EPA: “Greenhouse Gases Threaten Public Health and the Environment”

Are you concerned about the toll your actions take on the environment? Our cars have adverse effects, no doubt. But did you know that more than 23 percent of total greenhouse gas emissions are from on-road vehicles, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)?

In a press release on December 7, 2009, the EPA reported scientific evidence that greenhouse gases threaten public health and the overall welfare of the American people. As the primary cause of climate change that leads to longer and hotter heat waves, greenhouse gases contribute to asthma; respiratory illnesses; and the overall health of Americans, particularly the sick, poor and elderly.

But Climate change is more than rising temperatures and poor health. Other effects include:

• The melting of glaciers
• Disappearing coastlines
• Excess carbon dioxide in the oceans
• Historic droughts and more powerful storms
• Changing migratory patterns of birds and other animals (and broader range of diseases)

But check out The Colorado Carbon Fund:

Created through The Governor's Energy Office Project C, The Colorado Carbon Fund comprises "a groundbreaking campaign – the first statewide project of its kind – to provide high quality, verifiable carbon offsets for consumers concerned about climate change and further advances Colorado’s New Energy Economy. Consumers can compensate for their own carbon emissions - generated by everyday activities such as driving and home-heating - by helping to fund projects in Colorado that measurably reduce greenhouse gases emitted into the atmosphere. Donors who offset at least 50% of their vehicle emissions can qualify for a Colorado Project C license plate."

See our last post for more information on Project C license plates, and remember that your donation will continue to fund innovative carbon projects on Colorado.

To learn more about The Colorado Carbon Fund, go to www.ColoradoCarbonFund.org

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Global Village of Beijing Strives for Environmental Awareness

Last month, Earth Day helped bring awareness to the issues facing our environment. One Tribe and its partners try to prompt people to think about these issues in their everyday life. One partner that is trying to further this message is Global Village Beijing (GVB).

The state of the environment in China is not merely an environmental problem but an economic one as well. The Chinese government released a report earlier this year that stated that the violations in ecological and environmental pollution has damaged the economy at a rate of 10% of the value of gross output in the country.

Most importantly, human health is also at stake due to pollution. According to a UN report in 2007, each year 700 people die from water and air pollution in China.

So what do you do about it?

Global Village Beijing, which formed in 1996, functions through the cooperation of business, governments and non-profit organizations. Some of its main projects include:

• the production of television programs about environmental issues
  
• organizing media workshops and journalist forums
• developing green communities
• hosting public activities on sustainable development and consumption

Why should you care?

Pollution knows no boundaries. Pollution has been proven to lead to climate change, which affects us all. Also, environmental concerns are no longer just for hippies, it's for humanity.

What can I do?

There are many things you can do. You can start with putting the Earth as a priority on other days besides Earth Day. You can also support our efforts to contribute to Global Village Beijing by visiting Onetribe.com. A huge goal of GVB is to raise awareness, so you've contributed by reading this blog. Now spread the word!