What are some realistic things that I can do to stop global warming?

Question

The thought of gobal warming scares the crap out of me? Always has. My mind flashes to movies like 'waterworld' and 'day after tomorrow'. I bought a car that gets 31mpg. I recycle cans, but I want to do more.
Thing is, I am up to my a@# in student loans. I don't have alot of time, or money. So building a ecohouse is out of the question, so is donating $50 a month to an eco-charity.

I want to do more. What are some realistic things that I can do?

Answer 1

save your money and sit back watch the world end. better yet stop worrying about it. sure the USA can do this and that but when you have 3rd world countries pumping out green house gases and not worrying about what gets polluted its a loss cause. US can only do so much.. its a world problem not an indv. giving money to non-profit places to me does nothing more than add to their payroll.. what you think the people work free? dont kid yourself... they spend all the money they take in so there is no profit

Answer 2

Do what you can to help foster cheap commercial space travel. This will make it cost effective to move industry off the planet and into orbit and mankind can clean up the messes we have made and let more land go back to nature. You talk of global warming scaring the crap out of you, so before you go off your rocker just remember that if global warming is a reality their is really nothing you can do as an individual to have any effect on it. It would be like trying to stop a nuclear war or taxes. Now having said that you should also remember that for every scientist that insists global warming is real and we are all doomed there is a scientist that points to evidence that refutes the global warming theory. You should ask yourself why you never hear the other side of the argument in the press. All you hear about are scientists and talking heads going on about how bad we humans are and that the planet is headed into the toilet. Personally I think the planet is a big complex system and we don't understand nearly as much about it as we think we do. Also, the earth has been around for billions of years and we humans have been keeping written histories for only about 5000 years, so it seems pretty arrogant of us to think we understand all the complex cycles that the earth goes through over time and to think that we may be the cause of them. Having made a bold statement like that I don't think we should use the argument that the earth is much bigger than me so my little mess won't matter. I think the responsible person tries to limit the messes that they make and having made a mess tries their level best to clean it up; this should apply to individuals, corporations and governments.

Answer 3

The most effective thing you can do as an individual,
unfortunately, has little to do with personal responsibility.

The most effective thing you can do is write to your
congress people to try to pursuade them to vote for
programs that are helpful, divest yourself of stocks
that support big companies that are making the problem
worse, etc.

As much waste as individuals are responsible for, its
nothing compared to your average multi-national
corporation.

You can do a lot by leading by example. For instance,
if you install solar power for your house, you may end up
paying more for electricity in the short run, but you
put money into the renewable energy companies and
not the oil companies - and you get people asking you
about your efforts, etc.

OK, so you can't afford to install solar energy - but in some
states, you can get your power from green sources (check
with your power company).

If you have a landlord, you can talk with him or her about
improving the energy foot print of where you live.

Answer 4

change to energy saving lighbulbs, put extra clothes on instead of the heating. how far do you drive a day? would it be possible to change to a bicycle? wash clothes at a lower temp - as long as its warm they will still clean. but realistically, there is nothing you can do to stop global warming, its already happening. just live your life safe and happy. best thing you could do is to to study ecology and get hands on.

Answer 5

Very easy one..try to plant trees where u want.Also make awareness of tree planting...
Donate tree saplings to school children who they can grow up it in their own garden..