Blog Action Day: Climate Change is Real, So Do Something About It

I write about green living every day, so it’s not a big stretch for me to write about climate change for Blog Action Day 2009. What warms my heart, though, is to see thousands of other bloggers — about 10,000, to be more specific — writing about the issue that I believe will have the greatest impact on the future of this planet.

For anyone who believes the small changes we’re all encouraged to make won’t add up, think about the power in this day. Ten thousand bloggers and their collective audiences are focusing on climate change today. And it all started with the founders of Blog Action Day just trying to do something to make a difference in the world. That’s what I call power.

I’m the first to admit I don’t know much about the science behind climate change. I know that the polar ice caps are melting and polar bears are losing their habitat and starving as a result, and I know that the change that has begun in those regions is trickling down through the ecosystem. So while those signs may seem far off now, the snowball effect — no pun intended — will soon bring the effects of climate change right to our doorsteps.

But it doesn’t have to be this way. We can slow its progression, and all it takes is literally being conscious of our actions. I’m not perfect. I do things in my everyday life that really aren’t sustainable. Each time I do one of those things though, my conscience kicks in, because I know I can do better. A part of me longs for a more sustainable alternative, and eventually, my nagging conscience makes me change. Because it’s really that easy. All we have to do is shift our perspective — about consumerism, about the way we eat, about transportation and the way we communicate and do business — and it will make a difference. A big difference.

Start taking steps to a more sustainable lifestyle today. Even if all you do is turn off a light when you walk out of a room or remember to shut off your computer and surge protector when you go to bed for the night, start there. You can browse through the Green Your Decor archives for tips and information on having a greener home, or you can head over to my second blog, Green & Gorgeous, for information on making your entire lifestyle greener. This article is cross-posted there.

If you’re looking for completely new information, check out the Blog Action Day site for thousands of posts from other bloggers. Learn something today. I know I have.

EDITOR’S NOTE: The Greening Your Rental series will return tomorrow with one final list of tips on what you can do to make life as a tenant as eco-friendly as possible — by greening your decor. Don’t miss it!