truth
- Apollo Alliance
- Presidential Climate Action Project
Guides for what you can do
- U.S. EPA: What you can do
- Union of Concerned Scientists: 10 personal solutions
- Sierra Club: 10 things you can do to help curb global warming
- Clean Air - Cool Planet: 10 cool climate-saving actions
- Climate Crisis: What you can do
What are you doing to reduce your carbon emissions? Tell your story by adding a comment to this page.
