Description
Book Synopsis“What can I do, personally, about the climate crisis? . . . [Roop] says that civic engagement is one of the most effective ways for individuals to make a difference and to avoid feeling overwhelmed by the climate crisis....Ask yourself, what are you passionate about? Using this passion may motivate you to help shape the future of your community.”
—The New York Times Climate Forward newsletter
This must-have book shows us WHY we need to take action now to combat climate change and then, critically, HOW, through easy-to-understand language and fascinating infographics that offer each of us varied and doable solutions to the many challenges facing our planet.
As more focus is put on climate science, there is a need for each of us to learn how we can change our habits in our home, communities, and government to save our planet. Enter
The Climate Action Handbook.
A visually stunning guide, it does what no other climate change book manages to do: it's approachable, digestible, and offers the average person ideas, options, and a roadmap for action. It also offers
hope—often overlooked in climate change conversations. Climate actions can create near-instantaneous improvements in air quality and can offer ways to address societal inequities, green our communities, save money, and build local economies.
From food and fashion choices, rethinking travel, greening up our homes and gardens, to civic engagement and championing community climate planning, Dr. Heidi Roop shares 100 wide-ranging ways that readers from all walks of life can help move the needle in the right direction.
Actions include:
• Cutting down on food waste
• Reducing your driving speed
• Voting in every election
• Using the cold-water cycle on your washing machine
• Supporting healthy soils in your gardens and community green spaces
• Engaging in local climate action planning
• Preparing an emergency kit for your home
• Deleting unused emails and online accounts
• Swapping out milk for nondairy alternatives like oat milk
• Opting for slower shipping whenever possible
• Regularly maintaining and clean your heating and cooling systems
• Engaging in climate conversations at work and at home
And many more!
Return to this invaluable resource again and again to discover a roadmap for action and much-needed hope. What will your climate journey look like?Trade Review“What can I do, personally, about the climate crisis? [Readers] often ask us a version of this question....[Roop] says that civic engagement is one of the most effective ways for individuals to make a difference and to avoid feeling overwhelmed by the climate crisis....Ask yourself, what are you passionate about? Using this passion may motivate you to help shape the future of your community.”
—The New York Times Climate Forward newsletter"[
The Climate Action Handbook] provides lots of ideas—like eating more plant-based meals, choosing slower shipping for deliveries, voting in every election, and supporting youth climate activists. ... The ideas are accompanied by striking illustrations that help readers understand what they can do and why it makes a difference."
—Yale Climate ConnectionsTable of ContentsContentsPreface Overview Greenhouse Gases: Whey are they such a problem?
Understanding the Scale of the Problem
Understanding the Inequities of Climate Change
Climate Action in Focus: Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation
Climate Impacts Across the United States
Starting and Sustaining Your Climate Action Journey Action 1: Consider Collective and Individual Actions
Action 2: Understand the Disconnect Between Our Actions and Our Impact
Action 3: Be Privy to the Politics of Climate Change
Action 4: Beware the Coordinated Corporate Anti-Climate Campaign
Action 5: Center Action in Your Strengths and Passions
Energy Production and Transportation Action 6: Know What Powers You…and Your Home
Action 7: Support Renewables in Your Region
Action 8: Curb the Cost of Renewable Energy
Action 9: Weigh the Impact of Decarbonization
Action 10: Commute Mindfully
Action 11: Consider Carpooling and Rideshares
Action 12: Buy and Drive an Electric Car
Action 13: Drive Efficiently
Action 14: Be Idle Free
Travel and Work Action 15: Fly Less, Fly Economy
Action 16: Vacation Closer to Home
Action 17: Hotel or Home Share? Seek Out Eco-Friendly Accommodations
Action 18: Reduce Trash When You Travel
Action 19: Find Alternatives for Work-Related Travel
Action 20: Divest and Reinvest
Action 21: Learn More About Climate Financing
Action 22: Work Remotely if Possible
Action 23: Seek Out Climate Solutions in the Workplace
Action 24: Reduce the Climate Footprints in the Buildings Around Us
Action 25: Go Green and Cool with Rooftops
Action 26: Consider Climate as Part of Your Career
Action 27: Use Caution with Corporate Climate Commitments
Food and Farming Action 28: Eat Your Broccoli and Pass on the Meat
Action 29: Waste Not Want Not: Cut Down on Your Food Waste
Action 30: Compost
Action 31: Shop for or Order Your Meals Mindfully
Action 32: The Climate Cost of Food Take-Out and Delivery
Action 33: Thoughtfully Opt for Meat Alternatives
Action 34: Switch to Non-Dairy Alternatives
Action 35: Assess the Pros and Cons of Eating Local
Action 36: Enjoy Your Chocolate Responsibly
Action 37: Drink Responsibly--Imbibe with Climate in Mind
Action 38: Get to Know Your Favorite Coffee
Action 39: Support Local, Sustainable Fisheries
Shopping and Consumer Choices Action 40: Reduce Consumption Through Community Sharing
Action 41: Turn Away from Fast Fashion
Action 42: Weigh Your Diaper Options Carefully
Action 43: Ditch the Bottled Water
Action 44: Reduce Your Consumption of Disposable Plastic
Action 45: Learn About Microplastics and How You Can Avoid Them
Action 46: Make More Thoughtful Online Purchases
Action 47: Slow Down Your Shipping
Action 48: Keep Your Devices Longer and Dispose of Electronics Properly
Action 49: Shop Your Values (pull quote or other simple treatment)
Action 50: Beware Greenwashing
Actions Around the Home Action 51: Protect Your Property and Consider Where You Rent or Buy
Action 52: Check your Insurance Policy and Premium
Action 53: Prepare a “Go-Bag” and a “Stay-Bin”
Action 54: Create a More Energy-Efficient Home
Action 55: From Your Cooktop to Rooftop: Work Towards Electrification
Action 56: Be Thoughtful About Your Air Conditioning
Action 57: Go Solar
Action 58: Lighten the Load and Switch to LEDs
Action 59: Go Low Flow With Your Fixtures
Action 60: Clean Your Clothes Efficiently
Action 61: Garden for a Greener Planet
Action 62: Reduce Waste and Recycle
Action 63: Calculate your Carbon Footprint
Nature-based and Natural Solutions Action 64: (Carefully) Consider Carbon Removal and Offsets
Action 65: Learn About and Champion Bioenergy and Carbon Capture and Storage
Action 66: Plant a Tree…or a Trillion
Action 67: Reduce Your Carbon Offsets
Action 68: Clean Up Your Dirt
Action 69: Support Coastal Wetland Conservation
Action 70: Conserve, Restore, (Re)connect Land
Action 71: Go Green with Our Infrastructure
Action 72: Plant Trees to Shade Houses and Buildings
Health and Wellbeing Action 73: Protect Yourself and Your Community from Extreme Heat
Action 74: Protect Your Air
Action 75: Prepare for More Pests
Action 76: Address Your Mental Health and Anxiety
Action 77: Express Yourself Creatively
Action 78: Buy Beauty Products Responsibly
Action 79: Change Your Fitness Pattern and Habits
Action 80: Cherish Your Winter Recreation
Action 81: Pay the Appropriate Fees for Outdoor Recreation
Civic and Community Engagement Action 82: Vote in Every Election
Action 83: Engage Your Elected Officials
Action 84: Champion Climate Planning in Your Community
Action 85: Contribute to a Local Community Groups and Organizations
Action 86: Support Youth Climate Activism
Action 87: Share Your Observations and Experiences
Action 88: Role-Play Climate Solutions
Education and Climate Information Action 89: Act on Behalf of Your Children’s Future
Action 90: Seek Climate Solutions for School Buses and Buildings
Action 91: Teach Climate Change in the Classroom
Action 92: Talk Climate with Our Kids
Action 93: Be a Savvy Consumer of Information
Action 94: Track the State of the Science
Action 95: Look to Local Climate Science Leaders
Action 96: Look to Local Community Climate Leaders
Action 97: Talk About Climate Issues with Friends and Family
Action 98: Get Social on Social Media
Action 99: Embrace Your Inner Bookworm
Action 100: Celebrate Success and Express Gratitude
Conclusion: Continuing Your Climate Action Journey
