Issues > March/April 2007 (#119) > Global Warming: Ready For Your Carbon Close-Up?

Global Warming: Ready For Your Carbon Close-Up?

by P.W. McRandle

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about PAUL MCRANDLE

Paul McRandle is National Geograhic Green Guide's Deputy Editor.

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Take Action: Put a Chill on Global Warming

The most ambitious of four climate bills proposed this Congressional session, the Global Warming Pollution Reduction Act (S. 309) will combine mandatory caps on greenhouse gas emissions with incentives for clean energy technology in developing countries. The goal: to reduce U.S. greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 to 80 percent of 1990 levels. Urge your senators to support the Boxer-Sanders bill; visit senate.gov or call 202-244-3121.

Students at over 575 colleges have urged their institutions to enact clean energy policies. Join them in asking 1,000 college presidents to commit to carbon neutrality; visit aashe.org. April 14 is the National Day of Climate Action. For local events, see www.stepitup2007.org.

As an investor, motivate businesses to shrink their carbon footprint with a shareholder resolution. For how-tos, see "Shareholder Shout-out."

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Conclusion

These health risks have broadened awareness of global warming among governmental officials and citizens worldwide, helping to accelerate efforts to stabilize the world's climate. The 2006 U.N. Climate Change Conference, held in Nairobi, agreed to help developing countries worst hit by global warming. For citizens of the U.S., the largest contributor of greenhouse gases, losing carbon weight will not only benefit our health, but make it easier to face ourselves in the mirror.

Recommended Reading

(see www.thegreenguide.com/books)

Field Notes From a Catastrophe, Elizabeth Kolbert (Bloomsbury, 2006, $21)

The Winds of Change, Eugene Linden (Simon & Schuster, 2006, $26),

Resources

Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, Impacts, Adaptation and Vulnerability: www.ipcc-wg2.org

WHO climate change and health: who.int

EPA climate change page: www.epa.gov

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Filed under: Global warming and climate change, Global warming, climate change and health, Environmental health, Carbon reduction, CO2 emissions

Green Guide 119 | March/April 2007 | For Your Community