Earth In Crisis: Gifts For The Planet
Celebrating A Year Of Successes, Both Global And Local
By Tracey MacDermott
For the GPHN
As the year ends, I hope we can all reflect on our successes, as well as our struggles. Indeed, we can revel in how far we have come. Adjusting to a post-pandemic world, we saw the passage of our nation’s first comprehensive climate bill, while renewables worldwide saved more than 230 metric tons of CO2 emissions.
Ahead of the global environmental conference COP27 in November, Norway raised its target of cutting emissions to 55 percent by 2030. Comparatively, the Inflation Reduction Act sets the U.S. goals to approximately 40 percent. This was great news, however it falls short of the goal to limit warming to the critical goal of 1.5 degree Celsius. This is the target that scientists say would keep the worst effects of global warming from occurring.
Even China, one of the world’s largest greenhouse gas producers, is working to offset emissions. It is building the world’s largest wind farm, which could singularly power 13 million homes. In the U.S., wind energy is the largest source of renewables, providing a little over 10 percent of electricity and has contributed to one of the fastest growing job markets.
Germany passed a bill requiring single-use plastic manufactures to pay into a central fund to help clean up litter strewn along streets and parks. What if our city and state adopted such a bill to help clean up our growing trash problem? I have heard from many neighbors and long-term Colorado residents concerned about the trash, not just in our neighborhood and city but statewide.
This year our own neighborhood organization, Greater Park Hill Community, Inc. earned a Green Business Award. The newspaper you are holding in your hands was recognized with 19 awards for excellence in journalism — including in the public service category for our sustained coverage of the climate crisis. We continue to receive recognition as an outstanding neighborhood in the Sustainable Neighborhoods program. We have shown what a few committed people can accomplish when we work together.
These accomplishments are noteworthy and critical to solving the climate emergency and each one of us holds the power to do the same in our own lives. The holidays can easily derail good efforts if we mindlessly rush through the season.
During the holiday season, Americans throw out 25 percent more trash than usual. Last month, in the aftermath of Thanksgiving in America, 200 million pounds of turkey went uneaten, along with 30 million pounds of gravy. When that waste ends up in landfills, it produces methane, a potent greenhouse gas.
With one in 10 Coloradans suffering from food insecurity, surely all this food waste could go to help end this unnecessary suffering. In the weeks ahead, consider re-thinking your meal planning and help reduce the amount of carbon going into the atmosphere. Wasted food could be feeding others and at least repurposed into additional meals. This year, consider making less food for holiday celebrations, splitting with a family in need or skipping the big feast altogether and give back by volunteering your time.
The United States is the world’s largest consumer economy and the holidays kick it into full gear. Twenty three percent of U.S. emissions comes from the production of goods and raw materials. We all know that we can receive so much more from lasting impressions than items that eventually end up in a landfill.
If you want to give planet Earth a hand this year, consider gifts made with sustainability in mind. Handmade gifts are treasures. Patagonia makes items from old clothes and offers gently used items. Donations to organizations are wonderful ways to honor our loved ones and provide assistance to organizations in need. Plant a tree, adopt a beehive or browse second-hand stores. Donate to this newspaper in honor of a loved one. Shop locally. Your impact will benefit more than just the receiver of your gift.
’Tis the season of consumption but it does not have to be. We can change our mindset and begin new traditions of healing Mother Earth. Reducing our individual impact on this planet is the best gift we can all give to each other. Future generations will thank us.
Tracey MacDermott is an at-large member of the board of Greater Park Hill Community, Inc., and immediate past chair. She was trained as a Climate Reality Leader in 2017, and is currently the Statewide Co-Chair of the Climate Reality Project for the 100% Committed Campaign.