Interfaith Power & Light

A Religious Response to Global Warming

  • About
    • Mission & History
    • IPL Team
      • Our Staff
      • Our Board of Directors
      • Job Openings
    • Find your State IPL
      • Your State IPL
      • Guidelines for Forming an Affiliate in Your State
    • Fact Sheet and Annual Report
    • Job Openings
  • Get Involved
    • Programs
      • FaithClimateJusticeVoter Campaign
      • Cool Congregations
      • Faith Climate Action Week
      • Paris Pledge
      • Carbon Covenant
    • Policy Positions
    • Upcoming Events
      • Faith Climate Action Week April 16 – 25, 2021
  • Take Action
    • Current Action Alerts
      • Town Hall Toolkit
    • Climate Justice is Racial Justice
    • COVID-19 RESOURCES AND INFORMATION
    • Pledge to be a Climate Justice Advocate
    • Host a Series of Movie Screenings
  • News & Resources
    • Congregational Solar Directory
    • Climate Change 101
    • Carbon Reduction Resources
      • EPA Energy Star for Congregations Workbook
      • Solar State-by-State Resources
      • Solar Congregations and Resources
      • Clean Energy Investment Resources
      • Divestment Resources
    • Religious Statements and Resources
      • Religious Statements on Climate Change
    • Educational Resources
      • Films and DVDs
      • For Children and Youth
      • Posters
      • Study Guides
      • Books and Booklets
    • Blog
    • In the News
  • Worship Resources
    • Faith and Global Warming Links
    • Climate Prayers and Sample Sermons
    • Sacred Texts with Creation Care Themes
    • Prayers, Poetry, and Other Worship Resources
    • Articles on Faith and the Environment
      • Success Stories
      • Music
  • Our Impact
    • Request a Speaker
    • Meet IPL Climate Converts & Leaders
    • Past Events
      • Participate in the Election Process
      • Join The Global Climate Action Summit and Climate March
      • People’s Climate March
      • Bishop Blaire Call Recap
  • Give
    • Donate Now
      • Planned Giving
  • Contact Us

Personal Action

 

CLIMATE CHANGE 101      CAUSES       EFFECTS      PERSONAL ACTION     POLITICAL ACTION     DEALING WITH DOUBT

Personal Action

Everyone knows some ways to reduce our impact on the planet. We can make little everyday choices like separating our recyclables from the garbage, or big investments like installing rooftop solar and buying an electric car. But what actions make the most difference? How much do we need to change? How much will it cost?


  

Food

The authors of Drawdown.org reviewed all the scientific literature on climate solutions, and ranked them by potential global impact. If all of these solutions were implemented on a global scale, we could actually reduce the amount of carbon in the atmosphere.  The top solutions relating to personal lifestyle in the first world are:

  • # 3  reduce food waste
  • # 4  eat a plant-rich diet

Combined, these food choices could potentially reduce the global atmospheric load of CO2 by over 130 gigatons. For comparison, rooftop solar (#10) can reduce the global CO2 load by only 25 gigatons.

Easy ways to improve your food lifestyle

  • Beef’s carbon footprint is twice that of pork and four times that of chicken. Choose wisely
  • Use meat for flavor rather than making it the whole meal
  • Consider observing “meatless Monday”
  • Reduce food waste by planning ahead and storing food correctly
  • Use smaller plates – you will probably eat less and be healthier too
  • Eat ugly food – lumpy and weird shaped can be delicious, too
  • Donate leftover food – food banks can’t take cooked food, but many shelters can
  • Eat what’s in season – it tastes better and needs less energy

       

Travel

As of early 2018, the EPA is still collecting data on greenhouse gas emissions.  Nationwide, transportation produces over ¼ of our CO2. Of the CO2 produced by transportation, 60% is tailpipe emissions from light duty vehicles, such as cars, and 9% is produced by airplanes.

Clearly, you can reduce your carbon footprint by telecommuting, riding a bike, using mass transit or carpooling. Supporting transit bond issues and pedestrian-friendly infrastructure helps as well. But never forget the impact of summer vacation. Your carbon footprint as an airline passenger is equivalent to the amount of carbon you would produce driving alone to your destination, in a gasoline-powered car. If your whole family is coming along, an old fashioned road trip is a better environmental choice.

A personal anecdote. The first time I calculated my carbon footprint, I was feeling pretty good, until I added in air travel. It blew my carbon budget and made me rethink my travel plans. A friend of mine is a climate scientist, and she used to fly all over for conferences. Then she changed careers, because she could not justify the carbon cost flying to the conferences.

Want to do more? Use the Cool California Climate Calculator to find more ways to reduce your household carbon footprint.

 

 

When in doubt, buy less stuff.

 

   

CLIMATE CHANGE 101      CAUSES       EFFECTS      PERSONAL ACTION     POLITICAL ACTION     DEALING WITH DOUBT

 

Keep in touch

We've Moved!
Interfaith Power & Light
672 13th Street, Suite 100
Oakland, CA 94612
510-444-4891

Affiliate Wiki Login

Search IPL

What’s New

Protect our Democracy – Statement from the IPL Board of Directors

The Washington Report

Social Media

  • Facebook
  • Flickr
  • Instagram
  • Tumblr
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Brought to you by

Brought to you by The Regeneration Project

Copyright © 2021 All Rights Reserved • Interfaith Power & Light • Privacy Policy • Log in