Geology Reference
In-Depth Information
Branches begin to spread out in all directions as we move beyond the trunk of the
ecosophical tree, representing the options that each person has for making changes in
their lives that are consistent with their deep experience of belonging to our animate
Earth. Once again, radical pluralism is important here. Different people will make their
own unique choices that may well differ very markedly from each other: one person may
think about engaging in direct action, whilst another may be considering leaving their
high-paying job in the city and joining an NGO. Others will continue to work within the
mainstream, striving to change it from the inside. These choices must be respected and
supported by other people inclined towards deep ecology.
Living in harmony with the animate Earth involves translating our deep experience
of her sentient presence into concrete, everyday actions. Perhaps one of the most im-
portant options we can consider, especially if we are living an affluent Western lifestyle,
is to find ways of cutting back our personal emissions of greenhouse gases. The IPCC
recommends that humanity as a whole needs to cut its emissions by 60% by 2050 re-
lative to 1990 levels—a seemingly impossible task given our immense and increasing
hunger for energy and raw materials. But according to Dave Reay from the University
of Edinburgh, this level of reduction is possible without too much effort. His 'ten steps
to saving the planet' empower us with the idea that seemingly small actions at the per-
sonal level can, writ large, have massive consequences. Here are Reay's ten steps:
1. Turn down the heating or turn up your air conditioning by 1
0
C; this can reduce
your carbon emissions by up to 2 tonnes of carbon per annum.
2. Use your car as little as possible—use a bike or public transport whenever you
can; potential savings are up to 12 tonnes of carbon per year.
3. Compost your organic waste, thereby denying it to methane-generating bacteria
in landfill sites. You could save up to 1 tonne of carbon per year this way.
4. Avoid flying, especially on short-haul flights to destinations reachable by train.
If you must fly, you can offset your emissions to some extent by supporting or-
ganisations such as Climate Care. Potential savings: up to 3 tonnes of carbon per
year.
5. Drive just below speed limits, avoid short journeys, car share and service your
vehicle. Think of changing to a diesel, or to a hybrid vehicle. Savings could be as
high as 12 tonnes of carbon per annum.
