Taking Action on Climate

This is my little way of contributing to the forthcoming Climate Change talk by the United Nations, Climate Summit 2014. I am sharing United Nation's tips on making a difference with climate change together with UN's images on the Summit. You too can do your part by sharing these images and tips. Most importantly, we can do something by looking into the tips and observing them as much as we can.

Let's start by declaring that "I am for climate action." It starts with "me." 

Know your carbon footprint.

Find out how much CO2 your lifestyle produces and the amount of resources it takes to live the way you do. Once you know the impact your lifestyle causes you can start to make adjustments and monitor improvement. Encourage others to do the same. United Nations recommends this link in calculating CO2 emissions resulting from air travel.

Tips at Work and On the Go

• Print double-sided or not at all.
• Always use reusable cups, knives and forks.
• Think before you travel. If a video conference call will suffice, spare the hassle and expense, and CO2 emissions.
• Avoid traffic jams and decrease your personal carbon footprint by walking, bicycling, and using mass transit whenever possible. Consider carpooling with friends, neighbors and co-workers.
• Taking the stairs can sometimes be faster than waiting in long elevator lines. In addition to saving energy, taking the stairs gives you a mild workout which will help keep you healthy.
• Have your business join the UN Global Compact and become part of the solution for two of today's largest scale environmental issues - Climate Change and Water Sustainability.

At Home - Reduce, Reuse, Recycle!

• Buy minimally packaged goods.
• Recycle, paper, plastic, glass, and metal. Reuse, mend and repurpose things to save money and divert waste from your local landfill.
• Plug air leaks in windows and doors to increase energy efficiency.
• Adjust your thermostat, lower in winter, higher in summer.
• Replace old appliances with energy efficient models and light bulbs.
• Save electricity by plugging appliances into a power strip and turning them off completely when not in use.
• Wash clothes in cold or warm water.
• Run dishwashers only when full and don't use heat to dry dishes.
• Eat less meat, poultry and fish.
• Plant trees - enter tree-planting pledges online, then plant indigenous or locally appropriate trees where you live.

Remember that "a healthy climate is a healthy economy."

...and UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon believes so.

Source (text and images): http://www.un.org/climatechange/take-action/

When Every Drop Counts

Often, we see posters, stickers and similar campaign materials that say: "every drop counts."

In a water-abundant country like the Philippines, some may just read it as that: "every drop counts."

Then, so what? 

Leaking fire hydrant in Tabaco City

Last week, I watched a documentary over the famed GMA News TV. The segment showed how scarce water was in a mountain top of Mindoro province. In low-lying areas like CAMANAVA (stands for Caloocan, Malabon, Navotas and Valenzuela cities in Metro Manila), continuous rains cause floods and floating residences. When I say floating, I do not mean those floating communities in Agusan marsh but those communities submerged in water.

Floating community in Agusan Marsh (Talacogon)

I am so blessed to live in a water-abundant community. (Although my life is always in danger every time there is an impending typhoon because floods are threatening.) 

In today's trend on global warming, we may not be able to totally plan our carbon footprints. Yet we may be able to reduce them. Aside from that, we can do small things to protect the environment. Simply, we can conserve water in our own little ways. It may be ironic for a human being who wastes water and at the same time humans being the ones who say "every drop counts."

Nevertheless, when every drop counts we can always do something to conserve water and eventually protect the environment.

A sensor-activated faucet used to conserve water