Green Moms Carnival Takes on Climate Change

The climate talks in Copenhagen have been top of mind for most members of the Green Moms Carnival lately. Over the years, as bloggers, we have all addressed the impact climate change has on people and the planet. The negotiations in Denmark created a focal point for our concern, action and activism. That activism ran full-tilt last week when, at the prompting of Organicmania’s Lynn Miller and The Not Quite Crunchy Parent's Maryanne Milker, I entered the Huffington Post contest to become its Citizen Ambassador to “Hopenhagen.” After an intense, exciting five days, I emerged with 45 endorsements – the most of any candidate! – and the runner-up spot.

As Lynn says here, we "rocked the blogosphere and the Twitterati." Where did all that passion come from?

For Jennae at Green and Gorgeous it has to do with the issue of parenting, overpopulation, and how both relates to a whole host of environmental issues. “The problem ISN’T just having too many kids,” she says, “especially considering that birth rates in developed nations are much lower than elsewhere in the world. The problem is raising kids who have no regard for the environment and therefore continue a cycle of overconsumption.”

For Ruchi who writes at Arduous, it’s about equity -- the challenge of reconciling the needs – and emissions levels – of rich versus poor countries. If the U.S. doesn’t lead, we shouldn’t expect other nations to.

In the same vein, I argue at Big Green Purse that we can make climate change more relevant by focusing on how it impacts women, kids and families. The climate talks will mostly be focused on how much fixing climate will cost and whether it creates political problems for the leaders who have to vote on it. We need to stay focused on the consequences to us and our children if we don’t do enough. Deanna of The Crunchy Chicken reminds us that drought is a real and serious consequence of climate change, as well.

Anna at Green Talk wants to get at the causes of climate change, which is why she asks “Is methane gas the Darth Vader of Climate Change?” According to NASA, she notes, methane gas is about 25 times more potent than CO2. Anna offers some suggestions for reducing your “methane footprint,” starting with the 3 R’s.  Linda at Citizen Green suggests “carnivores can help reduce greenhouse gases” by eating less meat. Meanwhile, Karen at Best of Mother Earth reflects on the environmental footprint we all leave that contributes to climate change, and notes that she wants to be remembered for the footprint she DOESN’T leave behind.

With tongue in cheek, Erin, aka The Conscious Shopper, asks “Who Cares About the Freakin’ Polar Bears,” and suggests that sure, the bears are important, but to get change to happen, we need to focus on people. Put a human face on climate change, she says, and maybe then we’ll start solving the problem.
Micaela over at Mindful Momma says that to get more people to care about climate change, maybe we should encourage them to compete against each other. Take a look at the interesting research she cites and the suggestions she makes to motivate neighbors to outdo each other. Writing at Enviromom, Renee  says relates her own recent experience dealing with an E.coli outbreak in her local water supply to the water challenges people face in other parts of the world where scarcity and disease have become more rampant as a result of climate change.

Lynn of OrganicMania urges us to keep our kids in mind.  Will they be angry with us for leaving them a planet beyond repair? Or can we get on track and fix what we’ve broken?

The gals over at Green Phone Booth say Mother Nature is charging us a “convenience fee” – in the form of climate change – for all the stuff we use to make our lives easier, regardless of its impact on the planet. Read their suggestions for simplifying your life and reducing that nasty little fee.

Mary of In Women In We Trust wants to know what happens when the climate talks end. After the exhilaration of watching so many women participate in the Huffington Post carnival contest, Mary says she has to ask, “are there any men-only-groups doing the same thing? I'm not asking to point fingers as much as to make a point - after the speeches and promises at Copenhagen, the women who have been working hard on Climate Change issues before the conference will be the ones still working after the conference closes."

Lisa at Retro Housewife Goes Green cuts to the chase. "Debate climate change all you want, she blogs,  "but stop wasting time and letting our planet turn into a giant dump."

Beth of Fake Plastic Fish reviews the film The Age of Stupid, which is set in the year 2055 after climate change has wiped most people and other living creatures off the face of the earth and asks, “Why didn’t we save ourselves when we had the chance?”

Good question. If you’ve got an answer, we're all ears. Meanwhile, we can all keep trying to be part of the solution, rather than part of the problem. Learn more about global warming and get lots of great energy-saving tips from this Carnival Maryanne hosted at the Not Quite Crunchy Parent.

And stay tuned for resolutions to stop climate change or make any other kind of change. The Green Resolutions Carnival will be hosted by Non-Toxic Kids January 11.

Comments

[mother earth aka karen hanrahan]

I appreciate your hostessing this timely conversation and I especially appreciate our united green mom voices.

[Beth Terry, aka Fake Plastic Fish]

Diane, thanks for putting this together, even with all the crazy organizing going on prior to this carnival. We are making change, even if it's not as visible as we'd sometimes hope.

[Lynn from OrganicMania.com]

Diane, thanks for putting this together. I am so inspired to see all these voices coming together - louder, stronger, smarter, and prouder than ever before.

I still can't help wishing you were at COP15 - I know I'd be following the reporting a lot more closely! :)

Oh well, I think you're still on the hook for Danish in NYC this summer.

Lynn

[Green Bean]

Thank you for suggesting this very important and timely topic and for hosting! So many links . . .

[Saar the climate change star]

Good quotes you've gathered! Maybe you can also help me in gathering entries. All you need to do is to share with us your green resolution and have your entries published on our website! Send in your green new year resolutions at http://community.ecoseed.org/_My-2010-Green-Plan/group/109683/29468.html