The climate has changed

Are you hot right now?

Yep, so is everyone else on the planet.

As of July 2015, Earth is currently 1.44 degrees hotter than it was between 1951-1980. It's on track to be .17 degrees hotter than last year. And, last year was the hottest year on record.

The World Meteorological Organization defines climate as the "average weather" over thirty years. And the planet is currently celebrating its 367th consecutive month (30.5 years) of higher-than-average temperatures. What does that mean? This is the new normal. The climate has changed. Let me rephrase that: we changed the climate.

And this is just the beginning...

That's why Apollo Kaua'i is hosting a monthly conversation on climate change (listen to last month's meeting here). The goal is to increase awareness, share inspirational stories, and, most importantly, plan for effective action. If you live on Kaua'i, come down to Niumalu Canoe Club at 6:00 on Wednesday for a conversation with Dr. Kawika Winter and Dr. Kehau Watson-Sproat on climate change, culture, and conservation. After their talk will be break-out sessions on the four specific action plans that were identified at the first meeting.



Let's do something.






Dr. Stephen Taylor, a professor at KCC who was a panelist at the last meeting, recently put this document together. It's a great starting point for getting engaged

What YOU can do about Global Warming

“Our actions over the coming few decades could create risks of major disruption to economic and social activity, later in this century and in the next, on a scale similar to those associated with the great wars and the economic depression of the first half of the 20th century. And it will be difficult or impossible to reverse these changes. Tackling climate change is the pro-growth strategy for the longer term, and it can be done in a way that does not cap the aspirations for growth of rich or poor countries. The earlier effective action is taken, the less costly it will be.” 

– The Stern Review on the Economics of Climate Change, 2006.  The review was commissioned by the UK Prime Minister

Your individual actions do matter but cannot bring about real change without collective action from others and major policy changes.  Probably the most important thing you can do is to model good behavior and organize with others (i.e. form or join a group) to inform and advocate for the changes you want to see.  

It Starts at Home: Taking care of yourself, the planet, and your wallet

Below is an excellent personal guide with three key principles for your household: 1. Saving the world, 2. Saving Money, and 3. Comfort is important!

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2014/12/22/1348847/-The-Kos-guide-to-a-carbon-neutral-household-Intro

The guide above is pretty thorough but I’ll add some thoughts from off the top of my head in no particular order…

• Switch to LED lights.  They cost just a little more initially but they last longer and use about 1/3 of the energy of CFLs and just 5% of the energy of old-style incandescent bulbs.
• Get a solar hot water heater installed; this is a no-brainer.  There are huge tax credits that expire in 2016 from both the state and the federal government.  With those credits, the savings on your electric bill each month will cover your initial costs within 7 years.  After that, you’re banking extra money every month!
• Consider a new, energy saving refrigerator.  The better, more efficient models today use about 10% of the power of a 20-yr-old refrigerator.  You can save money by buying a new one.
• Monitor your use with a smart meter from KIUC.  Cut down on vampire power (Google it!).  
• Limit Air Conditioning (AC) usage.  
• Set up a clothes line and hang-dry your clothes.
• Cable boxes and video game consoles, in particular, use a lot of energy.  Consider internet alternatives to cable.  Or, just cancel cable, stop wasting time watching TV, and do something productive with your life!  
• If gaming is your life, read up on how to use less energy for your console and gaming habits.  For example, only keep it on while you play.
• If your household electric bill is $400/month or more, solar PV panels will probably be well worth it (i.e. they will save you money in the long run).
• Drive less; consider fuel economy on your next car.
• Get regular tune ups on your vehicle, check your tire pressure regularly, and unload unnecessary weight- this will help your car run optimally and more fuel efficiently.
• Consume less meat and grow some of your own produce to cut down on food miles.
• Fly less; this will also save you money.
• Use less water; anything that reduces your water use also reduces fossil fuel emissions because we extract, treat, and pump water to your house using energy!
• Use reusable water bottles and cups when going to Starbucks or elsewhere.
• Bring reusable bags to the store,
• Limit your consumption habits- everything you buy has had an impact on our environment through its manufacturing and delivery process, think twice before buying the newest iPhone, tablet, fashion item, etc.
• When you are finished using electronic products or glass, aluminum, plastic, etc. make sure you recycle them.  This can help save emissions from resource extraction and manufacturing processes as well as reduce toxic pollution.
• Think about and research where your everyday products are coming - including your lotions, makeup, and toilet paper.
• Support companies that are making choices based on the three Pʻs (People, Profit, Planet).
• Reuse everything you can, instead of throwing it away.
• Compost your food and yard waste- this can significantly cut down your solid waste.  The county has free compost bins you can pick up.  Call Laura Kelly at 241-4990.  Most of your paper can also be composted.
• When gardening or landscaping, choose plants that are well adapted to your climate and do not require a lot of resources including water to maintain.
• Use an electric or push mower instead of gasoline powered.

Personal Actions

• Inform others, Talk about these issues, where you want your community and the world to be like, and what you can do.

• You are the future; Find friends who share your passion.  Form or collectively join or get involved in a group dedicated to the things you feel most passionately about.  This can and should be really fun, especially at the local level.  
• Advocate as a group; it is much more effective than doing it alone (for example, if you call an elected official at the local, state, or national level they are much more responsive when you represent a group of people rather that just yourself).
• Boycott: research and participate in or organize boycotts of products companies that support fossil fuels or other bad behavior either through the business they do or the candidates and causes to which they donate.
• Write letters to media (local, national, internet, print and video, etc.) in support of science and the policies and politicians you support.
• Get involved at KCC- there is a new UH sustainability policy in place and our school is a part of the Presidential Climate Commitment, learn about what we are doing here at KCC to limit the school’s emissions.

Actions at the Local Level

• Support your electric utility in moving toward a more aggressive renewable energy portfolio. Encourage their conservation campaigns.  KIUC is already among national leaders in renewable energy watts per customer.  That is in large part due to members’ actions and votes!
• Support your local government in its planning.  The County is just staring a new planning process cycle: PlanKauai.com (facebook.com/kauaiplanning)
• Find out what the County of Kauaʻi is doing in regards to climate change and its possible effects here locally.  
• Push for more walk-able and bike-able pathways so that traveling without a car is easier and safer.
• Learn about and sSupport candidates who share your concerns.  Let existing candidates know your concerns.
• Contact local agencies – even if not elected – to inform and share your concerns and vision for the future.

Actions at the State and National Level

• Learn about and support candidates who share your concerns.  Let existing candidates know your concerns.
• Support state renewable energy targets.  
• Support other policies that you feel will help [e.g. address the three P’s (People, Planet, Proft) or E’s (Environment, Equity, Environment), etc.].  “Support” can mean calling or emailing representative to let him or her know what you want; research their positions and the issues; stay informed.  Let them know what you do and don’t like.  Submitting comments in open comment periods on specific policies.
• Contact State and Federal agencies – even if not elected – to inform and share your concerns and vision for the future.
• Push for divestment of the major corporations and your retirement savings to be divested of fossil fuels (for example, the State of Hawaii right now has large sums of your money invested in fossil fuel companies through State retirement programs that invest in the stock market.  These investments help fossil fuel companies in all that they do).