Climate Action in 2024 – A Reflection @ 50 Days

A summary of where we’ve been in the first 50 days of this challenge

The Frog will explore The Climate Action Handbook: A Visual Guide to 100 Climate Solutions by Heidi Roop in the first 100 days of 2024

In the first `100 days of 2024 we will explore 100 climate solutions that may “empower you to evaluate, engage, and act” to address on-going climate change as an individual on your terms.

Well begun is half done – Mary Poppins

I am, in fact, half done. And on time. For the last 50 days I have been on a journey to highlight simple actions that an individual can take to make a some impact on mitigating the causes of climate change and anticipating and adapting to the very profound changes that are already underway, with the help of Heidi Roop.

At the halfway point, I thought I would stop and reflect on what I have realized about climate change action in the last 50 days. I am concerned that (if anyone is reading this routinely) that it was all beginning to sound a little preachy. That if you don’t do all of these actions, than somehow your effort is diminished.

That is not the point at all, so I want to remind you that that dominant theme is individual action for its own sake. Wide-scale, effective climate change mitigation and adaptation is a colossal effort that must be driven by governments and corporations. Anyone that argues that only YOU need to change what you are doing to effectively combat climate change (with an overtone of blame) is likely engaging in a cynical disinformation and deflection campaign. ExxonMobil is really good at it.

I am attempting to feed thoughtful individuals who desire to effectively take action for personal reasons. I am hoping that an organized effort will bring clarity on the options available to an individual to take action. I feel strongly that taking action can bring a sense of personal satisfaction in contributing, as an individual, to a larger (and growing) collective action that will have a global impact. This is particularly true for those living in the United States.

I also have been trying point out opportunities (and there will be more in later actions) to reach out and engage with family, friends, and community, and make your voice heard in a wider audience. So take individual action for your own sake. And make your voice heard.

I have fallen into a routine in writing these blog entries. I typically read the section in Heidi’s book during the day, reflect on the action, overlay my own experience, and then sit down and write the blog post in one sitting.

In doing this for 50 days I have had some revelations, which I offer with no particular priority:

The action that I am evidently most passionate about is Day 4: Be Privy to the Politics of Climate Change. That one flowed out of a place of anger and despair. Vote your values. Vote climate change. The stakes are high.

https://www.climatesolutions.org/

The action offering the most profound revelation so far is Day 30: Compost. When a ready process for collecting food scraps was implemented in our county, we took action. We found it satisfying to separate our food scraps, take them to collection point, and then in the spring add a couple of buckets of rich humus to our garden.

Consumers throw food scraps in their trash cans which leads directly to the release of the powerful greenhouse gas methane from landfills. So what was the revelation? I am an organic chemist, and know a lot about decomposition reactions in the anaerobic conditions of a landfill. Until I read Heidi’s book, I never reflected on the danger inherent in this process.

If you want to take one action that will lead to a habit, do everything you can to keep food scraps out of the landfill. Collective action on this, supported and encouraged by local governments, can have a profound impact on climate change mitigation.

Other revelations:

I hope you are finding this series of interest, and would appreciate feedback on what we have discussed so far and if I can make the second half of this journey more compelling or useful for you.

To help out, here are links to all the posts so far:

Overview
Climate Action in 2024
Day 0: Why We Need the 100 Climate Solutions

Starting and Sustaining Your Climate Action Journey
Day 1: Consider Collective and Individual Actions
Day 2: Center Action in Your Strengths and Passions
Day 3: Understand the Disconnect Between Actions and Impact
Day 4: Be Privy to the Politics of Climate Change
Day 5: Beware the Corporate “Anti-Climate” Campaign

Energy Production and Transportation
Day 6: Know What Powers You and Your Home
Day 7: Curb the Cost of Renewable Energy
Day 8: Support Solar and Other Renewables in Your Region
Day 9: Weigh the Impact of Decarbonization
Day 10: Drive and Commute Mindfully
Day 11: Consider Carpooling and Rideshares
Day 12: Buy and Drive an Electric Car
Day 13: Drive Efficiently
Day 14: Be Idle-Free

Travel and Work
Day 15: Fly Less, Fly Economy
Day 16: Vacation Closer to Home
Day 17: Seek Out Eco-Friendly Accommodations
Day 18: Reduce Trash When You Travel
Day 19: Find Alternatives for Work-related Travel
Day 20: Learn More About Climate Financing
Day 21: Divest and Reinvest
Day 22: Telecommute When Possible
Day 23: Seek Out Climate Solutions in the Workplace
Day 24: Reduce the Climate Footprint of the Building Around You
Day 25: Go Green and Cool With Rooftops
Day 26: Consider Climate as Part of Your Career
Day 27: Use Caution With Corporate Climate Commitments

Food and Farming
Day 28: Eat Your Broccoli, and Pass on the Meat
Day 29: Cut Down on Your Food Waste
Day 30: Compost
Day 31: Shop for Your Meals Mindfully
Day 32: Research More Than the Takeout Menu
Day 33: Thoughtfully Opt for Meat Alternatives
Day 34: Switch to Nondairy Alternatives
Day 35: Look Into Eating Locally
Day 36: Enjoy Your Chocolate Responsibly
Day 37: Imbibe With Climate in Mind
Day 38: Get to Know Your Favorite Coffee
Day 39: Support Local, Sustainable Fisheries

Shopping and Consumer Choices
Day 40: Reduce Consumption Through Community Sharing
Day 41: Turn Away From Fast Fashion
Day 42: Weigh Your Diaper Options
Day 43: Ditch the Bottled Water
Day 44: Cut Down on Plastics
Day 45: Avoid Microplastics
Day 46: Make More Thoughtful Online Purchases
Day 47: Slow Down Your Shipping
Day 48: Keep Your Devices Longer and Dispose of Them Properly
Day 49: Shop Your Values
Day 50: Beware Greenwashing

Cheers! And take action!

#rescuethatfrog
Email: rescuethatfrog@gmail.com

5 responses to “Climate Action in 2024 – A Reflection @ 50 Days”

  1. Karen Asmundson Avatar
    Karen Asmundson

    Hi Howard,
    I’ve enjoyed your series. I haven’t found it preachy but instead, concise and fact-based. We all can make small changes that make a big collective difference. I appreciate the metered doses of this information that are easily digested. There’s probably a mixed metaphor somewhere there, but I think you get my drift. How do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time. (I’m not encouraging the eating of elephants.)

    I hope you are well. I’m back in a product engineering role in AASD after working as a production operator in Red Wing for six months. It was a good reminder of how fortunate I am to have the resources and education I do and for the cushy office job I have.

    1. Howard Creel Avatar
      Howard Creel

      Karen! So good to hear from you. I appreciate you taking the time to read the posts. Let’s catch up soon.

  2. Franco Morsino Avatar
    Franco Morsino

    Massive work, and a really engaging one.

    Thanks for your efforts and the clarity on the proposals.

    Compliments again.

    A silent reader

  3. Mark Meyering Avatar
    Mark Meyering

    No need to wait until the end of the concert to applaud a briiiant solo.. Howard, these digests are masterful. Thank you for my daily inspiration. I’ve been selectively forwarding the email to individuals in my circles. I’ve learned (as you have) that what we became comfortable doing & thinking about effective action isn’t always delivering meaningful results. The mantra “Think globally, act locally” was OK at first, but we need to exercise our individual AND community power to drive transformational policy change on the state, national and global levels. By political engagement. By joining the march. By our voices and conversations in all forums, all media, any way possible.

    Final thought (actually midterm at 50 days)… stay strong in your resolve, Howard! I know what it’s like to put time into a well-crafted FB posting that gets zero responses, then post a cute grandkid pic that gets 100 likes. It’s human nature for a reader to reward the easy thing and overthink or take a pass on responding to the hard thing. But here’s the validation: the hard post is the one that gets remembered. And will later come up in real life conversations with the reader.. driving a serious discussion and action. My point: don’t worry about “likes” or anything else. Keep casting your bread out on the water, plant your seeds. Good things will happen.

    My thanks and my best.

    1. Howard Creel Avatar
      Howard Creel

      Thank you for the support and kind words, Mark. I appreciate it.

5 thoughts on “Climate Action in 2024 – A Reflection @ 50 Days”

  1. Hi Howard,
    I’ve enjoyed your series. I haven’t found it preachy but instead, concise and fact-based. We all can make small changes that make a big collective difference. I appreciate the metered doses of this information that are easily digested. There’s probably a mixed metaphor somewhere there, but I think you get my drift. How do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time. (I’m not encouraging the eating of elephants.)

    I hope you are well. I’m back in a product engineering role in AASD after working as a production operator in Red Wing for six months. It was a good reminder of how fortunate I am to have the resources and education I do and for the cushy office job I have.

    1. Karen! So good to hear from you. I appreciate you taking the time to read the posts. Let’s catch up soon.

  2. Massive work, and a really engaging one.

    Thanks for your efforts and the clarity on the proposals.

    Compliments again.

    A silent reader

  3. No need to wait until the end of the concert to applaud a briiiant solo.. Howard, these digests are masterful. Thank you for my daily inspiration. I’ve been selectively forwarding the email to individuals in my circles. I’ve learned (as you have) that what we became comfortable doing & thinking about effective action isn’t always delivering meaningful results. The mantra “Think globally, act locally” was OK at first, but we need to exercise our individual AND community power to drive transformational policy change on the state, national and global levels. By political engagement. By joining the march. By our voices and conversations in all forums, all media, any way possible.

    Final thought (actually midterm at 50 days)… stay strong in your resolve, Howard! I know what it’s like to put time into a well-crafted FB posting that gets zero responses, then post a cute grandkid pic that gets 100 likes. It’s human nature for a reader to reward the easy thing and overthink or take a pass on responding to the hard thing. But here’s the validation: the hard post is the one that gets remembered. And will later come up in real life conversations with the reader.. driving a serious discussion and action. My point: don’t worry about “likes” or anything else. Keep casting your bread out on the water, plant your seeds. Good things will happen.

    My thanks and my best.

Comments are closed.