MI Carbon Footprint

From IslandVision

The verdict is in on global warming. Human activities, and especially the combustion of fossil fuels in developed countries, are the primary culprits behind the rising atmospheric GHGs levels that are warming our world. The challenge of global warming differs from many other environmental threats that we have confronted in recent decades. Unlike sulfur or particulate emissions, there presently is no cost effective way to remove and store carbon dioxide from emissions streams. Also, the effects of excessive carbon dioxide emissions are global in scope and, if not checked, will have near permanent effects (measured in centuries) on the planetary temperature regulating systems that have allowed the growth of settled communities and civilization during the past 10,000 years. Nearly all scientists agree that we have as little as 10 years to stabilize global mean temperature growth to 2 OC above historical levels by 2100. ‘Business as usual’ is not an option.

As moral actors, each of us bear some responsibility to reduce our own carbon footprints; in our homes, churches and synagogues, workplaces and communities. In general, it is to this end that we the people of Mercer Island should now focus our collective effort for ourselves, and our children, so they too may have an opportunity to enjoy the rich bounty of our Mother Earth.

IslandVision seeks active partnerships with governmental, business and community organizations to help the community collectively reduce our contribution to the GHGs that are warming our world.

Additionally, IslandVision is encouraging Mercer Island residents to voluntarily become carbon neutral through a combination of emissions reductions and offsets. Read more about how to get started reducing your footprint.

Businesses

To be completed.

Households

The first thing a household should do is compute their carbon footprint, using one of the many carbon footprint calculators available on the web.