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GLOBAL WARMING Today's foremost environmental problem will carry critical consequences for tomorrow. Where can we begin to solve it? As Americans, two things are true of our lifestyles. First, more than those of any other nation, they encompass a staggering array of options—from (lots of) fuel-combusting SUVs and New Zealand apples available year-round to electric compact cars and seasonal local produce. Second, on average, our lifestyles contribute more than those of any other nation to the problem of global warming. Together, these two truths suggest that to play a role in global warming's solution, we should alleviate the atmospheric effects of our lifestyles by embracing our freedom to consume responsibly.

Background:

AN ANTHROPOGENIC ATMOSPHERIC ATTACK

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change estimates that average global temperatures will rise between 2.2 and 10.0 degrees Fahrenheit by the year 2100. A change of 2.2 degrees might not seem like much, but temperatures shifted a mere 9 degrees from the last ice age to our currently more hospitable climate. The evidence of global warming is already apparent: the 1990s were the warmest decade of the last millennium, and the three warmest years on record have occurred since 1998.

Most of the man-made (anthropogenic) greenhouse gases responsible for global warming are emitted by power plants and vehicles. Fueled by the industrial revolution and the advent of the personal automobile, atmospheric levels of carbon dioxide, the most common greenhouse gas, have risen by about a third since the 18 th century, and the pace is accelerating. Air samples from Hawaii’s Mauna Loa Observatory show that carbon dioxide has become 18 percent more concentrated in the last 45 years and increased 5 percent in just the last decade.

The environmental devastation caused by global warming is potentially severe. According to the mid-range estimate of one recent study, the warming that will occur by 2050 will commit a quarter of all species to eventual extinction. Oceans will rise and heat, making low-lying agricultural land too salty to be productive and coral ecosystems too warm to survive. Deserts will expand, overrunning rangelands, while polar bears’ sea ice hunting grounds will shrink. The frequency of extreme weather events will increase, deteriorating human and non-human habitats.

But in fact, though we can reasonably predict many undesirable outcomes, what is most threatening about the havoc wrought by global warming is its uncertainty. It is not uncertain that warming will occur—indeed, it already has—but what is unknown is exactly how it will affect the intricate, interrelated forces that shape our world. Will the animal and plant species we extinguish be necessary for our future well-being, even survival? Will a changing climate disrupt our access to stable food and energy? Will violence erupt in battles over scarce resources?

And of course, adding to our confusion about global warming are its paradoxes. While worldwide temperatures will increase, some areas, including Great Britain and the northeastern United States, may undergo cooling as the Gulf Stream changes course. What’s more, while millions of species die off, others will thrive from lack of competition. These inconsistencies underscore the complexity of our climate, and our ignorance of it. Though able to transform it, we are not its masters.

We are anxious in the face of these unprecedented and unpredictable changes in our world. Many of us want to prevent them from happening, or else, if it is already too late, to lessen their impact. Only where do we start? Global solutions are required for these global problems. We will need cooperation on a massive scale, and dangerous trends all around the world will have to be reversed.

As consumers in the United States, we have powerful potential for change. Currently, with 4 percent of the population, we account for one-quarter of the world’s carbon dioxide emissions. We can change that unbalanced ratio, not by waiting for developing countries to adopt our appetite and claim a larger segment of worldwide emissions for themselves, but instead by modifying our own lifestyles to show the world how to live well while doing good for the environment.

In our society, we can choose to travel, eat, invest—to lead every aspect of our lifestyles—responsibly with regard to our impact on the climate of today and tomorrow, for ourselves and for future generations. Coming up are ten tips on how to improve your individual impact on global warming. We have selected the types of actions that, for most of us, will reduce our greenhouse gas emissions the most.

BEAT THE HEAT

1. Drive a greener vehicle. In the United States , carbon dioxide emissions from automobiles alone are greater than the total emissions of all but three other countries in the world: Japan , Russia and China , and the U.S. itself. Changing what you drive is the best way to drive down the atmospheric effects of America ’s transportation sector.

Of course, driving a greener vehicle doesn’t mean you have to get the paint redone. Next time you’re shopping around for a vehicle to buy or lease, compare your options based on fuel efficiency; in almost any class of vehicles there is a significant difference between the most efficient and the least efficient.

In recent years, vehicles outfitted with hybrid-electric engines have set standards for efficiency. During the 2005 model year, six hybrids will come to market, on top of the three that are already available. There new hybrid options on the way for coupes (Honda Accord, Civic and Insight), sedans (Honda Accord and the Toyota Prius), SUVs (Ford Escape, Toyota Highlander and Lexus RX 400h), and pickups (Chevrolet Silverado, GMC Sierra and Dodge Ram).

The State of California ’s Drive Clean website is an excellent portal for information on current and upcoming models of clean cars. The U.S. Department of Energy and Environmental Protection Agency sponsor fueleconomy.gov, featuring facts about the fuel economy, safety, estimated annual fuel costs, greenhouse gas and toxic emissions of vehicles manufactured between 1985 and 2004. Check out how much money and emissions you’d save by trading in your old gas-guzzler for something more financially and environmentally economical.

2. Don’t catch a “cold-start.” The Federal Highway Administration found that more than half of the times Americans make a trip (by any mode of travel, not just cars), they go fewer than 3 miles. The next time you’re taking a short trip, consider walking or biking instead of driving, particularly if the weather is nice and you don’t have to cross any highways. Aside from substituting your mode of travel, you can also cut down on car trips by planning to do several errands at once. Not only will you drive a shorter distance, but you’ll also be reducing the dirtiest moments for a car—after it has just started and while it’s turning off. These “cold-start” and “hot-soak” emissions make up 75 percent of the emissions of a five-mile trip.

3. Go public. The American Public Transportation Society’s website is a gateway to public transportation systems in every U.S. state, Puerto Rico and the territories. By road, by rail, by river and more, transit takes Americans on nearly 10 billion trips each year, reducing emissions and road rage while creating jobs, social interaction and precious opportunities for relaxation.

4. Settle downtown. Each mile between your workplace and where you choose to live adds 495 miles per year to your annual Monday-Friday commute. Where you live in relation to work, as well as to shops, schools and other common destinations, is one of the most significant factors in your and your family’s overall output of greenhouse gas emissions. If you can’t stand living in the big city, or even the town center, stay connected to your local hub by searching for housing along the spokes of the public transit system.

5. Use star power. Since 1992, the EPA’s Energy Star labeling program has helped consumers identify and business promote energy-efficient products. The blue-and-white Energy Star label appears on range of product categories, including lighting, office equipment, home electronics and appliances. Energy Star products can be 20-40% more efficient than the national standard for their category. Those savings add up, especially with major heating and cooling systems and appliances. Replacing a refrigerator purchased in 1990 with an Energy Star model would save enough energy to light the average household for over four and a half months. And if every American household substituted one light bulb with an Energy Star compact fluorescent light bulb (CFL), it would prevent the same amount of pollution as removing one million cars from the road. Search the Energy Star website for qualified products, to find a store where you can buy them, and to uncover special offers and rebates available in your area.

6. Block the escapes. Here’s what happens when you don’t have good insulation: when it’s cold outside, heat escapes from your house, causing money to escape from your wallet and greenhouse gases to escape into the atmosphere as you produce extra heat for your home; when it’s hot outside, heat invades your house, but money and emissions keep escaping while you run your air conditioner. The lesson: block all the escape routes with good insulation, preferably made from eco-friendly materials.

Many conventional varieties of insulation pose environmental problems ranging from raw materials extraction to product disposal, as well as health risks from exposure to toxic fibers and vapors. Plant- and animal-based insulation, for example, cotton, cellulose and pesticide-free wool, is typically better for the environment than synthetics. UK-based Construction Resources offers a guide to the advantages and alternatives of “natural insulation.” The Environmental Home Center offers a number of natural insulation products along with other green building supplies. Energy Star has insulation recommendations both for do-it-yourselfers and people who want to hire a professional.

7. Renew your residence. According to the Union of Concerned Scientists, 21% of the average household’s contribution to global warming comes from residential electricity use. You can eliminate a large chunk, if not all, of that by purchasing electricity from renewable sources. Nearly half the population has some source of green power available to them, but, due largely to uninspired marketing of green power programs run by fossil fuel-powered utilities, just a fraction of Americans are aware of their choices. But as information about renewables inevitably spreads, consumers are responding quickly for the need for responsible energy use. Between 1999 and 2002, customer participation in “green pricing” programs increased fourfold, though average participation was still only 1% of the overall energy market. Consumer support at this stage can make a huge difference for the nation’s energy future.

The three major “circuits” to green electricity are described below (A-C). Visit the Green Power Markets Overview at the Green Power Network, a project of the Department of Energy, to find out which are available to you.

A. More than 500 utilities around the country offer green pricing programs in which consumers pay a low premium to support the development of renewable energy options. The Green Power Network website features a program locator organized by state and by utility.

B. If you live within a deregulated electricity market, you may have a choice of competitively priced renewable energy options, which can be cheaper than fossil fuel power. Currently, so-called “green power marketing” exists in the District of Columbia, California, Illinois, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Texas, Virginia, and several New England states. Search by state or by marketer for options near you.

C. Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs)—otherwise known as Tradable Renewable Certificates (TRCs), green certificates or green tags—allow consumers to purchase the positive environmental attributes of renewable energy without actually purchasing electricity. This means that even consumers without access to renewable energy from their utility or within their deregulated market can still promote the growth of renewables, in their own region and around the country. More than 30 organizations offer RECs (they are listed here). Most are certified by the Center for Resource Solutions’ Green-E program to ensure that their cost goes directly into developing renewable energy.

8. Turn on to offsetting. There is a popular new trend among celebrities and companies to counteract the carbon emissions produced by their lifestyles and operations by planting trees, funding renewable energy development and supporting other “offsets.” Actors Leonardo DiCaprio, Orlando Bloom and Elijah Wood all lead carbon-neutral lifestyles. The Foo Fighters’ album One by One , global warming film The Day After Tomorrow and Virgin Megastores are also offsetters. Future Forests is a UK-based company specializing in helping individuals and businesses go carbon-neutral. Future Forests’ website features background on the offsetting projects it invests in, an explanation of the theory behind offsetting, a carbon calculator to estimate your personal emissions, and a shop of offsetting products.

Carbon offsets are a controversial means of fighting global warming. Some argue that planting trees is temporary and limited solution. Once trees die, they begin to rot and release the carbon they have stored. Furthermore, it is unlikely that forests can expand quickly enough to offset the growth of greenhouse gas emissions worldwide; in many regions of the world, net forest area is shrinking. What carbon offsets can do is buy time for the development of clean energy sources that produce fewer, even zero, emissions to offset.

Carbonfund.org is nonprofit carbon offsetting organization that contributes directly to emissions reductions. The fund uses donations to buy carbon credits (certificates that set carbon emission quotas for corporations), and then retires the credits so no companies can use them, thereby restricting overall global output of greenhouse gases.

9. Do well by doing good. Through environmentally responsible investing, your money takes an active role in protecting the environment even when you’re not spending it on eco-friendly products or donating it to support environmental causes. Your investments today determine how companies do business tomorrow. Learn how to invest responsibly in the Investing chapter of Guide to The Green Life.

10. Buy local food. Researchers in Maryland found that average pound of fresh produce travels 1686 miles! Keep in mind that even organics can be global-warming-gluttons. For example, organic apples from New Zealand often travel halfway around the world before being consumed in the U.S. Find fresh, delicious local food using LocalHarvest’s directory of farmers’ markets, local farms, community-supported agriculture programs (CSAs) and food co-ops.

Resources

• American Public Transportation Society: “To better inform the public about the benefits and importance of public transportation for all Americans — even if they never board a train or a bus.” www.publictransportation.org

• Carbonfund.org: “We buy carbon dioxide credits and retire them. It's that simple.” www.carbonfund.org

• Drive Clean: “A zero and near-zero emission vehicle guide brought to you by the California Air Resources Board.” www.driveclean.ca.gov

• Energy Star: “A government-backed program helping businesses and individuals protect the environment through superior energy efficiency.” www.energystar.gov

• Environmental Home Center: “your most complete source for green building materials—simply the highest-quality choices with the added benefit of being healthy and resource-efficient.” www.environmentalhomecenter.com

• Fueleconomy.gov: “Gas mileage (MPG), greenhouse gas emissions, air pollution ratings, and safety information for new and used cars and trucks.” www.fueleconomy.gov

• Future Forests: “A business with a long-term mission—to protect the Earth’s climate.” www.futureforests.com

• Green Power Network: “up-to-date information on green power providers, product offerings, consumer protection issues, and policies affecting green power markets.” www.eere.energy.gov/greenpower

• Local Harvest: “The LocalHarvest map makes it easy to find family farms, farmers markets and other sources of sustainably grown food in your area.” www.localharvest.org