I started (unknowingly) on a path to dramatic carbon reduction on Jan 1, 2017, when I started biking to work, walking kids to school. Carbon reduction became addictive, and more deeply nourishing than I ever thought possible. #myfirststep Thread.
Biking to work is a carbon pittance, I know. But it opened my eyes to structural barriers, so I became the Traffic Chair for my neighborhood board and have become a fixture down at City Hall on bike/ped/multimodal safety in Atlanta. I had NEVER been to City Hall in 14yrs prior!
And my engagement didn’t stop there - I was just getting started! I started tracking my family’s energy and water bills on a graph, bought all LEDs for my house, my parent’s house, and my sister’s house. I insulated all the windows and doors and external outlet boxes.
I remember the day I started adding in my flight emissions. I stared at the spreadsheet in disbelief - flying was 85% of my personal direct emissions for 2017. Initially, I determined to offset all my flights with @TreesAtlanta - at a high rate. But for me, it wasn’t enough.
I’ve reduced my 2018 flying by 75% relative to 2017, and still offset. I know offsetting is controversial, but it signals intention and awareness, and if you offset at a high rate, it’s a good market signal to yourself. It’s a stepping stone, IMO, to #flyingless.
2018 additions included going vegetarian (I’d stopped eating red meat years ago), finally buying those solar panels, getting our composting game on, cold water washes, line drying clothes, and slashing food waste (I have four kids - this is a huge deal).
I don’t know what 2019 will bring, but I’m really excited about i. the #flyingless movement, even though it is an extremely polarizing discussion, ii. renewed potential in DC for science-based climate and energy policy, and
iii. some exciting movements afoot at @GeorgiaTech, in the @CityofAtlanta, and across the state of GA to enact some big impactful changes. Stay tuned - it is a thrilling time to be alive with possibility, and working with so many amazing people towards a better tomorrow.
What kills me? If I hadn’t made the (random?) choice to bike to work, I would never have found this way of living. Of always asking “What’s next?” Of welcoming the full spectrum of climate change emotions into my life as a driving force. Fin
One more: why did I start biking to work on 1/1/17? Because I was grasping at wellness straws after watching my calculated dreams of a near-term federal portfolio of climate policy solutions go up in smoke. That’s why.
And a huge thank you to my amazing husband @manu_ocean, who has supported this journey, and even joined in much of it, from Day 1. I do not take that for granted.
