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45 by 2030: Climate Change Commitment at the Household Level
It is October, and typically there would be a buzz around the upcoming UN Conference on Climate Change in which country governments strengthen their commitments to address climate change. This year, the conference has been postponed due to the global pandemic, though the progression of climate change intensifies. Scientists warn that to avoid the worst effects of climate change, global society needs to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 45% by 2030 (of 2010 levels) and to net zero by 2050. So, in the leadup to 2021, the Secretary General of the United Nations, António Guterres, urges governments and companies to rally around this goal and make meaningful commitments and actions around climate change, and Countdown brings citizens into this mix.
Indeed, we see that here in the U.S., in the absence of federal action on climate change, local governments -including my hometown of Concord, New Hampshire- are stepping up to commit to the Paris Climate Agreement and 100% renewable energy targets. We also see that large, global companies are setting goals to reduce their carbon emissions, reduce impacts on freshwater and forests, become better places to work, and more. In the case of climate, change needs to happen at all levels of society…so what about individuals and households? What if individual households pledge to reduce their own emissions 45% by 2030?
