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Susan Lee
Williams
What is the U.S.’s
Contribution?
The U.S. holds the record worldwide for the most carbon dioxide
contributed per capita: 6.6 tons or 15,000 lbs per person per year. There
is a lot we can do right now.
Think of this: if one-million people (0.3% of households in the U.S.) were
to replace standard light bulbs with energy-efficient florescent bulbs, we
could immediately reduce greenhouse gases by a quarter million tons of
carbon emissions per year! If just one million Americans carpooled two
days per week, we could keep three-quarter million tons of C02 and other
greenhouse gases out of the atmosphere annually! That’s one billion tons
per year with simple actions by a minute percent of us.
We must make major investments in new technologies. Our current
technologies will not meet the challenge. We have to think in the
long-term, and proceed with caution, working to reduce human contributions
to global heating as much as possible. In the meantime, individuals can
make significant contributions toward that goal.
Take Action
What’s Your “Ecological
Footprint”?
Listen to NPR’s Living On Earth Radio
Journalism Programs
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About The Author ...
Contact Susan at susanleewilliams@earthlink.net |
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