Save the Earth Now: Recent Actions Being Take to Fight Climate Change

In this article we share some important environmental news from around the globe that will greatly affect our future. This article is not to be pessimistic, as you will see there are signs of optimism grounded on the positive acts of people, organizations, governments, faith leaders, etc. However, there is still great concern that we have pushed our environment to the brink and therefore all of us need to act now.

Urban transportation is crucial to the attempt to slow climate change. Home to more than half the world’s population, cities account for more than two-thirds of global carbon dioxide emissions. And transportation is often the largest, and fastest growing source, making it essential to not only encourage more people to stop using their cars and use mass transit more often, but also to make transit itself less polluting and more efficient. See some of the changes below being implemented today by cities and countries around the world, in order to fight climate change.

Bogota, Colombia – The city now has 500 electric buses on the roads and contracts to buy another 1,000 by 2022 making Bogota’s electric bus fleet one of the largest in the world. Cable cars are being built to connect hill-top communities. The mayor of Bogota wants to add about 175 miles of bike lanes.

Norway is looking to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by half by 2030. In the city of Bergen, buses and trams run on electricity. Taxi operators must switch to all-electric vehicles by 2024 with the government providing subsidies to install charges at home. Public ferries are converting from diesel fuel to battery power. These are remarkable changes considering Norway’s abundant supplies of gas and oil and that now wants to be a leader for the electric age.

Berlin is re-introducing electric tram lines that were ripped out when the Berlin Wall went up. hills. Bergen, a city by the fjords in western Norway, is moving its public ferries away from diesel and onto batteries — a remarkable shift in a petrostate that has for decades enriched itself from the sale of oil and gas and that now wants to be a leader in marine vessels for the electric age.

Here is some more notable news on action being taken by major universities to join a long list of concerned organizations who want to challenge those most responsible for climate change. This month several prominent universities such as the University of Minnesota, Boston University and Harvard, have announced that they’ll divest from the fossil fuel industry. They will join a list of 1,300 schools and institutions that have divested or are in the process to divest. This support acknowledges the fact that fossils fuels is neither financially responsible nor morally defensible.

Pope Francis has joined with some 40 religious leaders representing the world’s major religions to call for immediate action to combat climate change. Pope Francis has spoken out on climate change warning us of the ‘grave threat’ facing all peoples worldwide. Faith leaders emphasized the need for urgent action now by reducing carbon emissions that are causing climate change and the disasters it produces.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is moving rapidly to limit hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), the Earth-warming chemicals used in air-conditioning and refrigeration. HFCs are thousands of times more potent than carbon dioxide at warming the planet and therefore it is extremely important to limit these man-made chemicals as soon as possible.

The Environmental Protection Agency has moved to sharply reduce the use and production of the powerful greenhouse gases central to refrigeration and air-conditioning in an attempt to slow the pace of global warming.

This swift action by the U.S. and the E.P.A. to eliminate HFCs along with the decision to rejoin the Paris climate accord demonstrates that the U.S. is committed to fighting climate change and global warming.

So, the message from far and near is clear and simple - let’s work together to fight climate change to ensure a brighter future for our children and grandchildren, before it’s too late. Get on board the ‘green’ train and start reducing your carbon footprint today.

Here are some more tips on how you can help your planet in need.

- Plant a tree on your property or visit www.plantabillion.org to have one planted for you

- Don’t idle your car

- Walk/bike instead of using your car

- Choose glass, aluminum and stainless steel over plastic

- Stop using disposable straws, use stainless steel instead

- Be wise when you shop, buy only what you need

- Don’t use air fresheners containing chemicals

- If you are chilly, put on a sweater, don’t turn up the heat

- Think before you print

- Avoid single use plastics

- Hang up laundry to dry

- Use LED bulbs

- Say no to extra materials when you order take out

- Don’t throw away organic waste. Compost it.

Remember, there is no planet B.