POLAR BEARS COULD USE YOUR HELP

The United States has five percent of the world’s population, yet produces about 25 percent of the world’s carbon emissions. What we do — and don’t do — to change that equation will tip the balance of the planet’s future.

Here are some tips and resources on ways you can make a difference in the fate of polar bears and the future of the planet.

Support polar bear advocacy. Contribute to a wildlife organization of your choice, such as the World Wildlife Fund or Polar Bears International

Tell your politicians what you think. A handwritten letter or telephone call is a great way to reach your elected officials. To find contact information for your elected representatives, go to the “Take Action” section at http://www.congress.org/congressorg/home/.

Be a catalyst in your community. Many states, counties and cities are already taking cost-effective efficiency measures, such as purchasing fleets of hybrid vehicles or ones that run on renewable fuels. Read what U.S. mayors suggest as best practices at http://usmayors.org/climateprotection/.

Establish a personal benchmark. Understand your own carbon imprint by logging on to http://www.carbonfootprint.com/. And for a comprehensive look at where you can make a difference, check out http://www.davidsuzuki.org/Climate_Change/.

Use less gasoline. A person who buys a less efficient SUV rather than an average passenger car will, over the course of a year, use more energy than if they left the refrigerator door open for six years. You can also car-share to reduce gas consumption. Find out more at http://www.carsharing.net/.

Think efficient. Most state and regional energy companies will conduct a free energy audit of your home. You can also do it yourself at http://hes.lbl.gov/ or with help from the Environmental Protection Agency at http://www.energystar.gov/.

Switch to renewable energy sources. Many utilities allow you to pay a little more for “green” power, often wind-generated. With tax breaks and improved technology, systems such as solar collectors may quickly pay for themselves. Learn more at the American Solar Energy Society: http://www.ases.org/index.htm

Buy smarter, consume less, reduce, reuse and recycle. The “to-do” list here is long, from buying locally grown fruits and vegetables in season to taking fewer airplane trips and planning vacations closer to home. Buy items in bulk or packaged in containers that can be recycled, and buy recycled products. Check the energy rating of any appliance you buy. And consume less. Almost everything you buy requires energy to manufacture and transport.

See how the little choices we make everyday can have a big big impact on our planet. Order your copy of Wake Up and Smell the Planet: The Non-Pompous, Non-Preachy Grist Guide to Greening Your Day, published by The Mountaineers Books in collaboration with Grist.

© Dan Glick. Taken from The Last Polar Bear: Facing the Truth of a Warming World, February 2008.