Limiting global temperature rise now on us

On Jan. 20, 2025, action was initiated by the nation’s now newest Chief Executive to withdraw the United States from the Paris Climate Agreement. I understand that doesn’t happen immediately: it will take roughly a year.

So what can and should be done during this time and beyond to help ensure that the rise in the global concentration of atmospheric greenhouse gases does not continue and therefore to help prevent further damage to the air, increases in planetary warming and changes in climate?

Sad to say folks but that onus is now entirely on us so-called “commoners”. That responsibility lies with us, in other words.

I see two options going forward: adaptation and mitigation.

Adaptation will come as more and more climate- and temperature-related disasters become more frequent, prevalent and intense. We see and saw what the Los Angeles area is going and went through with all the destruction caused by the wild-land fires. The death toll from that devastation now stands at 28. This repeats the episode that happened in Lahaina just over a year ago. We are likely to see more such similar tragic events in the days, weeks, months and years if not decades to come. Such a reality as this is causing climate “refugeeism” (i.e. the forced relocation of whole communities due to catastrophe that’s been prompted by rising temperatures and changing climate).
That brings us to mitigation. Where to start, though, is the question.

First, where fire has destroyed property and upset or displaced lives, in response certainly build anew, but preferably not in locations where one runs risk of a similar repeat event. Where rising seas and storm surges are likely to take place, it might be prudent to so called “weatherproof” one’s abode. This could mean building dwellings on stilts that allow the non-destructive passage of water beneath the house, limiting the likelihood of said dwelling being undermined.

Reduce or outright vacate one’s reliance on fossil fuels. We know that the burning of such is environmentally damaging and by continuing this practice, this will likely result in further degradation in not only air, but in water (ocean) and soil quality as well, not to mention human, animal and crop and overall vegetative health.

Consider the purchase of renewables like solar photovoltaic and energy storage systems or energy generating capacity from wind-power capability. We’re talking on-site wind turbines.

In getting around, greater dependence on active transportation modes like walking and biking to get to locations where one needs and/or wants to get to — and back could be in order. Less use of the personal private vehicle and more use of public transit — especially pertaining to that which releases no pollutant and planet-heating emissions (zero emissions) into the air — could become standard operating procedure.

Around the house, making upgrades like LED lighting in place of that produced from fluorescent lamps, is another place where changes for the good can be made.

Keeping indoor heating and cooling to more moderate levels rather than setting the thermostat at the more extreme temperature settings will, at the consumer scale, help cut back on energy use and, by extension, lower energy bills and better help protect health, air and atmosphere.

Weatherproofing one’s home can do much and go far to lower one’s carbon footprint.

The refraining from burning wood in fireplaces, pits and chiminea, could take precedence. Such action taken can help clean the air and be more conducive to helping promote and maintain a better quality of life.

The little, positive steps made can make a world of difference.

Source: “It’s now up to us ‘commoners’ to do our parts to limit warming,” Jan. 23, 2025 The Daily Kos post.
Above and corresponding, connected home-page-featured images: Dennis Murphy

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