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Climate
What You Can Do
2008 Annual Report
This article is a part of WWF's 2008 Annual Report.
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WWF’s supporters make it possible for us to address the climate issue globally. But they also want to know: “What can I do right now, in my home or community, to make a difference?”
Avenues are open for individuals to make changes in their own energy use, influence others to do the same, and make a difference politically
Measure and Reduce Your Carbon Footprint
To effectively reduce your contribution to greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, use an online emissions calculator. For example, EPA has one at www.epa.gov/climatechange/emissions/ind_calculator.html. This online tool estimates your emissions and identifies opportunities to reduce them – often saving money at the same time. It does not, however, take into account the additional emissions associated with the food, goods and services you consume or use. These indirect, or embedded, emissions are a large portion of your overall carbon footprint.
WWF will soon launch our own online Carbon Calculator which incorporates embedded emissions. Until then, kick-start your efforts with these ideas to reduce emissions from household energy use.
- Turn down the thermostat on your water heater. Do the same for central heating, and in the summer turn that thermostat back up.
- Look around your home for opportunities to insulate spaces and eliminate drafts to get the most out of your heating and cooling.
- Plant native deciduous trees on the south side of your house to shade it and reduce air conditioning use. When these trees lose their leaves in the winter, the sun can help warm the house.
- Take out and replace incandescent lightbulbs with fluorescent ones. Use lights only when and where you need them.
- Pull out the plug on appliances when you are not using them, and on TVs, computers, stereos, DVD players and other devices that use electricity while on standby. Also unplug chargers for cell phones, PDAs and MP3 players as soon as charging is completed.
- Sign up for "green power" - electricity generated by sources with low, or no, routine CO2 emissions.
- Look ahead to replacing old appliances with high-efficiency models. Where available on what you now own, select energy-saving settings.
- Check out your plumbing fixtures and install low-flow showerheads and aerators. Less hot water means less energy use.
- Cut back on how much you drive. Join a carpool or use public transportation. When driving, be sure your tires are properly inflated, observe speed limits, and avoid rapid acceleration and excessive braking - this adds up to more miles for less gas.
- Purchase food with less packaging and eat leftovers. Throw away as little food as possible.
Learn More, Get Involved and Speak Out
Find out about the potential impacts of climate change on your region and learn how you can get involved in forestalling them or adapting to them. The climate change section of the Environmental Protection Agency's website includes a section called "Where You Live," with links to regional impacts and state and local government action plans. You'll find it at epa.gov/climatechange/wyl.html.
You can also speak out to your elected representatives, telling them you believe climate change is important and that you support actions that will reduce emissions and prepare us for climate change impacts. Join WWF's Conservation Action Network, by signing up on our website. We will send you email action alerts and make it easy for you to send free personalized messages to policy makers.
Join WWF’s Conservation Action Network: takeaction.worldwildlife.org
Join the Biggest Worldwide Power-Down
On March 29, 2008, a consumer-driven blackout rolled across the Earth from Sydney to San Francisco as 50 million people turned out their lights for one hour at 8 p.m. local time. This was WWF's Earth Hour 2008, a global public event offering people a way to take a stand against the rapid rate of climate change. The simple action of turning off the lights for one hour became a symbolic statement encouraging bigger actions on the part of the communities, governments and businesses around the world.
Individuals in over 400 cities in 35 countries across all 7 continents participated, including 36 million Americans in more than 100 cities. Led by flagship cities Atlanta, Chicago, Pheonix and San Francisco, individuals, city governments, and businesses created events to engage and enlighten the public and to spread the message that together we can create change. We will do this again next year, so mark your calendar for March 28, 2009.
Sign up for Earth Hour 2009: www.EarthHourUS.org
Choosing to Make a Difference
U.S. carbon emissions per person run nearly five times the world average, and as a nation we are one of the largest contributors to global warming. The impacts of climate change are too great to ignore, and we must do everything in our power to protect our future. You can choose to make a difference, and you can encourage friends, family and coworkers to do the same. Individual and community actions add up.
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