I accept responsibility for the emissions I cause
To understand my emissions, I divide them between five categories. I accept responsibility for my emissions from each of these categories. And I commit to reduce my greenhouse gas emissions across all areas of my life.
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my use of energy
My use of gasoline, electricity, natural gas and other sources of energy is a first place to work to reduce my emissions. The best place to start.
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my goods & services
The goods & services I purchase account for a large portion of the emissions I cause. Accepting responsibility for this category is fully in my control and easily ignored.
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my career & my time
I have choices in my career that deeply impact my life, and I accept that how I spend my productive hours also deeply impacts our global emissions.
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my investments
I choose my investments to get a return. And I set boundaries for my investments to avoid financing excessive emissions, while leaning toward innovative companies working to reduce emissions.
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governance of my groups
Living in a democracy, I accept responsibility to communicate my preferences to my elected officials. I extend this to my church & other groups I am part of.
Estimate your emissions.
CoolClimate Network provides a good tool I have used to estimate my emissions from direct energy use and my purchase of goods & services. Of course, it does not know exactly what goods and services I buy so it provides a rough estimate. CoolClimate is the best tool I’ve found and it is a great starting place in a journey to accept responsibility for my emissions.