It’s hard to miss the news about extreme weather these days: hurricanes, fires, and closest to home, flooding. The climate is changing, and as…
It’s hard to miss the news about extreme weather these days: hurricanes, fires, and closest to home, flooding. The climate is changing, and as a result our communities are hurting.
The federal government’s National Climate Assessment, released on Nov. 23, assessed the impacts of climate change across the United States, both now and throughout this century. The findings are sobering, if not downright terrifying: If we do not take action, climate change will cost the U. S. economy hundreds of billions of dollars annually and will increasingly threaten our health and well-being. Citizens and local governments bear most of the brunt of this destruction and the costs of repair.
So what can we do? The problem can feel overwhelming and out of our control. The good news, though, is that much can be done at the community level, and community-scale action can collectively put a major dent in the problem. Even better news is that local climate action strengthens local economies! Here’s what you can do to be a part of that community-focused solution:
Understand the cause. Greenhouse gases (primarily carbon dioxide and methane) form a blanket over the earth that trap heat.
