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There are many possible ways to reduce the severity of future climate change. Individuals, like you, can reduce their use of fossil fuels. Even more important is having government policies or norms that require or encourage energy conservation, renewable energy usage, and carbon sequestration. The following are some of the most important current policies and programs designed to reduce future climate change. Kyoto Protocol: 159 countries around the world have signed the Kyoto Protocol. Under this policy, the countries who signed the agreement committed to signficantly reducing their greenhouse gas emissions by by 2012. The United States is one of the few rich countries that has not signed this agreement. State policies: Many states around the U.S. have created policies to reduce the likelihood of future climate change. For instance, Minnesota requires sequestration of carbon from new electric plants and Wisconsin requires that major sources of carbon dioxide report the level of their emissions. Other states, including California and Maine, have set ambitious carbon dioxide emission reduction goals. Michigan does not have an official climate change reduction plan. You can learn more about state policies by visiting the website of the Center for Climate and Energy Solutions. Carbon offset programs: Plants store carbon through a process called carbon sequestration. When we release carbon dioxide by driving, flying in a plane, or doing other activities that burn fossil fuels, we can make up for our greenhouse gas emissions by paying a carbon offset organization to plant trees that will sequester the carbon dioxide emitted For instance, Climate Trust and NativeEnergy are two carbon offset organizations that can help you do this.
Wind energy is a type of renewable energy that can help prevent climate change. |
