You Think You Can Change the Climate?

“You Think You Can Change the Climate?”
I was not prepared when an acquaintance at a Super Bowl party asked this question in response to my sharing that I am working on the climate crisis. It seemed a long time before my response, “yes I do.” That got me thinking.

Being a climate activist is a challenge. Although science interests me, debating does not. I feel God’s presence in my life, but not the impulse to proselytize. Good public speakers inspire me, but the thought of presenting a formal paper makes my knees knock. And I definitely do not relate the climate crisis and creation care to politics or tribal orientation. Being a citizen who leads by example is my style. That doesn’t engender followers, but perhaps that technique will stimulate action. To that end, I offer the following list of actions the Green Team and I have taken that do indeed, change the climate:

– We have begun a program to limit single use plastic at church and home.
– The team has planted a demonstration garden with elementary students.
– We have recycled plastic and cans from the Salt River Recreation Area.
– Our preschool has planted a veggie garden.
– Recycling plastic, aluminum, glass and corrugated directly helps.
– We collect green waste and dig it into gardens to trap carbon.
– We personally finance as well as plant trees to increase O2 (oxygen.)
– Repurposing unwanted household items reduces mfg. new items.
– We have divested our retirement accounts away from fossil fuels.
– Our family car is a hybrid with terrific mileage with batteries/gasoline.
– When forced to fly we buy carbon offsets (AZ Interfaith Power & Light.)
– Added insulation causes our home air conditioner to run less.
– Our community garden helps avoid trucking food into the stores.
– We installed a high efficiency heat pump at home & church.
– We switched lighting at home & church to reduce power needs.

These are a few activities that have proven to improve our environment, changing the climate. The time for action is now. Can you help?
By EarthKeeper, JP Smith.