Earth Week Wednesday

This week is Earth Week, and I plan to post an agenda of activities for each day, including some reading and education, contemplation, earth care actions, and artwork, to ground me in unity with the Earth. 

Agenda:

1. Read "How to Be Alive" 

2. Fossil free transitions

1. Read "How to Be Alive":

I just started this book, with the subtitle, "A Guide to the Kind of Happiness the Helps the World" (2016), by Colin Beavan. I'm skimming through the Introduction - "What Kind of Life Do You Want?" The crux is: "What do you have to give the world? Are you ready to insist on giving your gifts?... Each of us must find our own path."

2. Fossil free transitions: 

This year I'm looking at the transition away from fossil fuels, which are the primary source of greenhouse gas emissions, and the biggest cause of climate change. Transitioning away from fossil fuels involves a global effort to reduce reliance on coal, oil, and gas and move towards renewable energy sources. The transition requires significant investments in renewable energy infrastructure, policy changes, and a global commitment to phase out fossil fuel production and use.

Today I'm reading an article by the World Economic Forum: "The current United States government administration has an executive order blocking all federal permits and land leases for onshore and offshore wind projects in the US. In conjugation with these bans, the administration is promoting the use of fossil fuels for the increased electrical demand required for AI, data centres and population growth. This comes despite onshore wind and solar being the cheapest form of energy in the US, when looking at the levelized cost of energy."

"Bridging the gap between the philosophies of different administrations may require a stop-gap strategy that includes fossil fuels with a lower carbon footprint. As an example, advocates for climate change might support a low-carbon fossil plant that replaces an older high-polluting fossil plant. The net result would be a lower carbon footprint across technologies.

In addition to a stop-gap strategy, renewable developers and producers need more interaction with their local communities for support. This lack of engagement has caused local communities to oppose renewable projects near their homes."