Since we last wrote about climate change, two massive wildfires have released devastating amounts of greenhouse gas into the atmosphere. Time to take action before it is truly too late - so we’re launching our first official Linked and Loud fundraiser! - Amber & Katie
In 2019, wildfires in Brazil burned 1.4 million acres of the Amazon Rainforest, emitting about 392 million metric tons of greenhouse gases. The bushfires in Australia are still raging over an area of 13.3 million acres, having emitted up to 400 million metric tons of carbon dioxide to date. To put it into perspective, the emissions from the bushfires is equivalent to the annual emissions of the 116 lowest-emitting countries - or about three-quarters of Australia’s emissions total for the entire last year. The plume of smoke resulting from the fire is roughly the size of the United States. And this is without getting into the loss of life--human and animal--as well as homes and habitats.
“People are not grasping the carbon consequences [which are] sobering and depressing,” says Joe Fontaine from Murdoch University in Perth.
While wildfires are natural and common throughout history, the recent intensity, duration and frequency of wildfires are increasing as the global climate warms. Then the same climate issues make it difficult for vegetation to regenerate. This cycle of forest degradation makes it less likely the carbon can be pulled back down from the atmosphere.
As we shared back in September, the U.S. is actually going backwards on policies that limit greenhouse gas emissions. In the last 3 years, the federal government has overturned dozens of rules targeted at reducing greenhouse gas emissions as well as left the Paris Climate Agreement. There is so much we - as individuals, as the United States, and as a global community - could be doing to mitigate and correct for our carbon catastrophe.
Here in the states, the League of Conservation Voters is working to center the climate crisis in politics and policy. LCV currently focuses on four primary goals: “DEFEND bedrock environmental protections from attack by polluters, ADVANCE environmental progress in the states, BUILD a more racially and demographically diverse environmental movement, and ELECT more leaders who will act on climate.” Their special project on the presidential election - Change the Climate 2020 - includes campaign news related to climate change issues, profiles of candidates and policy position details, and an Activist Center with questions for the candidates, petitions and volunteer opportunities.
Learn more about LCV or one of the Conservation Voter Movement’s 30 state-level affiliate groups.
Get involved with the League of Conservation Voters by donating, volunteering or taking action.
Watch this short Nature Now video by activists Greta Thunberg and George Monbiot, which frames the issue of deforestation and climate change nicely. Share widely.
Follow Carbon Brief on Twitter for evidence-based news and analysis related to climate science. Want even more in your feed? Here’s a list of over 2,800 “scientists who do climate” on Twitter.
Check out how Conservation International is investing in nature and saving our forests.
Dig into the technical details and potential of ‘natural climate solution pathways’ with Nature4Climate’s US State Mapper visualization tool.
Recycling a few actions from our September climate change issue:
Take the Nature Conservancy’s Carbon Footprint Quiz to see how much you contribute to greenhouse gas emissions and steps you can take to reduce your impact.
When possible, ride a bike, take public transit, work from home, or carpool to reduce time burning gas in personal vehicles.
Call your members of Congress and tell them to support the Green New Deal resolution. Indivisible provides a list of phone numbers and a script. The GND is the most aggressive policy solution on the table and our best hope for limiting the impact of climate change.
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References
Carbon emissions from Australian blazes near Amazon fire levels | Reuters
Australia's Wildfires Are Releasing Vast Amounts Of Carbon | NPR
Australia fires are harbinger of planet’s future, say scientists | The Guardian
Australia’s bushfires and climate change | Carbon Brief
Australia’s fires have pumped out more emissions than 100 nations combined | MIT Technology Review
Australia Will Lose to Climate Change | The Atlantic
Calls for protests and donations spread as Australia keeps burning | Washington Post
‘A tipping point is playing out right now’ says climate scientist Michael Mann | ABC News
Linked & Loud illuminates complex problems and connects readers with the individuals and organizations working to solve them. Each week, we go beyond horrifying headlines to empower readers to take progressive action.