50 Ideas to Save the Planet

By Ted Wells

Only 50 you say, why stop there?  I agree, and I will tell you that story!

If you are looking for actions you can take to reduce your carbon footprint, we have 50 ideas for you.  Please see the links below to download the ideas and get started.  We have one document with 50 carbon-reducing ideas tailored for families and another for businesses.  Please use and share them with anyone you wish.  

Now for the story. At one of the greatest companies I have worked for -- well alright, the best hands down -- I was pitching ways to fight climate change and save money at the same time.  Working with company leaders and one of the owners, we were discussing potential carbon footprint reduction goals for the company.  My position was to tie the company’s goal to the IPCC's global plan of 50% reduction from baseline by 2030. 

Difficult, you say?  Well yes, there’s no doubt that would be hard for any company or individual working on their carbon footprint reduction.  I had a plan that could get us in the ballpark of 30%, but there was no guarantee we could get a 50% reduction without additional cost implications.  But just think, by switching from fossil fuel power to electrical power and adding key operational efficiency measures, you can get quite far in your reduction plan.

As expected, a debate followed about committing the entire company to a goal with no clear guaranteed path.  Did we know how to do it?  How much would it cost?  What would we have to change in the way we do business?  What were the benefits?  What would all the stakeholders think?

Then, at the stroke of a pause in the debate, the company’s owner shined through with one short quote: “Well, you have to start somewhere.”  Those five words won the day and will sit in my memory as the fulcrum of action.  “You have to start somewhere” birthed and shaped a climate reduction program that has both reduced the companies carbon footprint very substantially and solidified the company’s course to be able to meet a 50% reduction by 2030. 

I share these words because they were what inspired the creation of our lists of 50 ideas to save the planet.  Whether as an individual or company, you have to start somewhere.  As you take steps to reduce your impact on the world, have fun with the knowledge that you are making a difference and share your success with others.  Every reduction you make in your carbon footprint will help shape a better tomorrow for the generations to come. 

Family Carbon Reduction Hunt v2

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Business Carbon Reduction Hunt v2 (1) (1)

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Download PDF • 343KB

Some Good News!

By Ted Wells

The US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) just Mandated Climate Disclosure

Climate change remains one of the most pressing issues of our time, and the role of businesses in mitigating its impacts is undeniably crucial. As consumers, investors, and regulators increasingly demand transparency, companies that step up to disclose their climate impacts not only contribute to global sustainability efforts but also set a new standard in corporate responsibility.

New Rules for Companies to Disclose Climate Risks

The final SEC rules require designated companies to disclose material climate-related risks; their activities to mitigate or adapt to such risks; information about the company’s board of directors' oversight of climate-related risks; and management’s role in managing material climate-related risks.  Also, to help investors’ and customers’ understanding of climate-related risks, the final rules require disclosure of Scope 1 and/or Scope 2 greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by certain larger companies; and disclosure of the financial statement effects of severe weather events and other natural conditions including costs and losses.

You can read SEC Rule and Fact Sheet : https://www.sec.gov/rules/2022/03/enhancement-and-standardization-climate-related-disclosures-investors

The final rules will require information about a company’s climate-related risks that have materially impacted or are reasonably likely to have a material impact on its business strategy, results of operations, or financial condition.  In addition, under the final rules, certain disclosures related to severe weather events and other natural conditions will be required in a registrant’s audited financial statements.

The journey towards a more sustainable and environmentally responsible business landscape is paved with challenges and opportunities alike. At its core, climate impact disclosure is about transparency and accountability. By openly sharing information on how their operations contribute to climate change, companies invite stakeholders into a dialogue aimed at finding solutions and setting targets for carbon footprint reduction.

Take Action!  Although ClimateUnified.org believes we need even more disclosure from companies, the new SEC action is a step in the right direction!

www.climateunified.org

Celebrating good news that helps solve our global climate problem.

501(c)(3) non-profit

Food Waste & Reducing Your Carbon Footprint

By Ted Wells

While I was growing up, my grandmother would always say, “You’d better clean your plate!” Then, she used any good food scraps to feed the dogs, and the rest went to help her garden with compost. It is funny how that way of handling food waste is coming back.

While we can help the climate by purchasing from local producers and producers that are publicly committed to reducing their greenhouse gas footprint, we also need to consider how we handle our uneaten food.

Did you know that the food waste we throw away causes about 6% of global greenhouse gas emissions? According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 20% of what goes into municipal landfills is food. We can all help the climate by reducing our waste and reusing our leftovers as compost.

Here’s the problem:

When we put food waste in the trash, it goes to the landfill and then produces methane in a process called anaerobic digestion. Methane is a greenhouse gas that traps heat in the atmosphere and causes our climate to heat up. Methane is even worse than carbon dioxide because it is 25 times more powerful in heating up the planet. Composting can help this by working with microorganisms and eating the waste through aerobic digestion. This is in contrast to anaerobic decomposition, which occurs in landfills.

The chart below shows the differences in the heat-holding capability of the greenhouse gases produced during the decomposition of our garbage.

Source: Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC)

The emissions released from landfills are comprised of roughly 50% CO2 and 50% CH4. The lack of oxygen in landfill decomposition produces methane (CH4). On the other hand, a compost pile decomposes aerobically with oxygen to produce mainly CO2.

So, if our garbage is going to decay anyway, you’d like it to do so into CO2, not CH4.

4 Easy Ways to Compost

There are lots of options for composting food waste and other materials. Some items like plastic-coated containers don’t work in composting because the microorganisms can’t digest the plastic. Ecocycle.org has done a great job coining the term ‘Dirty Dozen’ to keep food waste collection and composting safe for microorganisms.

Curbside pick-up

Here’s the good news: in many municipalities, we can send our food waste to be composted by curbside green waste pickup.

Curbside food waste pickup is fairly easy. Many paper-based food containers such as napkins, wooden chopsticks, pizza boxes, and ‘to-go’ containers can also be included. Be sure to follow the local directions on what can be put in the green waste bin. When sorting for composting, be sure not to include anything that will give the microorganisms that eat the waste heartburn. If your area does not have food waste curbside pickup, we encourage you to tell your elected officials to start one, as it will help reduce our carbon footprint and prevent landfill pollution.

Outdoor composting

A second option is to do your own

composting. Outdoor compost piles can work if you have the ability and the time to create your own compost. A great compost ‘how to’ slide show “Composting for Kids” by Robert Rickter is available on the Coolcalifornia.org website: https://coolcalifornia.arb.ca.gov/tip/waste-schools

and at

https://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/kindergarden/kidscompost/CompostingForKids.pdf.

Worm farming

Indoor composting can also work. For instance, a small kitchen worm can farm to help eat your leftovers. Hey, a worm’s got to eat too! The MindfulFork website has a great article on worm farming: https://themindfulfork.com/worm-farm-composting/. In addition, The EPA has a great ‘how to’ on building and maintaining an indoor worm farm and how to create compost with food waste https://www.epa.gov/recycle/how-create-and-maintain-indoor-worm-composting-bin

Countertop Composting

You can also purchase countertop composters, like Lomi and Vitamix FoodCycler, which simulate and accelerate the composting process to turn your food scraps into dirt in a few hours. Check out this page for more information and options: The 4 Best Compost Machines of 2023 | Tested by Treehugger

Have Some Fun! Save the Planet!

If we can’t clean our plate each time, we can compost that food waste. Every pound of food waste that we compost reduces greenhouse gas production by avoiding the methane emissions created in a landfill. By continuing to lessen our contributions to landfills by reusing, reducing, and recycling food waste, we lower global greenhouse gas emissions and get closer to our goal to save the planet.

So, have some fun! Buy local produce. Buy from producers committed to reducing their production emissions. Use your local curbside compost pickup. And the most fun of all, start your own composting hobby. The choice is yours, and so is our ability to save the planet.