August 2023

How solar has exploded in the US in just a year – in numbers

How solar has exploded in the US in just a year – in numbers

Author: Michelle Lewis

URL: https://electrek.co/2023/08/13/solar-us-ira/

Solar and storage companies have announced over $100 billion in private sector investments in the US since the passage of the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) a year ago, according to a (https://www.seia.org/research-resources/impact-inflation-reduction-act) by the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) (https://www.seia.org/).

Since President Joe Biden signed the IRA in August 2022, 51 solar factories have been announced or expanded in the US.

These new and expanded factories will invest nearly $20 billion into US communities and amount to 155 gigawatts (GW) of new production capacity across the solar supply chain. These announcements include 85 GW of solar panel capacity, 43 GW of solar cells, 20 GW of silicon ingots and wafers, and 7 GW of inverter capacity:

Solar factories announced in the last year are going to employ more than 20,000 Americans.

By 2026, the US will have over 17 times its current manufacturing capacity across modules, cells, wafers, ingots, and inverters when these announced factories are online – and that’s enough to supply the majority of solar projects expected to be built in the US.

*If you’re considering going solar, it’s always a good idea to get quotes from a few installers. To make sure you find a trusted, reliable installer near you that offers competitive pricing, check out (EnergySage) (https://www.energysage.com/p/electrek-rsm-ml/), a free service that makes it easy for you to go solar. It has hundreds of pre-vetted installers competing for your business, ensuring you get high-quality solutions and save 20-30% compared to going it alone. Plus, it’s free to use, and you won’t get sales calls until you select an installer and share your phone number with them.

By Abe Mazliach, ago

Constitutional lawyers are discussing whether Trump and others involved in overturning the 2020 election are disqualified from holding office under the Fourteenth Amendment.

On August 14, 2023 an article forthcoming from the University of Pennsylvania Law Review by William Baude of the University of Chicago Law School and Michael S. Paulsen of the University of St. Thomas School of Law became available as a preprint. The article argues that the third section of the Fourteenth Amendment is still in effect and automatically disqualifies those who engaged in insurrection or rebellion.
The events surrounding the 2020 presidential election have sparked intense debates about the limits of executive power and the consequences of attempting to overturn a democratic election. The actions of Trump and others in contesting the election results have raised questions about their eligibility to hold public office in the future.
The third section of the amendment states that no person shall hold office if they have engaged in insurrection or rebellion against the United States, or have given aid or comfort to its enemies.
Baude and Paulsen argue that the actions taken by Trump and his supporters in contesting the election results can be considered as engaging in insurrection or rebellion. They contend that attempting to overturn a legitimate election through unconstitutional means is a direct attack on the democratic process and the stability of the nation.
This interpretation is significant because Baude and Paulsen are associated with the legal doctrine of originalism, which emphasizes understanding the Constitution as the framers intended.
The Fourteenth Amendment was written by moderate Republicans after the Civil War to establish federal government supremacy and ensure equality before the law. The article’s authors claim that their interpretation has broader implications beyond Trump’s disqualification. Other legal scholars have supported their argument and emphasized the importance of upholding the Constitution.
By holding accountable those who engaged in insurrection or rebellion, the amendment reinforces the fundamental values of democracy and the rule of law.
While some may argue that disqualification under the Fourteenth Amendment would be a drastic measure, Baude and Paulsen maintain that it is a necessary step to preserve the integrity of the Constitution and prevent future attempts to undermine the democratic process. They emphasize that the disqualification clause was intentionally included in the amendment to ensure that those who engage in rebellion against the United States are held accountable and barred from holding public office.
They argue that the Fourteenth Amendment’s disqualification clause serves as a safeguard against those who seek to undermine the democratic process and the will of the people.
By Abe Mazliach, ago

The Clean Energy Future Is Arriving Faster Than You Think – The New York Times

The Clean Energy Future Is Arriving Faster Than You Think – The New York Times

Author: New York Times

August 13, 2023

URL: https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2023/08/12/climate/clean-energy-us-fossil-fuels.html?campaign_id=54&emc=edit_clim_20230814&instance_id=100008&nl=climate-forward%C2%AEi_id=44226454&segment_id=141982&te=1&user_id=8dba6eb1e5a4ae19fd2fc08a25720d88

David Gelles reported from Tulsa, Okla.; Brad Plumer and Jim Tankersley from Washington; and Jack Ewing from New York to see how an accelerated energy transition is playing out.

Across the country, a profound shift is taking place that is nearly invisible to most Americans. The nation that burned coal, oil and gas for more than a century to become the richest economy on the planet, as well as historically the most polluting, is rapidly shifting away from fossil fuels.

A similar energy transition is already well underway in Europe and elsewhere. But the United States is catching up, and globally, change is happening at a pace that is surprising even the experts who track it closely.

Wind and solar power are breaking records, and renewables are [now expected to overtake](https://www.iea.org/reports/renewables-2022/executive-summary) coal by 2025 as the world’s largest source of electricity. Automakers have made electric vehicles central to their business strategies and are openly talking about an expiration date on the internal combustion engine. Heating, cooling, cooking and some manufacturing are going electric.

As the planet registers the highest temperatures on record, rising in some places to levels incompatible with human life, governments around the world are pouring trillions of dollars into clean energy to cut the carbon pollution that is broiling the planet.

“We look at energy data on a daily basis, and it’s astonishing what’s happening,” said Fatih Birol, the executive director of the International Energy Agency. “Clean energy is moving faster than many people think, and it’s become turbocharged lately.”

More than $1.7 trillion worldwide is expected to be invested in technologies such as wind, solar power, electric vehicles and batteries globally this year, according to the I.E.A., compared with just over $1 trillion in fossil fuels. That is by far the most ever spent on clean energy in a year.

Corporations are building new coal mines, oil rigs and gas pipelines. The government continues to award leases [for drilling projects](https://www.nytimes.com/2023/03/12/climate/biden-willow-arctic-drilling-restrictions.html?searchResultPosition=3) on public lands and in federal waters and still subsidizes the industries. After posting record profits last year, leading oil companies are backing away from recent promises to invest more heavily in renewable energy.

There are major challenges involved in adding large amounts of renewable energy to antiquated electric grids and mining enough minerals for clean technologies. Some politicians, including most Republicans, want the country to continue burning fossil fuels, even in the face of overwhelming scientific consensus that their use is endangering life on the planet.

Dozens of conservative groups organized by the Heritage Foundation have [created a policy playbook](https://www.nytimes.com/2023/08/04/climate/republicans-climate-project2025.html?searchResultPosition=2), should a Republican win the 2024 presidential election, that would reverse course on lowering emissions. It would shred regulations designed to curb greenhouse gases, dismantle nearly every federal clean energy program and boost the production of fossil fuels.

About two-thirds of the new investment in clean energy is in Republican-controlled states, where policymakers have historically resisted renewables. But with each passing month, the politics seem to matter less than the economics.

But clean energy became cheap far faster than anyone expected. Since 2009, the cost of solar power has plunged by 83 percent, while the cost of producing wind power has fallen by more than half. The price of lithium-ion battery cells fell 97 percent over the past three decades.

Today, solar and wind power are the least expensive new sources of electricity in many markets, generating 12 percent of global electricity and rising. This year, for the first time, global investors are expected to pour more money into solar power — some $380 billion — than into drilling for oil.

In the United States, President Biden signed a trio of laws during his first two years in office that allocated unprecedented funds for clean energy: A $1 trillion bipartisan infrastructure law provided money to enhance the power grid, buy electric buses for schools and build a national network of electric vehicle chargers. The bipartisan CHIPS and Science Act set aside billions of dollars for semiconductors vital to car manufacturing. And the Inflation Reduction Act, which marks its first anniversary on Aug. 16, is by far the most ambitious attempt to fight climate change in American history.

Combined, the three laws have prompted companies to announce [at least $230 billion in manufacturing investments](https://www.jackconness.com/ira-chips-investments) so far.

Electric vehicles are by far the fastest-growing segment of the auto industry, with record sales of 300,000 in the second quarter of 2023, a 48 percent increase from a year earlier. Teslas are now among the best-selling cars in the country, and Ford has expanded its production of the F-150 Lightning, the electric version of its popular pickup truck, after a surge of initial demand created a waiting list.

Concerns among consumers about the availability of charging stations as well as the cost of some models have helped to cool sales somewhat, [leading some automakers to slash prices.](https://www.nytimes.com/2023/07/17/business/ford-f150-lightning-electric-vehicle-prices.html)

Government action is also helping heavier vehicles go electric. Sales of electric school buses are soaring, largely because of $5 billion in federal grants that can cover 100 percent of the cost for low-income communities. The Postal Service plans to spend n[early $10 billion to purchase 66,000 electric mail trucks](https://www.nytimes.com/2022/12/20/climate/postal-service-electric-trucks.html?searchResultPosition=2) — roughly 30 percent of its fleet — over the next five years.

In an unusual move, seven carmakers — BMW Group, General Motors, Honda, Hyundai, Kia, Mercedes-Benz Group and Stellantis — are spending $1 billion in a joint venture to build 30,000 charging ports on major highways and other locations in the United States and Canada.

By Abe Mazliach, ago

The heat pump revolution is here. This is what you need to know

The Guardian

Brian Kahn

March 10, 2023

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2023/mar/11/heat-pump-revolution-what-you-need-to-know

Heat pumps have become the tech of choice to keep homes warm – but what are they and how do they work?

1. Heat pumps are becoming the tech of choice to keep homes warm.:
– Heat pumps both heat and cool your home depending on the season, using electricity instead of methane gas.
– Heat pumps work by moving heat from one place to another, similar to how air conditioners work.

2. Heat pumps are more efficient and safer than gas furnaces.:
– Heat pumps are 300% more efficient than gas furnaces and can save households up to $557 a year on energy bills.
– Replacing gas furnaces with heat pumps could cut carbon emissions by up to 53%.

3. Heat pumps can work in cold weather with improved efficiency.:
– Air source heat pumps have become more efficient at capturing heat even in sub-zero temperatures.
– Real-world tests show that heat pumps can operate in harsh winter conditions.

4. Heat pump installation costs vary depending on factors like house size and climate.:
– Installing a heat pump can be a four- or five-figure investment, with air source heat pumps generally being cheaper.
– Ground source heat pumps may be more cost-effective in the long run due to efficiency gains.

5. Incentives are available to help make heat pumps more affordable.:
– In the US, tax credits cover a portion of the cost of installing a heat pump, with additional benefits for low-income households.
– Many states offer rebates for heat pump installations.
– The UK government offers up to £6,000 to cover heat pump installations.
– Some Australian states and the federal government provide incentives for heat pump hot water heaters.

6. Challenges in widespread heat pump adoption include apartment dwellers, electrical panel updates, and refrigerant choices.:
– Certain companies are working on window heat pumps to provide options for apartment dwellers.
– Homeowners may need to update their electrical panels when installing a heat pump.
– New forms of heat-pump refrigerants that are low-impact are being developed.

7. Future developments include multifunction heat pumps and improved refrigerants.:
– A multifunction heat pump is being developed for space and hot water heating.
– Efforts are being made to find better refrigerant options to replace high-global warming potential refrigerants.

By Abe Mazliach, ago

OPINION: Here’s a great way to teach kids about climate change: Start with the food they eat

Following a plant-based diet and reducing food waste are climate-friendly behaviors that kids can understand
The Hechinger Report
by SARA ELNAKIB and JENNIFER SHUKAITIS February 21, 2023
Most of the behaviors we associate with preventing climate change are totally inaccessible to younger children. They can’t buy electric cars or redirect their retirement accounts away from fossil fuels. Limiting our kids by only offering them these types of solutions can leave them with a sense of powerlessness and futility. But there is a solution within their power, and that’s taking control of how and what they eat.
Summary:
1. Food and Climate Change:
– Encouraging children to eat more plant-based and less-processed foods can have a significant impact on addressing climate change.
– Food waste is a major concern, with the energy used to produce wasted food equivalent to 3.3 billion tons of CO2 per year.
– Combining plant-based eating and reducing food waste could reduce greenhouse gas emissions 22 times more than switching to electric cars.
2. Children’s Role in Climate Action:
– Involving children in discussions on food and climate change is crucial for building a sustainable future.
– Food education can be more tangible and relatable to children compared to other climate change topics.
– Younger people are more open to plant-forward eating, with a majority finding it appealing and willing to go meatless.
3. Teaching Climate Change in Schools:
– Integrating climate change education into school curricula can empower children to take action.
– Interactive and hands-on teaching methods, such as food waste audits and video games, can engage students in learning.
– Lesson plans should meet national and multistate standards for easy integration into science curriculum.
4. The Hope for Change:
– Engaging children in discussions about sustainable food choices can give them hope for a better future.
– Students are actively seeking solutions to food waste, such as starting share tables in cafeterias.
– Working together with teachers, open-source lesson plans can be developed and shared nationwide.
By Abe Mazliach, ago

After Inflation Reduction Act: 5 Ways to Hit the US Emissions Goal

The Inflation Reduction Act will help the US cut emissions to approximately 40% below 2005 levels by 2030, putting the national target of a 50-52% reduction in reach. Here’s how the country can get all the way there.

After Inflation Reduction Act: 5 Ways to Hit the US Emissions Goal

Author: Dan Lashof

URL: https://www.wri.org/insights/inflation-reduction-act-emissions-gap

As millions of Americans suffered through [record heatwaves](https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2022/07/10/high-temperatures-heat-dome-break-records/10023708002/) and [devastating floods](https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2022/aug/11/america-summer-floods-rainfall-climate-crisis) this summer, Congress finally responded to the climate crisis with a major investment in solutions. The Inflation Reduction Act is the most significant federal climate legislation ever enacted in the United States, providing $370 billion over 10 years to support clean electricity, electric vehicles, heat pumps and more.

Analysis from multiple groups ([here](https://repeatproject.org/), [here](https://energyinnovation.org/resources/our-publications/) and [here](https://rhg.com/research/inflation-reduction-act/)) shows that this legislation could help the country cut emissions to approximately 40% below 2005 levels by 2030. That’s huge progress towards the U.S. goal of slashing emissions [50-52% by 2030](https://www.wri.org/insights/6-words-biden-us-target-ghg-emissions-reduction).

Here are five actions the U.S. federal government, states, cities and the private sector can take to help close the post-Inflation Reduction Act emissions gap:

1) Deploy Clean Vehicles.

Cars and trucks are the largest source of greenhouse gases in the United States. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has clear authority to set standards that can not only reduce these emissions, but also save consumers money in fuel costs.

Implementation of the [National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure](https://www.fhwa.dot.gov/bipartisan-infrastructure-law/nevi_formula_program.cfm) program can help support states’ EV transition. The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law provides $5 billion for states to build a [fast-charging network](https://www.wri.org/insights/funding-us-ev-charging-infrastructure), with stations located every 50 miles along major highway corridors. States can help the U.S. achieve greater emissions reductions by making full use of this program and adopting standards to require that all passenger vehicle sales be zero-emissions by 2035.

2) Generate Clean Power.

Power plants were the largest source of greenhouse gas emissions in the United States until 2016, when coal plant retirements and increases in wind and solar generation reduced emissions below those of the transport sector. The Inflation Reduction Act will greatly accelerate these trends, leading to as much as an 80% reduction in power sector emissions in 2030 compared with 2005 levels.

States can go further by setting 100% clean electricity standards, as 20 states have already done. And cities and private companies can contract to purchase 100% clean power on a 24/7/365 basis, which will make progress toward a fully clean electricity system.

3) Connect Consumers to Clean Power.

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) is an independent agency that has traditionally worked on a bipartisan basis to ensure that electricity markets and infrastructure enable all resources to compete. As part of its legal duty, FERC must remove barriers to newer, emissions-free technologies, allowing them to access the markets and transmission networks on an equal basis as traditional power plants.

4) Expand State and Local Climate Action.

States and cities can work in partnership with the federal government to implement an all-in climate strategy that reduces emissions well beyond what the federal government can achieve alone.

State and local actors will play an essential role in helping the nation as a whole reach its 2030 climate goal because they [control several policy levers](https://www.wri.org/research/new-climate-federalism-defining-federal-state-and-local-roles-us-policy-framework-achieve) to reduce emissions. State public utility commissions, for instance, regulate investor-owned utilities and can [play a pivotal role](https://rmi.org/the-untapped-potential-of-public-utility-commissions/) in enabling a zero-carbon grid. State and local governments can [focus their transportation investments](https://www.wri.org/insights/clean-transportation-us-bipartisan-infrastructure-law) on repairing existing roads rather than expanding them in ways that increase driving. They can also improve public transit and adopt land use planning, permitting and housing policies that reduce the need to drive.

5) Redirect Private Investment to Climate Action

The Inflation Reduction Act will provide strong incentives for the private sector to invest in emissions-reducing technologies — from battery manufacturing to systems that capture carbon dioxide directly from the atmosphere — but how aggressively companies respond to those incentives will have a big impact on how quickly emissions are reduced. Most of the incentives in the Inflation Reduction Act are through the tax code and their total value is not capped. This means that if companies and individuals respond to these incentives more than the Congressional Budget Office assumed, the total value of the clean energy investments from the Inflation Reduction Act could exceed $370 billion and further reduce emissions.

Using Every Available Means to Reduce US Emissions

These additional actions by the federal government, states, cities and the private sector will be critical to achieving the U.S. 50-52% emissions-reduction target.

The United States must use every available tool to tackle climate change or it will fall behind other countries taking advantage of the new climate economy. Fully executing the Inflation Reduction Act —and going beyond it — can help create a future that is prosperous, equitable and secure.

By Abe Mazliach, ago

Federal Grant For Electric School Buses

The Federal Infrastructure Law has allocated $5 billion to convert diesel school buses to run on batteries and alternative fuels.

School districts must apply for this money before the grant deadline on Aug. 22. Many mayors and other officials don’t know the opportunity exists. “Climate Changemakers” put together a packet for anyone who wants to prompt their school district and city to get on board. Please use it, or share with those who might!
https://www.climatechangemakers.org/wapo-school-buses?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=wp_climatecoach&wpisrc=nl_climatecoach

By Abe Mazliach, ago

US States Can Finally Start Applying for IRA Incentive Money

bloomberg.com

Author: Todd Woody

URL: https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2023-07-27/us-states-can-start-applying-for-ira-incentive-money?leadSource=uverify%20wall#xj4y7vzkg

Almost a year after US President Joe Biden signed the [Inflation Reduction Act into law](https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2022-07-28/here-s-how-manchin-s-climate-deal-could-make-energy-bills-cheaper?sref=aiiNijqZ&srnd=green), American consumers are one step closer to receiving the generous rebates it includes for heat pumps and other high-efficiency electrical appliances. On Thursday, the federal government began accepting applications from states to administer more than $8.5 billion in IRA funding tied to those expenditures.

To hone states’ applications, the Department of Energy (DOE) is providing them with guidance for designing programs to distribute funding to their residents. Once the DOE approves a program from a state or US territory, it will allocate a [lump sum to fund those rebates](https://www.energy.gov/scep/articles/ira-home-energy-rebates-state-allocations); that funding ranges from $50 million for American Samoa to $690 million for Texas. Nationwide, the incentive pot includes $4.3 billion for replacing fossil fuel furnaces and other appliances with electric devices, and another $4.3 billion to pay for insulation and other home efficiency upgrades.

“This is a big, big deal,” Deputy Secretary of Energy David Turk told reporters on Thursday. “We expect these rebates will start to be available to consumers in some states as early as the end of this year and continuing on a rolling basis in 2024, depending on how quickly states and territories can do what they need to do from their end.”

For consumers, the IRA’s provisions could be the difference between a home upgrade that’s affordable and one that’s out of reach. The incentives include an $8,000 rebate for [heat pumps that can warm and cool homes](https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2022-12-27/five-questions-to-ask-before-you-buy-a-heat-pump), an amount that could cover roughly half the installation costs of some systems. There’s also a $1,750 rebate for [heat pump water heaters](https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2023-01-23/heat-pump-water-heater-installation-four-pitfalls-to-avoid?srnd=green-greener-living), $840 cash back for [induction stoves](https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2023-01-17/worried-about-a-gas-stove-ban-here-are-alternatives?sref=aiiNijqZ) and heat pump clothes dryers and $4,000 for [electrical system upgrades](https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2022-08-17/how-to-lower-the-cost-of-a-home-electrical-upgrade).

Households are eligible for up to $14,000 in rebates if they [earn less than 150% of their area’s median household income](https://ami-lookup-tool.fanniemae.com/amilookuptool/). If not, families can still claim a $2,000 tax credit for heat pumps and other appliances. DOE said it aims to review state programs and fund applications in 60 to 90 days after submission.

How fast the rebates become available to consumers depends on state energy offices’ ability to design effective programs, says Alisa Petersen, federal policy manager for the US program at [RMI](https://rmi.org/), a nonprofit that promotes decarbonization. States have until Jan. 31, 2025 to submit funding applications or their money will be redistributed to other states.

The IRA requires, for example, that rebates be deducted from the price of an appliance at the time of purchase. “We want to make sure that these rebates can be available at the point of sale so that individuals aren’t required to provide upfront expenses,” said Michael Forrester, assistant director of partnerships at the energy department Office of State and Community Energy Programs. “Because when we’re dealing with low-to-moderate income individuals, oftentimes they can’t front that cash.”

That mandate, however, complicates the design of state programs. A system must be put in place for a contractor, a state energy office or another entity to verify that a buyer’s income qualifies for the incentives. Forrester told reporters that DOE will help states develop verification schemes and noted that if a household is already eligible for government programs based on income, they’ll automatically qualify for the rebates.

By Abe Mazliach, ago

Climate action is on the cusp of exponential growth

TED Talk by Simon Stiell, executive secretary of UN Climate Change, whose aim is to address the climate crisis by supporting countries to move towards climate resilience and low-emissions strategies:
I want you to imagine it’s 1992, and you’re talking to a telecoms expert. She tells you that mobile phone text messaging is going to fundamentally change the way we communicate. You think, “But we use our phones just for voice calls. Why on Earth am I going to go from this to tapping on a screen with my fingers and my thumbs?”

In 1992, the first text message was sent. After a slow start, text-based services exploded. Today, over 23 billion messages are sent every single day. This paved the way for the smartphone revolution that we have seen today. And other technology trends have followed that same curve.

I know how much we struggle to comprehend and predict what “exponential change” means. Because I was at Nokia in 1993 when that technological revolution started. And now as head of UN Climate Change, I’m here to tell you that what was true for mobile phones back in 1992, and other revolutionary shifts, is also true for climate action today.

To make climate action go from linear to exponential pace, it’s not just my job to make it happen. It’s also your job, too. We all know that climate impacts are hitting harder and harder every day. The ambition we need to see, reducing emissions, adapting to impacts and providing the means to address the crisis, are severely lacking. But just like technology, public opinion has its tipping point.

In my youth, I campaigned against apartheid. Participating in that fight, those demonstrations, meant shaking the foundations of a system many thought would never change. But then, one day, after generations of slow progress, the system changed. The pressure was too great. The point tipped.

We’re here in Detroit, the heart of car manufacturing. Take a look at this graph. Electric vehicle sales are expected to increase to become 70 percent by 2030. Another example. Solar energy. Between 2010 and 2020, we moved from 20 gigawatts of solar energy installed to 150 gigawatts. Now, just three years later, that number is expected to increase to 350 gigawatts per year. And by 2030, that number is expected to increase again to 1,000 gigawatts per year.

Change can come fast. But time isn’t on our side. We have less than seven years between now and 2030 to halve our global emissions. So the question is: Will those tipping points come soon enough to avoid the catastrophic impacts of climate change?

At out current speed, change will come too late to limit warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius. That is the hard truth of the global stocktake that will be completed by the UNFCCC this year.

But this is where you come in. You may think it’s not your responsibility to drive change. You may not think you have the power to make this happen. Both of those statements are wrong.

At the UNFCCC, we are the custodians of the process. We’re the defenders of the agreements. We are the champions of parties and the agreements that they make. But globally, we’re collectively in a state of what the author Kim Stanley Robinson describes as “The Dithering.” A state of indecision and a state of inaction in the face of a global crisis. But countries will agree to boost in action. If enough people encourage them to do so. Contact your representatives and ask them what they are doing to deliver. What plans do they have to ensure that your concerns on climate count? That direct action does work.

I have seen positions change time and time again when citizens engage directly. Every time you buy something, ask yourself the question: Is this the greenest option? Ask those around you about their green choices. Learn new things. Educate and mobilize. The power of human organization can result in change.

Which brings me to my final point. You don’t have to be a politician or a prominent business person to make a significant contribution. Climate action calls for all skill sets. Ask yourself: What am I passionate about? What am I good at? What am I training for? Then ask yourself the question, how can I apply this to the climate crisis? And do exactly that thing.

If you act, the exponential change that is needed will happen. I thank you.

By Abe Mazliach, ago