By Theresa Ficazzola
Another Earth Day is here – and another reminder to recognize our collective responsibility to do something to help our planet before it’s too late.
This year’s Earth Day theme is “Invest in Our Planet”. President Biden is committed to this theme by tackling climate change. His Build Back Better agenda includes more than $62 billion for the US Department of Energy to invest in our planet and deliver a more equitable clean energy future.
Climate Change is a Global Problem
But, we can’t do it alone. Climate change is a global problem. That’s why global agreements, such as the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change and the Paris Agreement, have brought together other nations in this fight. The focus of these agreements includes cutting greenhouse gas emissions, adapting to climate impacts and financing required adjustments.
While a growing coalition of countries is committed to net zero emissions by 2050, it’s not enough. About half of these cuts must be in place by 2030 to keep global warming below 1.5°C.
In a 2018 report, thousands of scientists and government reviewers agreed that limiting the global temperature rise to no more than 1.5°C would help us maintain a livable climate. Yet, the current path of carbon dioxide emissions could increase global temperatures by as much as 4.4°C by the end of the century. That’s a huge difference.
The Science Doesn’t Lie
During the Covid pandemic, we heard a lot about following the science. The science is also clear when it comes to climate change. For example, according to the UN, researchers have found:
- 2015-2019 were the five warmest years on record, while 2010-2019 was the warmest decade on record.
- The more the world warms, the greater the problems. This includes more frequent and intense hot extremes, marine heatwaves, heavy precipitation, agricultural and ecological droughts in some regions, the proportion of intense tropical cyclones, and reductions in Arctic sea ice, snow cover and permafrost.
- The global surface temperature has increased faster since 1970 than in any other 50-year period over at least the last 2000 years.
- Greenhouse gas concentrations, already at their highest levels in 2 million years, have continued to rise. In 2019, greenhouse gas concentrations reached new highs and carbon dioxide levels were 148% of preindustrial levels.
- Since the mid-1980s, Arctic surface air temperatures have warmed at least twice as fast as the global average, while sea ice, the Greenland ice sheet and glaciers have declined over the same period.
- The ocean has absorbed more than 90% of the excess heat in the climate system, making it more acidic and less productive. This along with practices such as overfishing threatens marine resources that feed 3.2 billion people.
- Coral reefs are particularly vulnerable to climate change and are projected to decline to 10-30% of their former cover at 1.5°C warming and to less than 1% of former cover at 2°C warming.
- More than 80% of the human diet is provided by plants. Only three cereal crops – rice, maize and wheat – provide 60% of energy intake.
Invest in Our Planet Today
In order to protect our planet for future generations, we all must do our part today—and every day. You can “Invest in Our Planet” by:
- Reducing your burning of fossil fuels
- Limiting your driving by combining trips, carpooling, biking, walking and not idling your car
- Adjusting your home thermostat
- Switching to an electric car
- Buying food and other products from sustainable companies that are committed to fighting climate change
- Talking to your children about how they can help the earth
- Not wasting food or water
- Protecting our natural resources
- Installing solar panels on your home in New York or New Jersey
Installing solar panels from SI Solar is a safe and reliable source of energy for your home. Plus, it’s easy and the benefits for you and the planet are significant.
According to the UN, despite the Covid-19 pandemic, a record 260 gigawatts of renewable energy capacity was added globally in 2020, beating the previous record by almost 50%. By switching to solar power, you can directly impact the earth.
The owner of SI Solar, Frank Ficazzola, is an advocate for solar energy and electric vehicles. He has both solar panels on the roof of his own house and drives an electric car. He would be happy to talk to you about how solar energy can benefit you and your family…and the planet. Give him a call today at 844-747-6527 or just drop him a note HERE.
