FACTBOX - Rations? Lightbulbs? How to Fight Climate Change
Date: 18-Aug-06
Country: INTERNATIONAL
Following are some links to Web sites of governments, climate experts, environmental groups and companies with tips for lifestyle changes to cut individuals' use of oil, coal and natural gas.
Most focus on suggestions such as installing energy saving lightbulbs or using public transport -- far short of rationing.
UNITED STATES
The US Environmental Protection Agency advises citizens with "climate smart tips to protect the earth":
http://yosemite.epa.gov/oar/globalwarming.nsf/content/ActionsIndividualMakeaDifference.html
EUROPEAN COMMISSION
The European Commission says: "You control climate change ... Turn down. Switch off. Recycle. Walk. Change."
Its site says, for instance, that turning down the thermostat in a home by one degree Celsius (1.8F) can save 300 kg (660 lb) of carbon dioxide per household per year. West Europeans account for about 10 tonnes of carbon dioxide each a year.
http://www.climatechange.eu.com/
CANADA
Canada's government provides a "greenhouse gas calculator" to make people aware of how much energy they use and where they can cut:
http://www.climatechange.gc.ca/calculator/english/
UNITED NATIONS
The UN Climate Change Secretariat says that changing lifestyles can help. The "cultures and habits of millions of people -- essentially, whether they waste energy or use it efficiently -- have a major impact on climate change," it says.
http://unfccc.int/essential_background/feeling_the_heat/items/2907.php
PERSONAL QUOTAS
British expert David Fleming favours energy rationing, to include allowances for all citizens, in a system he calls "tradable energy quotas":
http://www.teqs.net/
Britain's Environment Secretary David Miliband also floated the idea of personal quotas in a speech in July:
http://www.davidmiliband.defra.gov.uk/blogs/ministerial_blog/archive/2006/07/19/1557.aspx
ENVIRONMENTAL GROUPS
Greenpeace lays out what it calls "12 clever ways to save lots of electricity and money (and by the way: also the planet)"
http://www.greenpeace.org/international/campaigns/climate-change/take_action/12_steps
The WWF says "there's no need to wait for politicians to act" and gives recommendations for slowing global warming:
http://www.panda.org/about_wwf/what_we_do/climate_change/what_you_can_do/index.cfm
COMPANIES
Some companies will help citizens invest in clean energy schemes or plant trees to soak up emissions of greenhouse gases. They include:
http://www.carbonneutral.com/
http://www.climatecare.co.uk/
http://www.atmosfair.de/index.php?id=9&L=3