Our 2020 Climate Resolutions
We stand on the edge of an important horizon. It is not only the end of the current year, but also the current decade. This next decade will be one of the most important of our generation as it will largely determine the severity of climate damages that we’ll experience beyond 2050. This could have been said for any of the decades of the last 50 years since the US government and the major oil companies first learned that the burning of fossil fuels would lead to climate change. Now, this is known across the US, with only 9% of Americans actually denying that climate change exists (unfortunately, one of those people is our current President).
So, with New Year’s just around the corner, I thought it would be apropos for us to make at least ONE climate resolution. Why just one? We should have a goal of hitting all of our climate goals, but I want us to actually resolve to accomplish this.
A firm decision to do or not do something.
The quality of being determined or resolute. — The Oxford English Dictionary
If we are going to solve the climate crisis, if we are going to limit warming and the damages that occur with that warming, we all need to be more resolute in our actions.
For 2020, I resolve to:
Vote for someone who accepts climate science: at the federal, state, and local levels.
We need broader policy support at all levels and we need to let the world know that we are planning to be a leader in the decarbonized economy.
Some ways to support / get support: Environmental Voter Project, Vote Solar, Environmental Entrepreneurs
Take personal actions that will cause systemic change
This has been a great debate in the media about whether or not personal actions like changing light bulbs, recycling, and going vegan are enough to stop climate change. They aren’t. They are good, but we need to change the underlying systems of our economy if we’re going to make any meaningful dent. One way to do that is to vote. Another is to take those personal actions that will lead to systemic change like putting solar on and all-electric appliances inside your home, riding an e-bike or driving an EV to work, and moving your money out of fossil fuels.
Support: Project Drawdown, Pick My Solar, Energy Sage, WeRenew
Move my money out of fossil fuel funding institutions
The Big 5 US banks use our deposits to provide cheap debt for coal, oil, and gas. This is why we’re starting ClimateLink Bank. We spend our days fighting climate change, but our money works day and night AGAINST us in those banks. If you have a 401k, hold mutual funds, there are also companies that offer those products as well
Note: Solar, EVs/e-bikes, and some e-appliances may be excellent financial investments as well.
Support: Fossil Free Funds, ETHO Capital, Change Finance
Speak with family, friends, and colleagues about why climate change is the most important issue of our time and will require all of us doing the best that we can to stop it.
That’s a long one, but these conversations will be crucial in order to getting everyone on board (TED talk, nothing to read). A lot of people still think that the negative effects of climate change are both far in the future, and will be happening to someone else. If you don’t work for a company that is working to stop climate change everyday, speak with your colleagues and boss about what you can do there. e-Bike to work (start at one day per month and grow from there), install solar or buy renewable energy for all of the electricity the business consumes.
Support: Project Drawdown, Climate Reality Project, PBS (talking to kids), RE100
There are many, many more that I could put down now, but the new year would come and go before I finished. If there is something that you feel that I’m missing, please let me know and I’ll add it, including additional support tools for each.
Someone asked me the other day what MY resolution is going to be. I work on this every day and always want to do as much as I can, but what is the ONE thing that I resolve to do next year? Voting is essential, so that doesn’t count. I have a 60–80% plant based diet and mostly bike to work (otherwise its public transpo). We rent, so we are working something out with our landlords about going all electric and adding solar, but that’s not 100% in our power. I had an EV for several years, then no car, then a few years ago was gifted a free ICEV when I moved to our current house. We drive it about 1,800 miles per year.
Here it is. I resolve to get rid of our ICEV in 2020 and get an electric vehicle (stretch goal is to get 10 other people to do the same). Even if we barely drive it, it will help push the market towards all EVs on the road.
What’s your resolution? Please comment and let me know.