In order to protect our environment, our nation struggles with switching from fossil fuels to renewable sources such as the most popular wind and solar. In order to transition, vast areas of natural wilderness must be become giant wind and solar operations. One solar farm alone in California incinerates 6000 birds a year, including endangered species.
Human beings have a massive footprint on this planet. From the energy we consume, to the products and food we consume. To the garbage and other pollution we produce. And destruction we cause in numerous other ways. Population growth over the centuries greatly exacerbates these problems. (The word "consumer" has an interesting history. That history speaks volumes about the problems we face today!)
That is why one of the best ways to approach greenhouse gases and many of our environmental issues is conservation -- using less and recycling more. And the best way for us all to be activists is to practice conservation in our own homes, businesses and lifestyle. Here's a few things we can do:
- Change every light bulb you have to LED.
- Recycle everything thing you can and do what you can to reduce your waste.
- Carpool and ride share as often as you can.
- Install solar if you can.
- Choose wisely when it comes to cleaning products - make your home less toxic.
- Extend the useful life of items - cars, furnishings, clothes, toys, etc. and take items to goodwill, consignment, and other such operations to give items a second life rather than putting them in the waste stream.
A LED bulb is a perfect example of conservation. LED's reduce energy demand by a factor of 10x. A 4 watt LED bulb gives off the equivalent of a 40 watt incandescent bulb, and it lasts 10x longer too. Replace old appliances with newer ones with a higher SEER ratings.
Industry is going it's part with modern factory equipment is far more energy efficient. Hydrogen fuel cells are a great example of a highly promising energy alternative! Farms, schools, municipalities and commercial buildings can all do a lot to conserve energy and water too.
Most electric plants in the USA are greatly more environmentally friendly by switching from coal to natural gas. Gas pipelines are a far more efficient and safe way to transport natural gas.
One big bonus of the USA's expanded production and exploration of Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) is that other countries can justify converting their coal fired electricity plants to natural gas.
We are doing better even after pulling out of the terribly unfair Paris Accord. The USA has reduced emissions more than any other country in the Accord.
There are other large pressing environmental problems:
- Our energy grid is highly inefficient. Modernization is sorely needed.
- We need to dramatically improve how manage water resources. (Israel is world leader and has much to teach us.)
- The agriculture industry can do more to reduce methane and other impacts. (Again, Israel is a leader in agri-tech.)
- -Ocean dumping is a giant problem. Not so much by the USA, but terribly so in Asia!)
I am no fan of AOC! AND, the dialogue has already begun on these subjects long before her fresh face and wise-ass mouth showed up!! The LAST thing we need is for big egos and big mouths to turn this into a political DEBATE. Or for Socialist to try to shove the change down our throats by having government force decisions, eliminate choices and free market forces by overly rushing the process and taking central control.
We need bipartisan intelligent and practical discussions. We need private and public entities working together. We need to fund quality R&D in honest and effective research centers. We need entrepreneurs and capital markets to seek out opportunities to bring good ideas to first stages.
We can't just turn our backs on fossil fuels. And we shouldn't. If all of us a participate and support efforts through positive consumer behaviors we can have a large and rapid positive impact on our environment. We need to act less like consumers and more like citizens of of the only planet we have to share.
