From December 7th to December 18th, global decision makers will meet at the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen, Denmark to develop a new climate treaty that will address issues before the Kyoto protocol expires in 2012.
The conference will bring together the world’s environment ministers who meet once a year. In addition, more than 15,000 officials, advisors, diplomats, lobbyists and journalists are expected to attend the conference, which includes the 15th Conference of the Parties (COP 15) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. The two-week conference in Copenhagen will hopefully bring clarity to the issue on climate change and show the world where participating governments stand on the issue at hand. For more information please visit: http://en.cop15.dk/.
The conference in Copenhagen will be a window of opportunity for global leaders to get on track for necessary changes that need to be made worldwide. However, in the countdown to Copenhagen, you can take action locally. SustainLane is heading up the Local Action Challenge in partnership with Hopenhagen, an international movement to drive action on climate change. This nationwide movement inspires local communities to grab a camera and take the challenge.
Cities across the country, like Omaha, have sent in their top 10 lists of actions that residents can participate in to combat climate change and care for the planet, in their own communities.
Residents are directed to take their cities' challenge, complete tasks on the list and upload photos of themselves doing the challenge. By doing so, residents are entered into weekly drawings to win prizes that are donated by green business sponsors.
Omaha Mayor Jim Suttle and the city’s office of sustainability submitted the following list of 10 challenges for our community.
Omaha's major and the office of sustainability submitted the following list of ten challenges for our community.
1) Be Resourceful: Recycle at home and in the workplace. Omaha’s residential curb-side recycling includes clean paper, plastic, aluminum, steel, and cardboard. Drop-off centers also accept glass.
2) Ditch the Car: Drive less by carpooling, walking, bicycling, and using mass transit. If you do need to drive, reduce your number of single-purpose trips by combining trips when running errands and make sure your car's tires are inflated to the right pressure.
3) Power Down: Use your computer’s “power down" or “sleep” function or unplug them and other electronics to reduce continued energy drain.
5) Eat Where You Live: Shop local whenever possible. Purchase locally-grown food from farmer’s markets and cooperative grocers.
6) Be Enery Smart: Visit the Home Energy Saver website to evaluate energy efficiency in your own home.
7) Be Temperature Aware: Set your thermostat to 65 degrees during the day and 55 at night; Lower the temperature on your hot water tank to 120 degrees; Wrap your water heater in an insulating blanket; and properly insulate your home to reduce heat loss and heat gain.
9) Green Your Home: Weatherize and/or remodel your home with “green” techniques and technologies, like storm windows, weather stripping, programmable thermostats, daylighting controls, and occupancy sensors.
10) Be Fuel Smart: Purchase a fuel-smart car that gets more miles to the gallon than your current vehicle. (Take a pic of yourself with a fuel-smart car… doesn’t have to be your own!)
Want to take a challenge?
Here’s how to play: Go to www.SustainLane.com/hopenhagen
Choose your city.
Choose a challenge.
Take a photo of yourself in action.
Upload it.
Win a prize.
Repeat.
Participate in this nationwide contest by taking actions in your own community. Together we will make a difference not only in Omaha but for our planet.
posted by Catherine Warner @ 9:28 AM
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