Climate change
For decades, evidence has been mounting that global warming due to carbon dioxide and other pollutants is changing the earth’s climate. In recent years, sea level rise, severe weather events, melting icecaps and other phenomena indicate that change is happening now and with uncertain consequences for people and the environment.
While the challenge is daunting, governments around the world, including state and local entities in the U.S., are enacting policies to try to curb emission of greenhouse gases. Many corporations are also moving in support of carbon neutral processes.
Ultimately, however, neither governments nor companies can fully address the climate change challenge. It is, after all, individuals who consume energy and buy products and services that use energy during their production and transport around the world. As individuals, we can make informed choices and take action to use energy more wisely. A few examples:
- Take fewer car trips by combining single ones.
- Use programmable thermostats to better regulate house temperature.
- Insulate homes more completely and install efficient heating and cooling systems.
- Buy more energy-efficient appliances, TVs, computers and cars.
- Consider using solar- and/or wind-derived utilities.
ORF will increasingly communicate and promote actions citizens can take to make a difference and feel like part of the solution rather than part of the problem.
