IPCC report: 'now or never' if world is to stave off climate disaster

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32. We've Been Trying High Level Government Policies For Decades

It's not going to work (obviously). Democrats President/Congress, one Senator gums the whole works up (because he gets paid through a coal corporation he set up decades ago).

Better to take lots of little steps on the local level. Start with energy efficiency. Most big cities have housing stock that's 100 years old (and not energy efficiency). Set up a program to have older houses re-windowed or updated so they need less heating/cooling. A program like that will put local people to work and maybe teach them a trade. Increases the tax base, improves housing stock and lowers energy consumption

Along this line, make better building codes that stress energy efficiency. Repurpose older buildings to be more efficient. Better planning to reduce commute times. Keep road improvements in urban areas to decrease travel times (reduce emissions from idle or slow moving vehicles).

Have state collective programs like RGGI (regional green gas initiative) that will do on the state level what can't be done on the federal level.

Fricken encourage people to change their driving habits to increase their vehicle gas milage. Turn on you instantaneous gas consumption meter on your car and learn how to drive so that you aren't wasting fuel. I routinely get a few extra miles a gallon more than my other family members. If we all did that guess how much gas we'd save?

BUY STOCK and vote your proxy. Avoid mutual funds where someone else gets to express their opinions to the corporate boards. A lot of companies can be enticed to take climate actions if there are enough people participating in board elections to get them to notice. I met a cement company executive in the 90s who took it upon himself to find ways for his plants to reduce their carbon footprint because he took global warming seriously. There are ethical people in the business world (more so than politicians). Identify them, encourage them and promote them.

We all have a part to play. A lot of little actions can make a big difference. Yea the 800 pound Gorilla in the room is a nice deterrent but a nest of stinging hornets can be just as effective.