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So, people on Pacific Islands are now experiencing environmental refugeeism. American farmers (well, they’re not the only ones!) are running out of water.

Instead of going on about how bad this is, I found a few little rays of hope today. If nothing else, I hope this blog educates you! So read on.

Firstly, it’s probably too late now, so we may have to start using some geoengineering tactics like sucking carbon dioxide out of the air and converting it to charcoal to be buried in the ground (this is called biochar – read more here and here). Some of the geo-eng solutions I do not agree with; like dumping iron filings in the sea to encourage phytoplankton growth (plankton is a massive sink of carbon dioxide).

Meanwhile, a few people have commented we publish a lot about the bad side of climate change, and they want to know what they can do. So, two great posts below.

First up, the excellent ClimateProgress provides some steps on making a real difference, which we’ve summarised below. The article explains them all in full. I agree with all of these, and some of them are very cheap to implement. We’re already implementing most of these.

#1. Get your home tested for dangerous pollutants.
#2. Buy 100% renewable power for your home with as much coming from new renewables as possible.
#3. Green your appliances.
#4. Wrap your hot water heater.
#5. Get ceiling fans
#6. Compact fluorescent lightbulbs [Ed: or LED if you can afford them]
#7. Turn off your computer (and DVR) at night.
#8. Do some water-saving stuff.
#9. When you repaint the roof, use Energy Star white (or high-albedo) paint

Tim Flannery provides a really great summary on why, even though you feel helpless, even acting in a small manner can, and will, help. So there’s something to smile about – you CAN make a difference.

Sometimes the climate change problem seems so overwhelming that many of us feel there’s little one person can do. After all, it’s caused in large part by huge power plants burning tonnes of coal per hour, hundreds of millions of cars and billions of tonnes of CO2, so how does changing my light bulbs help?

It helps because, as big as it is, the base of the problem is caused by ordinary people just like you and me, living ordinary lives. Who would ever guess that simply by having a hot shower and a cup of coffee in the morning we’d be putting pollution into the atmosphere that will last a century? But it doesn’t have to be that way for most of us can purchase a solar hot water system and buy green electricity.

Whenever any of us buys a more energy efficient product, or saves some electricity or petrol, we’re displaying individual leadership and such actions can be powerful. Mums and dads are much more impressed by actions that save electricity (such as switching off computers at the power point) than by words. And all of us can see the growing number of people who cycle or walk to work and school.

Once people see others are doing something about the problem, they’re encouraged to join in.

All of the most enduring social changes begin as grassroots movements. That’s because people really have to believe in the need for change, and then act on it, before we can transform our society in ways we want. Earth Hour is a great example of how the movement has grown. Conceived in Sydney just a few years ago, it’s now influencing people worldwide.

Meanwhile, utility companies are starting to do some really clever stuff in smart grids. I personally think utility companies and smart grids are going to make a big difference; grids talking to individual devices in houses and the house itself to work out what power it can get from the house.

Even US coal stations (self-interest of course, but I’m not complaining) are starting to move from coal to biomass.

The world is changin, slowly but quickly, and that’s a good thing.

Similar Posts:

• The action imperative: a new hope
• How to save the economy and fight climate change (greentech jobs)
• Anti-coal protest, Monday March 2, DC
• Is climate change adaptation expensive?
• Saving Earth: we will not give up