Wildfire threatened both Calaveras and Tuolumne in past weeks. The effects of climate change are being felt full force in our communities. Learn how we can all make a difference both individually and collectively by tackling this crisis. Bookmark our Climate Action Blog for information on local climate action efforts. Stay connected – Email us at tsclimateaction@gmail.com to share your voice.
Why We Need to Talking (and Talking and Talking) About Climate Change. You probably don’t need convincing that climate change is real and a crisis. Heatwaves—the number one weather-related killer in the U.S.—are more frequent and intense, droughts are longer, fire seasons are more severe, storms are more intense, there is less ice and snow cover, sea level is rising, and oceans are acidifying. All this is happening now, not in some distant future, and it’s hurting most those who did the least to cause it—the poor and marginalized here and around the world. read more….
Become a Climate Activist
Climate change is an all-hands-on-deck emergency, but it’s easy to get paralyzed. We know that switching to paper straws and recycling plastic bottles can’t solve the climate crisis. We need to do more – but what can we do?
Check your carbon footprint. Our individual choices matter, and the first step is to see which choices make the most difference. Carbon footprint calculators are a great place to start.
I tried several of them, and my emissions came out close to the average American: 18 tons of carbon emissions in a single year. Gulp. (I’m installing solar this summer.)
A fine calculator to try is the free Earth Hero app that you can download to your mobile phone. You can get a quick estimate; or you can create an account and refine your numbers. The app will identify specific actions you can take to reduce personal emissions. Actions are ranked, sorted, and tie directly back into the emissions calculations.
Make climate-safe personal choices. Countless changes have been proposed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and we need to do them all. Drive less, eat less meat, buy energy efficient appliances, change lightbulbs, and much more.
For inspiration, check out everyone’s favorite climate scientist at www.katharinehayhoe.com and her YouTube series at www.globalweirdingseries.com.
For hundreds of ideas, head to www.drawdown.org.
Join an eco-challenge with like-minded people: www.ecochallenge.org.
Amplify your voice and advocate for systemic change.
Individual actions, however, can never match the power of collective actions. In fact, individual choices only account for 40% of carbon emissions. We need federal policies to promote clean energy and phase out coal and other fossil fuels.
Join Citizen’s Climate Lobby, a nonpartisan organization fighting to reduce America’s emissions by putting a price on carbon. This well-organized group has 200,000 international members with chapters covering every congressional district in the US. Take their terrific online training to learn more: www.citizensclimatelobby.org.
Become a Climate Reality Leader with former US Vice President Al Gore and a team of remarkable thought leaders. Training is free, it’s hosted online, and the next session starts in October 2021: www.climaterealityproject.org.
Call and write your representatives and work for candidates based on their environmental policies. Then vote!
Share your story. We all need inspiration and would love to hear what you are doing and what efforts you’re starting.
Send an email to tsclimateaction@gmail.com with your ideas, actions, and groups. Together, we can make a difference and the Climate Action Committee can help us coordinate efforts.