Climate Crisis Resources

 

WPL Resources

Community Book Discussion: The Story of More: How We Got To Climate Change And Where To Go From Here Saturday, February 20, 2:30 - 3:30 

Join us for a community book discussion moderated by Ellis Jones, assistant professor at College of the Holy Cross, on Hope Jahren’s 2020 book titled, The Story of More: How We Got To Climate Change And Where To Go From Here. Jahren, an award-winning geobiologist, illuminates the link between human consumption habits and our imperiled planet.

Ellis Jones is an Assistant Professor of Sociology at the College of the Holy Cross in Worcester, MA. His research is primarily focused on understanding the relationship between ethical consumers and corporate sustainability. He is the author of The Better World Shopping Guide (6th edition) and co-author of The Better World Handbook (2nd edition). He has more recently created a number of free smartphone apps (iOS/Android) for the general public focused on corporate, political, and media transparency including: Better World Shopper, Eco Report Card, Voter Glass, and Media Glass.

Click here to place a hold on this title.

Booklist - A selection of fiction and nonfiction titles to continue your education on the effects climate change has on our planet.

Watchlist on Kanopy - Learn more about climate change with Kanopy, a streaming service that is free with your WPL card. Their collection includes award-winning documentaries about how climate change is affecting the world and the actions taken to stop it.

How to Get Involved

Register to vote - One of the most important ways to make positive changes for the environment is to vote for candidates who will help pass legislation that is beneficial for the planet. This includes legislation that restricts large corporate polluters, the extraction and use and of fossil fuels, and the reduction of single-use plastics.

League of Conservation Voters Scorecard - Since 1970, the National Environmental Scorecard has been providing objective, factual information about the most important environmental legislation considered and the corresponding voting records of all members of Congress. Learn how your elected officials in 

Congress vote on environmental issues. 

Citizens’ Climate Lobby - A non-profit, nonpartisan, grassroots advocacy organization focused on national policies to address climate change.

Green Worcester Plan - Worcester is working to become a more sustainable, resilient, and green city with benefits for everyone who lives, works, plays and studies here. Get involved.

How to Reduce Impact

The responsibility for reducing imapct mostly lies with large corporations who use fossil fuels and create waste on a large scale. These corporations need to be reined in, which is why voting is so important. It has been said that a fixation on personal actions takes the pressure off of the governement to create policies to hold corporations accountable. But this doesn't mean we are off the hook. We also need to make changes in our daily lives to address the climate crisis.

Change What We Eat for the Planet and for Our Health 

Overall, nutritionists say eating a diet that is more plant-based is healthier for our bodies and experts say eating less meat is healthier for the planet. Check out the resources below on why we should eat less meat for ourselves and the planet:

Analysis and Valuation of the Health and Climate Change Cobenefits of Dietary Change from Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America - This study showed that dietary changes toward fewer animal and more plant-based foods are associated with significant benefits due to reductions in diet-related mortality and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.

Eat Less Meat: UN Climate-Change Report Calls for Change to Human Diet - Read this article from Nature about the special report on climate change and land by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) describes plant-based diets as a major opportunity for mitigating and adapting to climate change ― and includes a policy recommendation to reduce meat consumption.

Meatless Meals: The Benefits of Eating Less Meat - Meatless meals are built around beans, lentils, vegetables and whole grains. These plant-based proteins tend to be less expensive and offer more health benefits than meat.

Ways to Change Consumer Behavior

Reducing energy use, reliance on single-use plastics such as straws and bags, and buying products from environmentally-friendly companies, can all have an impact on the planet without significantly changing our lifestyle. Below are some resources on how and why to make changes: 

Green Energy Consumers Alliance - Resources on how to make your home more energy effecient help connect consuemrs to resources to help reduce their carbon footprint. Purchase green energy and help pass laws to encourage renewable energy development

Mass Save - Get a home energy assessment through Mass Save.

Break Free From Plastic - A global movement envisioning a future free from plastic pollution.

10 Global Companies that are Environmentally Friendly - Article from Virgin highlighting a few standout green companies that deserve accolades. 

Safer Chemicals Healthy Families - An organization that fights for strong chemical policy, work with retailers to phase out hazardous chemicals, and educate the public about ways to protect our families from toxic chemicals. The prodcution of toxic chemicals is energy intensive and uses large amounts of fossil fuels.