Top 10 Solutions to Reverse Climate Change | Green America

Top 10 Solutions to Reverse Climate Change · 1. Refrigerant Management · 2. Wind Turbines (Onshore) · 3. Reduced Food Waste · 4. Adoption of a Plant-Rich Diet · 5. Skiptomaincontent HelpusmeetourMatchingGiftChallenge! Top10SolutionstoReverseClimateChange By AdaptedwithpermissionfromDrawdown:TheMostComprehensivePlanEverProposedtoReverseGlobalWarming(PenguinBooks,2017),editedbyPaulHawken  WindmillsbyDmitryAnikin PaulHawkenandtheProjectDrawdownexpertsthoughttheyknewwhattoexpectwhentheymodeledandranked80solutionsthatcouldreverseclimatechange.Butthedatahadsomesurprisesinstore.  Mostprominentlywasthatevenwhenthesolutionsaremodeledintermsofwhattheycalla“PlausibleScenario”—aconservativemeasureofprojectedsolutionimplementationthatis“reasonableyetoptimistic”—societystillmakesgreatstridestowardachievingdrawdown,thepointwheregreenhouse-gaslevelsintheatmospherebegintodecline.  Together,all80reduceorsequestercarbonby1,051gigatonsby2050inthePlausibleScenario.Usingthescenariothatgetsustodrawdown—whichrequiresrampingupthesolutionsabitmorethantheconservativemeasure,particularlyrenewableenergy—theyreduceorsequestercarbonby1,442gigatonsby2050.  Belowarethetoptensolutions,rankedintermsofemissionsreductionpotentialovera30-yearperiod.Fortheother90solutions,wehighlyrecommendyoureadDrawdown:theMostComprehensivePlanEverProposedtoReverseGlobalWarming(PenguinBooks,2017),editedbyPaulHawken.—theGreenAmericaeditors  Top10SolutionstoReverseClimateChange 1.RefrigerantManagement TellWalmarttoeliminateHFCs Theproblem:Everyrefrigerator,supermarketcase,andairconditionercontainschemicalrefrigerantsthatabsorbandreleaseheat,makingitpossibletochillfoodandkeepbuildingsandvehiclescool.Refrigerants,specificallychlorofluorocarbons(CFCs)andhydrochlorofluorocarbons(HCFCs),wereoncekeyculpritsindepletingthestratosphericozonelayer,whichisessentialforabsorbingthesun’sultravioletradiation.Thankstothe1987MontrealProtocolonSubstancesthatDepletetheOzoneLayer,CFCsandHCFCshavebeenphasedoutofuse. IttooktwoshortyearsfromthediscoveryofthegapingholeovertheAntarcticfortheglobalcommunitytoadoptalegallymandatedcourseofaction.Now,threedecadeslater,theozonelayerisbeginningtoheal.  Refrigerantscontinuetocauseclimatechange,however.HugevolumesofCFCsandHCFCsremainincirculation,retainingtheirpotentialforozonedamage.Theirreplacementchemicals,primarilyhydrofluorocarbons(HFCs),haveminimaldeleteriouseffectontheozonelayer,buttheircapacitytowarmtheatmosphereis1,000to9,000timesgreaterthanthatofcarbondioxide,dependingontheirexactchemicalcomposition. Solutionsinprogress:InOctober2016,officialsfrommorethan170countriesgatheredinKigali,Rwanda,tonegotiateadealtoaddresstheproblemofHFCs.Despitechallengingglobalpolitics,theyreachedaremarkableagreement.ThroughanamendmenttotheMontrealProtocol,theworldwillbeginphasingHFCsoutofuse,startingwithhigh-incomecountriesin2019andthenexpandingtolow-incomecountries—somein2024,othersin2028.HFCsubstitutesarealreadyonthemarket,includingnaturalrefrigerantssuchaspropaneandammonia. UnliketheParisClimateAgreement,theKigalidealismandatory,withspecifictargetsandtimetables. Worktobedone:TheprocessofphasingoutHFCswillunfoldovermanyyears,andtheywillpersistinkitchensandcondensingunitsinthemeantime.AccordingtotheLawrenceBerkeleyNationalLaboratory,700millionairconditioningunitswillhavecomeonlineworldwideby2030.  Refrigerantscurrentlycauseemissionsthroughouttheirlifecycles,but90percentofemissionshappenatdisposal.Afterbeingcarefullyremovedandstored,refrigerantscanbepurifiedforreuseortransformedintootherchemicalsthatdonotcausewarming.  TheKigaliAccordensuresastepchangeiscoming,andotherpracticesfocusedonexistingstockscouldreduceHFCemissionsfurther. GreenAmericaresources:GreenAmerica'sCoolIt!Campaign urgessupermarketstocurbtheirextremelyharmfulHFCuse,startingwiththebiggestoffender:Walmart.Youcanalsogettipsonreducingyourneedforairconditioningandsavingenergyathomeinourarticle,“TenEasiestWaystoCutYourEnergyUseinHalf.” Impact ProjectDrawdownanalysisincludesemissionsreductionsthatcanbeachievedthroughthemanagementanddestructionofrefrigerantsalreadyincirculation. Greenhousegas(GHG)reduction(PlausibleScenario):89.74gigatons(GT)ofreducedCO2-equivalent(CO2-e—thecommonmeasureforallgreenhousegases)by2050. GHGreduction(DrawdownScenario—requiresgreaterrefrigerantmanagement):96.49gigatonsofreducedCO2-eby2050. Cost(PlausibleScenario):Datatoovariabletobedetermined. Savings(PlausibleScenario):Thecoststoestablishandoperaterecovery,destruction,andleakavoidanceoutweighthefinancialbenefit:–$902.8billionnetsavings. 2.WindTurbines(Onshore)  Theproblem:Fossilfuelssidelinedzero-emissionwindenergyduringthemid-twentiethcentury. Windenergyhasitschallenges.Theweatherisnotthesameeverywhere.Thevariablenatureofwindmeanstherearetimeswhenturbinesarenotturning.Criticsarguethatturbinesarenoisy,aestheticallyunpleasant,andattimesdeadlytobatsandmigratingbirds. Anotherimpedimenttowindpowerisinequitablegovernmentsubsidies.TheInternationalMonetaryFundestimatesthatthefossil-fuelindustryreceivedmorethan$5.3trillionworldwideindirectandindirectsubsidiesin2015.Incomparison,theUSwind-energyindustryhasreceived$12.3billionindirectsubsidiessince2000.  Solutionsinprogress:Today,314,000windturbinessupply3.7percentofglobalelectricity.Itwillsoonbemuchmore.In2015,arecord63gigawattsofwindpowerwereinstalledaroundtheworld,despiteadramaticdropinfossil-fuelprices.Inmanylocales,windiseithercompetitivewithorlessexpensivethancoal-generatedelectricity. IntheUS,thewind-energypotentialofjustthreestates—Kansas,NorthDakota,andTexas—wouldbesufficienttomeetelectricitydemandfromcoasttocoast.  Currenttechnologiesmakeiteasiertoovercomefluctuationsinsupplyanddemand.Interconnectedgridscanshuttlepowertowhereitisneeded.Newerturbinedesignsaddressconcernsoverbirdandbatdeathswithslower-turningbladesandsitingpracticestoavoidmigrationpaths. Ongoingcostreductionswillsoonmakewindenergytheleastexpensivesourceofinstalledelectricitycapacity,perhapswithinadecade. Worktobedone:ThewaysandmeansfortheUnitedStatestobefossil-fuel-andenergy-independentarehere.Whatisoftenmissingispoliticalwillandleadershiptoreverseclimatechange. Onthepolicyside,energyportfoliostandardscanmandateashareofrenewablegeneration.Grants,loans,andtaxincentivescanencourageconstructionofmorewindcapacityandongoinginnovation.  Windenergyispartofasystem.Investmentinenergystorage,transmissioninfrastructure,anddistributedgenerationisessentialtoitsgrowth.Fortheworld,thedecisionissimple:Investinthefutureorinthepast.  GreenAmericaresources:GreenAmerica’sDivest/Investcampaignencouragespeopletodivestfromthetop200fossil-fuelcompaniesandreinvestinsustainability.  Impact Anincreaseinonshorewindfrom3to4percentofworldelectricityuseto21.6percentcouldresultin: GHGgasreduction(PlausibleScenario):84.6GTofreducedCO2by2050. GHGreduction(DrawdownScenario—requiresgreaterwind-energyincrease):146.5GTofreducedCO2by2050. Cost(PlausibleScenario):$1.2trillion,thoughcostsarefallingannuallyandcoulddelivermoresavings. Savings(PlausibleScenario):Onshorewindturbinescandeliveranetsavingsof$7.4trillionoverthreedecadesofoperation. 3.ReducedFoodWaste  Theproblem:Athirdofthefoodraisedorprepareddoesnotmakeitfromfarmorfactorytofork.Thatnumberisstartling,especiallywhenpairedwiththisone:Hungerisaconditionoflifefornearly800millionpeopleworldwide.Andthisone:Thefoodwewastecontributes4.4gigatonsofCO2-equivalentintotheatmosphereeachyear—roughlyeightpercentoftotalanthropogenicgreenhouse-gasemissions. Inplaceswhereincomeislowandinfrastructureisweak,foodlossistypicallyunintendedandstructuralinnature—badroads,lackofrefrigerationorstoragefacilities,poorequipmentorpackaging,achallengingcombinationofheatandhumidity.Wastageoccursearlierinthesupplychain,rottingonfarmsorspoilingduringstorageordistribution. Inregionsofhigherincome,unintentionallossestendtobeminimal;willfulfoodwastedominatesfartheralongthesupplychain.Retailersrejectfoodbasedonbumps,bruises,coloring—aestheticobjectionsofallsorts.Othertimes,theysimplyorderorservetoomuch,lesttheyriskshortagesorunhappycustomers. Similarly,consumersspurnimperfectspudsintheproducesection,overestimatehowmanymealstheywillcookinaweek,tossoutmilkthathasnotgonebad,orforgetaboutleftoverlasagnainthebackofthefridge. Basiclawsofsupplyanddemandalsoplayarole.Ifacropisunprofitabletoharvest,itwillbeleftinthefield.Andifaproductistooexpensiveforconsumerstopurchase,itwillidleinthestoreroom.  Regardlessofthereason,theoutcomeisthesame.Producinguneatenfoodsquandersawholehostofresources—seeds,water,energy,land,fertilizer,hoursoflabor,financialcapital—andgeneratesgreenhousegasesateverystage—includingmethanewhenorganicmatterlandsintheglobalrubbishbin.  Solutionsinprogress:TheUnitedNations’SustainableDevelopmentGoalscallforhalvingpercapitaglobalfoodwasteattheretailandconsumerlevelsby2030,aswellasreducingfoodlossesalongproductionandsupplychains. Worktobedone:Theinterventionsthatcanaddresskeywastepointsinthefoodchainarenumerousandvaried.Inlower-incomecountries,improvinginfrastructureforstorage,processing,andtransportationisessential.Strengtheningcommunicationandcoordinationbetweenproducersandbuyersisalsoparamountforkeepingfoodfromfallingthroughthecracks.Giventheworld’smanysmallholderfarmers,producerorganizationscanhelpwithplanning,logistics,andclosingcapacitygaps.Inhigher-incomeregions,majorinterventionsareneededattheretailandconsumerlevels.Mostimportantistopreemptfoodwastebeforeithappens,forgreatestreductionofupstreamemissions,followedbyreallocationofunwantedfood.  Standardizingdatelabelingonfoodpackagesisanessentialstep.Currently,“sellby”or“bestbefore”datesandthelikearelargelyunregulateddesignations,indicatingwhenfoodshouldtastebest.Thoughnotfocusedonsafety,thesemarkersoftenconfuseconsumersaboutexpiration.  Educationisanotherpowerfultool,includingcampaignscelebrating“ugly”produceandpublicfeastsmadefromnearlywastedfood. Nationalgoalsandpoliciescanencouragewidespreadchange,aswell. GreenAmericaresources:Getideasfromour“TacklingFoodWaste”issueoftheGreenAmerican. Impact Iftheworldreducesitsfoodwasteby2050,itwouldseethefollowing: GHGreduction(PlausibleScenario):70.53GTofreducedCO2-eby2050. GHGreduction(DrawdownScenario—requiresgreaterfoodwastereduction):83.03GTofreducedCO2-eby2050.. Cost(PlausibleScenario):Toovariabletobedetermined. Savings(PlausibleScenario):Toovariabletobedetermined. 4.AdoptionofaPlant-RichDiet  AvegandessertfromCandleCafe,avegan,local,andorganicrestaurantinNewYorkCitythatalsooffersfrozenveganmealsandvegancookbooks.PhotocourtesyofCandleCafe. Theproblem:TheWesterndietcomeswithasteep pricetagforclimatechange.Themostconservativeestimatessuggestthatraisinglivestockaccountsfornearly15percentofglobalgreenhousegasesemittedeachyear;themostcomprehensiveassessmentsofdirectandindirectemissionssaymorethan50percent. Outsideofinnovative,carbon-sequesteringmanaged-grazingpracticesdescribedinanothersectionofDrawdown,theproductionofmeatanddairycontributesmanymoreemissionsthangrowingtheirsproutedcounterparts—vegetables,fruits,grains,andlegumes.  Ruminantssuchascowsarethemostprolificoffenders,generatingthepotentgreenhousegasmethaneastheydigesttheirfood.Inaddition,agriculturallanduseandassociatedenergyconsumptiontogrowlivestockfeedproducecarbondioxideemissions,whilemanureandfertilizersemitnitrousoxide.Ifcattleweretheirownnation,theywouldbetheworld’sthird-largestemitterofgreenhousegases. Overconsumptionofanimalproteinalsocomesatasteepcosttohumanhealth.Eatingtoomuchofitcanleadtocertaincancers,strokes,andheartdisease.Increasedmorbidityandhealthcarecostsgohandinhand. Solutionsinprogress:Withbillionsofpeoplediningmultipletimesaday,imaginehowmanyopportunitiesexisttoturnthetables.Itispossibletoeatwell,intermsofbothnutritionandpleasure,whileeatingloweronthefoodchainandtherebyloweringemissions.  Worktobedone:Agroundbreaking2016studyfromtheUniversityofOxfordmodeledtheclimate,health,andeconomicbenefitsofaworldwidetransitiontoplant-baseddietsbetweennowand2050.Business-as-usualemissionscouldbereducedbyasmuchas70percentthroughadoptingavegandietand63percentforavegetariandiet(whichincludescheese,milk,andeggs).Themodelalsocalculatesareductioninglobalmortalityofsixtotenpercent.  Thecaseforaplant-richdietisrobust.Thatsaid,bringingaboutdietarychangeisnotsimplebecauseeatingisprofoundlypersonalandcultural.Forindividualstogiveupmeatinfavorofoptionsloweronthefoodchain,thoseoptionsshouldbeavailable,visible,andtempting.  Meatsubstitutesmadefromplantsareakeywaytominimizedisruptionofestablishedwaysofcookingandeating.Betweenrapidlyimprovingproducts,researchattopuniversities,venture-capitalinvestment,andmountingconsumerinterest,expertsexpectmarketsfornon-meatstogrowrapidly.  Beyondpromoting“reducitarianism,”ifnotvegetarianism,itisalsonecessarytoreframemeatasadelicacy,ratherthanastaple.Firstandforemost,thatmeansendingprice-distortinggovernmentsubsidies,suchasthosebenefitingtheUSlivestockindustry.Debunkingproteinmythsandamplifyingthehealthbenefitsofplant-richdietscanalsoencourageindividualstochangetheireatingpatterns.  GreenAmericaresources:Readabouthowtheworldcouldeatlessmeatandtheimpactsitcouldhaveinour“Don’tHaveaCow”issueoftheGreenAmerican. Impact: Iftheworldreducesitsmeatconsumptionby2050,itwouldseethefollowing: GHGreduction(PlausibleScenario):66.11GTofreducedCO2-eby2050. GHGreduction(DrawdownScenario—requiresfurtherreductionofmeatconsumption):78.65GTofreducedCO2-eby2050. Cost(PlausibleScenario):Toovariabletobedetermined. Savings(PlausibleScenario):Toovariabletobedetermined. 5.TropicalForestRestoration SustainableforestmanagementinIndonesia.Atleast 751millionacresoflandinthetropicscouldberestored tointactforests,reducing62.1gigatonsofCO2.PhotobyBiosphotoviaAlamy. Theproblem:Inrecentdecades,tropicalforests—thoselocatedwithin23.5degreesnorthorsouthoftheequator—havesufferedextensiveclearing,fragmentation,degradation,anddepletionoffloraandfauna.Onceblanketing12percentoftheworld’slandmasses,theynowcoverjustfivepercent.  Whenweloseforests,primarilytoagriculturalexpansionorhumansettlement,carbondioxidedischargesintotheatmosphere.Tropicalforestlossaloneisresponsiblefor16to19percentofgreenhouse-gasemissionscausedbyhumanactivity.  Solutionsinprogress:Restorationoftropicalforests,bothpassiveandintentional,isnowagrowingtrend.Asforestecosystemscomebacktolife,trees,soil,leaflitter,andothervegetationabsorbandholdcarbon,takingitoutofglobal-warmingrotation.  In2011,theBonnChallengesetanambitioustargetofrestoring370millionacresofforestworldwideby2020.The2014NewYorkDeclarationonForestsaffirmedthataimandaddedacumulativetargetof865millionacresrestoredgloballyby2030.Shouldtheworldaccomplishthatgoal,atotalof12to33gigatonsofCO2wouldberemovedfromtheatmosphereandbecometerrestrialonceagain.  Worktobedone:“Morethan4.9billionacres[offorests]worldwideofferopportunitiesforrestoration—anarealargerthanSouthAmerica,”ateamofresearchersfromtheWorldResourcesInstitutereports.Three-quartersofthatlandwouldbebestsuitedtoa“mosaic”forest-restorationapproach,blendingforests,trees,andagriculturallanduses.Upto1.2billionacresareripeforfullrestorationoflargeforestswithdensecanopycover.Theopportunitiesareenormous,andthemajorityofitliesintropicalregions.Inamediantimeof66years,tropicalforestscanrecover90percentofthebiomassthatold-growthlandscapescontain.  Giventheinterconnectednessofpeopleandforests,aparticularframeworkforrestorationhasemerged:forestlandscaperestoration.Theapproach,proposedbytheUnitedNationsFoodandAgricultureOrganization,means“regardingthelandscapeasanintegratedwhole...lookingatdifferentlandusestogether,theirconnections,interactions,andamosaicof[restoration]interventions.”  Itmeansthereisnosingleformulaforforestrestoration.Makingrestorationacollaborativeprocesscanensureitisdonewithandforlocalcommunities,andthatrootcausesofforestdamageareaddressed. Thebulkofrestorationopportunitiesliesprimarilywithinlow-incomecountriesintropicalregions.Thosecountriescannotmanagethelevelofinvestmentrequired,norshouldthey,sincethebenefitsofrestorationprovidevalueandaservicetoall.Therelevantstakeholdersaretheentirehumanrace,andsomebeargreaterresponsibilityfortheproblemofclimatechangethanothers. Becauseforestrestorationissuchapotentsolutiontoclimatechange,commitmentsandfundingneedtobeaglobalpriority.Andbecauserestorationeffortshaverangedfromsuccesstofailure,weneedtoanalyzewhy,scalebestpractices,andeliminatethosethatdonotwork. Initiativesneedtorespectlandrightsandtenure,especiallythoseofIndigenouspeople.  GreenAmericaresources:GreenAmerica’sSkiptheSlipcampaign helpsforestsaroundtheworldbyurgingcompaniestoshiftawayfromusingmillionsofpoundstounrecyclablepaperreceiptsanduseonlinereceiptsinstead.Inothersectors,GreenAmerica'scampaigns work toprotectourforestsby moving towardsrecycledpaperoronline. Impact  Intheory,751millionacresofdegradedlandinthetropicscouldberestoredtocontinuous,intactforest.ProjectDrawdown’sPlausibleScenarioassumesrestorationcouldoccuron435millionacres,resultingin: GHGreduction(PlausibleScenario):61.2GTofreducedCO2by2050. GHGreduction(DrawdownScenario—requiresmorerestoration):89GTofreducedCO2by2050.. Cost(PlausibleScenario):Datatoovariabletobedetermined. Savings(PlausibleScenario):Datatoovariabletobedetermined. 6.EducatingGirls Sunitawasonceforcedtoweavecarpetsandperformdomesticworkfrom4a.m.lateintothenight.Now,sheattendsschoolthroughGoodWeave’s educationprogram.GoodWeaverescueschildweaversfromcarpetloomsinSouthAsiaandinvestsintheireducationandrehabilitation.Italsocertifiescarpetsandloomsasbeingfreefromchildlabor.PhotobyU.RobertoRomanoforGoodweave. Theproblem:Today,morethan130milliongirlsaredeniedthefundamentalrighttoattendschoolandlayafoundationfortheirlives.Thesituationismostdireinsecondaryclassrooms. Economicbarriersincludelackoffamilyfundsforschoolfeesanduniforms,aswellasprioritizingthemoreimmediatebenefitsofhavinggirlsfetchwaterorfirewood,orworkamarketstalloraplotofland.  Culturalbarriersencompasstraditionalbeliefsthatgirlsshouldtendthehomeratherthanlearntoreadandwrite,shouldbemarriedoffatayoungage,and,whenresourcesareslim,shouldbeskippedoversoboyscanbesenttoschoolinstead.  Schoolsthatarefartherafieldputgirlsatriskofgender-basedviolenceontheirwaytoandfrom,whileotherdangersanddiscomfortsarepresentatschoolitself.Disability,pregnancy,childbirth,andfemalegenitalmutilationalsocanbeobstacles.  Theeducationgapalsomattersforglobalwarming.AccordingtotheBrookingsInstitution,“Thedifferencebetweenawomanwithnoyearsofschoolingandwith12yearsofschoolingisalmostfourtofivechildrenperwoman.”Womenwithmoreyearsofeducationhavefewer,healthierchildrenandactivelymanagetheirownreproductivehealth.  Inthepoorestcountries,percapitagreenhouse-gasemissionsarelow.Fromone-tenthofatonofcarbondioxideperpersoninMadagascarto1.8tonsinIndia,per-capitaemissionsinlower-incomecountriesareafractionoftheUSrateof18tonsperpersonperyear.Nevertheless,changesinfertilityratesinthosecountrieswouldhavemultiplebenefitsforgirlsandwomen,families,communities,andsociety.  Solutioninprogress:Nobellaureateandgirls’educationactivistMalalaYousafzaihasfamouslysaid,“Onechild,oneteacher,onebook,andonepencanchangetheworld.”Anenormousbodyofevidencesupportsherconviction.Forstarters,educatedgirlsrealizehigherwagesandgreaterupwardmobility,contributingtoeconomicgrowth.Theirratesofmaternalmortalitydrop,asdomortalityratesoftheirbabies.Theyarelesslikelytomarryaschildrenoragainsttheirwill.TheyhavelowerincidenceofHIV/AIDSandmalaria.Theiragriculturalplotsaremoreproductiveandtheirfamiliesbetternourished.Theyaremoreempoweredathome,atwork,andinsociety.  Educationisthemostpowerfulleveravailableforbreakingthecycleofintergenerationalpoverty,whilemitigatingemissionsbycurbingpopulationgrowth.  Educationalsoshoresupresiliencetoclimatechangeimpacts.Forexample,a2013studyfoundthateducatinggirls“isthesinglemostimportantsocialandeconomicfactorassociatedwithareductioninvulnerabilitytonaturaldisasters.”Thisdecreasedvulnerabilityalsoextendstotheirchildren,families,andtheelderly. [Editor’snote:Increasingwomen’sinvolvementintheenergysectoralsoleadsto“moreeffectiveclean-energyinitiatives,greaterreturnsoninvestmentincleanenergy,andexpandedemissions-reductionopportunities,accordingtotheInternationalUnionfortheConservationofNature.]  Worktobedone:In2011,thejournalSciencepublishedademographicanalysisoftheimpactofgirls’educationonpopulationgrowth.Itdetailsa“fasttrack”scenario,basedonSouthKorea’sactualclimbfromoneoftheleasttooneofthemosteducatedcountriesintheworld.Ifallnationsadoptedasimilarrateandachieved100percentenrollmentofgirlsinprimaryandsecondaryschoolby2050,therewouldbe843millionfewerpeopleworldwidethanifcurrentenrollmentratessustain.  TheencyclopedicbookWhatWorksinGirls’Education(BrookingsInstitutionPress,2015)mapsoutsevenareasofinterconnectedinterventions:1)Makeschoolaffordable.2)Helpgirlsovercomehealthbarriers.3)Reducethetimeanddistancetogettoschool.4)Makeschoolsmoregirl-friendly.Forexample,offerchild-careprogramsformothers.5)Improveschoolquality.  6)Increasecommunityengagement.7)Sustaingirls’educationduringemergencies.Forexample,establishschoolsinrefugeecamps.  GreenAmericaresources:GreenAmerica’sLaborprograms andEndSmartphoneSweatshopscampaign promotesolutionsthatraisefamilyincome,getchildrenoutoffactoriesandfields,andallowmorechildrentogotoschool. Impact Becauseeducatinggirlshasanimportantimpactonfamilyplanning(#7),ProjectDrawdownallocated50percentoftotalpotentialemissionsreductiontoeachsolution. GHGreduction(PlausibleScenario):59.6GTofreducedCO2by2050. GHGreduction(DrawdownScenario—requireshelpingmoregirlsattendschool):59.6GTofreducedCO2by2050. Cost(PlausibleScenario):Byclosinganannualfinancinggapof$39billion,universaleducationinlow-andlower-middle-income countriescouldbeachieved. Savings(PlausibleScenario):Thereturnoninvestingingirlsisincalculable. 7.FamilyPlanning Kenyahasmadesignificantgainsineducation,withmorethan80percentofallboysandgirlscurrentlyenrolledinprimaryschools,and50percentofboysandgirlsinsecondaryschools,Povertyisthemainreasonforlowenrollment,andboysreceivepriorityforhighereducationwhentherearefinancialconstraints.CourtesyofProjectDrawdown. Theproblem: Securingthefundamentalrighttovoluntary,high-qualityfamily-planningservices,sowomencanhavechildrenbychoiceratherthanchanceandcanplantheirfamilysizeandspacing,isamatterofautonomy,dignity,and,yes,climatechange.  225millionwomeninlower-incomecountriessaytheywanttheabilitytochoosewhetherandwhentobecomepregnantbutlackthenecessaryaccesstocontraception—resultinginsome74millionunwantedpregnancieseachyear.Theneedpersistsinsomehigh-incomecountriesaswell,includingtheUS,where45percentofpregnanciesareunintended. Challengestoexpandingaccesstofamilyplanningrangefrombasicsupplyofaffordableandculturallyappropriatecontraceptiontoeducationaboutsexandreproduction;fromfarawayhealthcenterstohostileattitudesofmedicalproviders;fromsocialandreligiousnormstosexualpartners’oppositiontousingbirthcontrol.  Currently,theworldfacesa$5.3billionfundingshortfallfor providingtheaccesstoreproductivehealthcarethatwomensaytheywanttohave.Afterbeingsilentonthetopicoffamilyplanningformorethan 25years,theUNIntergovernmentalPanelonClimate Changeincludedaccesstoreproductivehealthservicesinits2014synthesisreportandpointedtopopulationgrowthasanimportantfactoringreenhouse-gasconcentrations.(See#6forstatisticsonpercapitaemissions.)Growingevidencesuggeststhatfamilyplanninghastheadditionalbenefitofbuildingresilience—helpingcommunitiesandcountriesbettercopewithandadapttoinevitablechangesbroughtbyclimatechange.  Solutionsinprogress:Thesuccessstoriesinfamilyplanningarestriking.Iranputaprogramintoplaceintheearly1990sthathasbeentoutedasamongthemostsuccessfulsucheffortsinhistory.Completelyvoluntary,itinvolvedreligiousleaders,educatedthepublic,andprovidedfreeaccesstocontraception.Asaresult,fertilityrateshalvedinjustonedecade.  InBangladesh,averagebirthratesfellfromsixchildreninthe1980stotwonow,asthedoor-to-doorapproachpioneeredintheMatlabhospitalspreadacrossthecountry:femalehealthworkersprovidingbasiccareforwomenandchildrenwheretheylive. Familyplanningrequiressocialreinforcement—forexample,theradioandtelevisionsoapoperasnowusedinmanyplacestoshiftperceptionsofwhatis“normal”or“right.”  Worktobedone:Honoringthedignityofwomenandchildrenthroughfamilyplanningisnotaboutcentralizedgovernmentsforcingthebirthratedown—orupthroughnatalistpolicies.Norisitaboutagenciesoractivistsinrichcountries,whereemissionsarehighest,tellingpeopleelsewheretostophavingchildren.Itismostessentiallyaboutfreedomandopportunityforwomenandtherecognitionofbasichumanrights. Currently,family-planningprogramsreceivejustonepercentofalloverseasdevelopmentassistance.Thatnumbercoulddouble—amoralmovethathappenstohavemeaningfortheplanet.  GreenAmericaresources:GreenAmerica’sLabor andCleanElectronicsprogramssupportsolutionsthathelpwomenearntheirownincomesanddeterminetheirownfutures.  Impact Becauseeducatinggirls(#6)hasanimportantimpactonfamilyplanning,ProjectDrawdownallocated50percentoftotalpotential emissionsreductiontoeachsolution. GHGreduction(PlausibleScenario):59.6GTofreducedCO2by2050. GHGreduction(DrawdownScenario—requiresprovidingmorewomenwithfamily-planningaccess):59.6GTofreducedCO2by2050. Cost&savings(PlausibleScenario):Inappropriatetomonetizeahumanright. 8.SolarFarms OCISolarPower’s60-acreAlamo3solarfarminConverse,TX,generates5.5megawatts(AC)ofpowerfornearly1,240homes.CourtesyofOCISolarPower(OCISolarPower.com) Theproblem:Theeraoffossilfuelsisover,andtheonlyquestioniswhentheneweraofcleanenergywillbeuponus.Solarphotovoltaicsareonlytwopercentoftheglobalelectricitymixatpresent.  Solutionsinprogress:Solarfarmsarelarge-scalearraysofhundreds,thousands,orhundredsofthousands,or,insomecases,millionsofpanelsthatachievegeneratingcapacityinthetensorhundredsofmegawatts.Thesesolarfarmsoperateatutilityscale,morelikeconventionalpowerplantsintheamountofelectricitytheyproduce. Thefirstsolarphotovoltaic(PV)farmswentupintheearly1980s.Now,theseutility-scaleinstallationsaccountfor65percentofadditionstosolarPVcapacityaroundtheworld. IfUkrainianofficialshavetheirway,Chernobyl,thesiteofamassnuclearmeltdownin1986,willhousea1-gigawattsolarfarm,whichwouldbeoneoftheworld’slargest. Publicinvestment,taxincentives,technologyevolution,andbrutemanufacturingforcehavechippedawayatthecostofcreatingPV,bringingitdownto65centsperwatttoday.Thedeclineinpricehasalwaysoutpacedpredictions,anddropswillcontinue.InformedpredictionsaboutthecostandgrowthofsolarPVindicatethatitwillsoonbecometheleastexpensiveenergyintheworld.Itisalreadythefastestgrowing.  Comparedtorooftopsolar,solarfarmsenjoylowerinstallationcostsperwatt,andtheirefficacyintranslatingsunlightintoelectricityishigher.Whentheirpanelsrotatetomakethemostofthesun’srays,generationcanimproveby40percentormore.  Worktobedone:Nomatterwheresolarpanelsareplaced,theyaresubjecttothediurnalandvariablenatureofsolarradiationanditsmisalignmentwithelectricityuse,peakingmiddaywhiledemandpeaksafewhourslater.Thatiswhy,assolargenerationcontinuestogrow,soshouldcomplementaryrenewablesthatareconstant,suchasgeothermal,andthathaverhythmsdifferentfromthesun,suchaswind,whichtendstopickupatnight. EnergystorageandmoreflexiblegridsthatcanmanagethevariabilityofproductionfromPVfarmswillalsobeintegraltosolar’ssuccess. TheInternationalRenewableEnergyAgencyalreadycredits220millionto330milliontonsofannualCO2savingstosolarPV.Couldsolarrisefromtwopercentoftheglobalelectricitymixtomeet20percentofglobalenergyneedsby2027,assomeUniversityofOxfordresearcherscalculate?Thankstocomplementarygovernmentinterventionsandmarketprogress,therearemanypromisingsigns.  GreenAmericaresources:GreenAmerica’sSolarCatalystandSolarCircleprogramshaveplayedamajorroleinacceleratingsolarintheUSandabroad.OurnewcampaignsputpressureonAT&T,Verizon,andAmazontopowertheirmassiveserverswithcleanenergy.   Impact Utility-scalesolariscurrently0.4percentofglobalelectricitygeneration.ProjectDrawdownassumesitwillgrowtotenpercent. GHGreduction(PlausibleScenario):36.9GTofreducedCO2by2050. GHGreduction(DrawdownScenario—assumeshighergrowth):64.6GTofreducedCO2by2050. Cost(PlausibleScenario):–$80.6billion.(Solarfarmsarecheapertoinstallthanfossil-fuelalternatives,sothere’sactuallya savingsonimplementation.) Savings(PlausibleScenario):$5.02trillioninnetsavings. 9.Silvopasture AsilvopasturefieldinSweden,combiningpasturelandwithclimate-coolingtrees.PhotobyBoJansson(Alamy). Theproblem:InBrazilandelsewhere,headlinescondemnranchingasadriverofmassdeforestationandattendantclimatechange.Cattleandotherruminantsrequire30to45percentoftheworld’sarableland,andlivestockproduceroughlyone-fifthofgreenhousegasemissions.  Solutionsinprogress:Conventionalwisdomsayscowsandtreesdonotbelongtogether.Thepracticeofsilvopasturechallengesthisassumptionofmutualexclusivityandcouldhelpshapeanewerafortheacreagededicatedtolivestockandtheirfood.  FromtheLatinfor“forest”and“grazing,”silvopastureisjustthat:theintegrationoftreesandpastureorforageintoasinglesystemforraisinglivestock,fromcattleandsheeptodeerandducks.Ratherthanseeingtreesasaweedtoberemoved,silvopastureintegratesthemintoasustainableandsymbioticsystem.Silvopastureiscurrentlypracticedon351millionacresoflandglobally.  Thedehesasystemofsilvopasture,famousforthejamónibérico(Iberianham)ityields,hasbeencultivatedontheIberianPeninsulaformorethan4,500years.Morerecently,silvopasturehastakenrootinCentralAmerica,thankstotheworkofchampionssuchastheCenterforResearchinSustainableSystemsofAgriculture,basedinCali,Colombia.InmanyplacesintheUSandCanada,livestockandtreescanbefoundintermingling.  Thatinterminglingtakesavarietyofforms.Treesmaybeclustered,evenlyspaced,orusedaslivingfencing.Animalsmaygrazeingrassyalleysbetweenrowsofarborealgrowth.Mostsilvopastoralsystemsaresimilarinspacingtoasavannaecosystem.Theycanbecreatedbyplantingtreesinopenpasture,lettingthosethatsproutmature,orbythinningawoodlandorplantationcanopytoallowforforagegrowth.  Soilistheotheressentialcomponent—andkeytothepotentialsilvopasturehasformitigatingclimatechange.Silvopastoralsystemssequestercarboninboththebiomassabovegroundandthesoilbelow.Pasturesthatarestrewnorcrisscrossedwithtreessequesterfivetotentimesasmuchcarbonasthoseofthesamesizethataretreeless. Moreover,becausethelivestockyieldonasilvopastureplotishigher,itmaycurtailtheneedforadditionalpasturespaceandthushelpavoiddeforestationandsubsequentcarbonemissions.  Somestudiesshowthatruminantscanbetterdigestsilvopastoralforage,emittingloweramountsofmethaneintheprocess. Fromafinancialandriskperspective,silvopastureisusefulforitsdiversification.Livestock,trees,andanyadditionalforestryproducts,suchasnuts,fruit,mushrooms,andmaplesyrup,allcomeofageandgenerateincomeondifferenttimehorizons.Becausethelandisdiverselyproductive,farmersarebetterinsulatedfromfinancialriskduetoweatherevents.  Silvopasturecanalsocutfarmers’costsbyreducingtheneedforfeed,fertilizer,andherbicides.Becausetheintegrationoftreesintograzinglandsenhancessoilfertilityandmoisture,farmersfindthemselveswithhealthier,moreproductivelandovertime.  Worktobedone:Thoughtheadvantagesofsilvopastureareclear,itsgrowthhasbeenlimitedbybothpracticalandculturalfactors.Thesesystemsaremoreexpensivetoestablish,requiringhigherup-frontcostsinadditiontothenecessarytechnicalexpertise.Thereislessincentivetoplanttreesandprotectthemwherepasturesareplentiful,fireposesarisk,orlandownershipisunclear.  Layeredonthesechallengesisthestubbornbeliefthattreesandpasturearenotcompatible—thattreesinhibitthegrowthofpasturefodderratherthanenrichit.Farmersmayridiculeoneanotherforshiftingtoanalternateapproach.  Thesesocialimpedimentsmakepeer-to-peerengagementanddirectexperienceofsilvopasture’sbenefitskeyaccelerants.Toaddresseconomicobstacles,internationalorganizationssuchastheWorldBankandNGOssuchastheNatureConservancyaremakingloanstoenablesilvopastureinstallation—loansatypicalbankwouldnotprovide.  Astheimpactsofglobalwarmingprogress,silvopasturecanhelpfarmersandtheirlivestockadapttoerraticweather.Treescreatecoolermicroclimatesandmoreprotectiveenvironments,andcanmoderatewateravailability.Thereinliestheclimaticwin-winofsilvopasture.  GreenAmericaresources:GreenAmerica’sRe(Store)It!andCarbonFarmingprogramsareacceleratingtheshifttoregenerativeagriculture,includingsilvopasturepractices. Impact ProjectDrawdownestimatesadoptionofsilvopastureexpandingto554millionacresby2050outof2.7billiontheoreticallysuitable: GHGreduction(PlausibleScenario):31.19GTofreducedCO2-eby2050. GHGreduction(DrawdownScenario—requireshigherrateofadoption):47.5GTofreducedCO2-eby2050.. Cost(PlausibleScenario):$41.6billionnetcost. Savings(PlausibleScenario):$699.4billionnetsavings. 10.RooftopSolar AnUrosmotherandhertwodaughtersliveonone ofthe42floatingislandsthattheUruconstructedfrom totorareedsonLakeTiticaca.Thissolarpanelreplaced keroseneandprovidedelectricitytothefamilyforthefirsttime.PhotocourtesyofDrawdown. Theproblem:Theeraoffossilfuelsisover,andtheonlyquestioniswhentheneweraofcleanenergywillbeuponus.Solarphotovoltaicsareonlytwopercentoftheglobalelectricitymixatpresent.  Solutionsinprogress:Solarphotovoltaics(PV)haveseenexponentialgrowthoverthepastdecade.In2015,distributedsystemsoflessthan100kilowattsaccountedforroughly30percentofsolarPVcapacityinstalledworldwide.  WhiletheproductionofPVpanels,likeanymanufacturingprocess,involvesemissions,theygenerateelectricitywithoutemittinggreenhousegasesorairpollution.Whenplacedonagrid-connectedroof,theyproduceenergyatthesiteofconsumption,avoidingtheinevitablelossesofgridtransmission.Theycanhelputilitiesmeetbroaderdemandbyfeedingunusedelectricityintothegrid,especiallyinsummer.This“netmetering”arrangementcanmakesolarpanelsfinanciallyfeasibleforhomeowners,offsettingtheelectricityconsumersbuyatnight,whenthesunisnotshining. RooftopPVisacceleratingaccesstoaffordable,cleanelectricityandtherebybecomingapowerfultoolforeliminatingpoverty.Itisalsocreatingjobsandenergizinglocaleconomies.InBangladeshalone,3.6millionhomesolarsystemshavegenerated115,000directjobsand50,000moredownstream.  Roofmodulesarespreadingaroundtheworldbecauseoftheiraffordability.SolarPVhasbenefitedfromavirtuouscycleoffallingcosts,drivenbyincentivestoaccelerateitsdevelopmentandimplementation,economiesofscaleinmanufacturing,advancesinpaneltechnology,andinnovativeapproachesforend-userfinancing. Small-scalePValreadygenerateselectricitymorecheaplythanitcanbebroughtfromthegridinsomepartsoftheUS,inmanysmallislandstates,andincountriesincludingAustralia,Denmark,Germany,Italy,andSpain.  Worktobedone:See#8“SolarFarms.” GreenAmericaresources: Joinwithyourneighborstodrivedownthecostsofrooftopsolar.Readour“CommunitySolarforAll”issueoftheGreenAmerican. Impact ProjectDrawdownestimatesthatrooftopsolarPVcangrowfrom.4percentofelectricitygenerationgloballyto7percentby2050. Carbonreduction(PlausibleScenario):24.6GTofreducedCO2by2050. Carbonreduction(DrawdownScenario—requiresmoresolarrooftops):43.10GTofreducedCO2by2050. Cost(PlausibleScenario):$453.1billionnetcost. Savings(PlausibleScenario):$3.46trillionnetsavings. HowGreenAmericaCampaignsStackUp WethoughtitwouldbefuntoseewhereGreenAmerica’sclimate-relatedcampaignsstackupontheProjectDrawdown top100climate-changesolutions.Thesolutionsarerankedbytheamountofgreenhousegasestheyreduceby2050.Here’showoureffortscameout: ClimateAction:GrowingRenewables:AbigpartofourClimateActionprogramaimstogrowrenewableenergygenerationintheUS.In2002,ourSolarCatalystprojectmappedoutthefutureofsolarpowerintheUS.Today,ClimateActionsupportstaxincentivesforsolarandwind,andhelpsinvestorsmovetheirmoneyintocompaniescomingupwithclimatesolutions.WealsodevelopedtheideaforCleanEnergyVictoryBonds,whichwouldallowindividualstoinvestingreenenergyforaslittleas$25,throughagovernmentTreasurybond.Ranking:Rooftopsolar:#10,with24.6gigatons(GT)CO2-equivalent(CO2-e)reduced.SolarFarms:#8,with36.9GTreduced.WindTurbines:#2,with84.6GTreduced. Re(Store)It!andCarbonFarming:Thesecampaignsaimtopromoteregenerativeagriculture—throughencouragingfarmerstopracticeit,retailerstosellproductsfarmedinthismanner,andconsumerstolookforproductsgrownthroughregenerativemethods.Ranking:RegenerativeAgricultureis#11,with23.14GTofCO2-ereduced. BetterPaperProject:OurBetterPaperProjectaimstoconservetheworld’sforestsbyadvocatingforrecycledpaper use.Currently,we’reworkingwithmagazinepublisherstoswitchthemfromvirgin-pulppapertopaperwithatleast somerecycledcontent—particularlySmithsonianMagazineandcollegeanduniversityalumnimagazines.TheProject’snew“SkiptheSlip”campaignasksretailerstoofferdigitalreceiptsandconsumerstoskippaperreceipts.Ranking:Recyclingis#70,with0.90gigatonsofCO2-equivalentreduced.Savingtropicalforestsranks#5(seep.23),andsavingtemperateforestsranks#12,with22.61GTofCO2-e. FairTrade:OurFairTradeprogramempowerswomenandgirlsbyincreasingfamilyincome,allowinggirlstogoto school(see#6). GreenLiving:OurwebsiteandpublicationsarefilledwithpracticalarticlesonmanyoftheProjectDrawdownsolutions,includingtheonescorrespondingtoourprogramareasmentionedabove,aswellasride-sharing(#75),investingin women(#62),composting(#60),savingwater(#46),buyinganelectriccar(#26),eatinglessmeat(#4),reducingfoodwaste(#3),andmore. Inaddition,our“ClimateJusticeforAll”issueoftheGreenAmericanhighlightsleadersaroundtheworldwhoareworkingtoreduceclimate-changeimpactstocommunitiesofcolor,whoareoftenhardesthitbythem. Thesolutionstoclimatechangearewithinourabilities,andtheyimprovelifeforeverybeingonthisplanet.   FromGreenAmericanMagazineIssue ClimateChange:100ReasonsforHope ClimateChange:100ReasonsforHope APlantoReversetheClimateCrisis Top10SolutionstoReverseClimateChange PowertothePeople:FuelingtheRevolutionforEnergyJustice InSearchofEthicalFashion SocialInvestingVictoriesof2017 Learnaboutoursponsor. RelatedNews VoicesforInclusionandJustice Womenaremorelikelytobedisplacedinaclimatedisaster.Transgenderpeoplearemorelikelytobeincarcerated.Communitiesofcoloraremorelikelytoliveinpollutedneighborhoods. Tragically,thesestatementsaretruetoday.Buttheydon’thavetobethecaseinthefuture. VoicesforInclusionandJustice Womenaremorelikelytobedisplacedinaclimatedisaster.Transgenderpeoplearemorelikelytobeincarcerated.Communitiesofcoloraremorelikelytoliveinpollutedneighborhoods. Tragically,thesestatementsaretruetoday.Buttheydon’thavetobethecaseinthefuture. AnimalConcernsLabels */ /*-->*/ BacktotheFoodLabelsGuide GreenLiving InvestinginGreenEnergy 10WaystoBuildCommunity BeyondtheWalmartEconomy   Togetherwecanprotectourbeautifulplanetandallitspeople. DonatetoourMatchingGiftChallenge! $50$125$250$500OTHER GIVE Letusinspireyourinbox! Useyourvoiceforpeopleandplanet.