Today, October 24, is Climate Action Day, and people around the world are gathering to show their support for reducing global warming. Here is a composite of international photos from the 350.org site:
The problem is that carbon dioxide in the atmosphere is 387 parts per million, high enough to melt the Arctic. Climate scientists have said that a sustainable level is more like 350 ppm.
I wasn’t able to attend our biggest local event—a bike ride out to the coal-fired power plant east of Boulder, then a ride back to city center for a rally—but I did one small thing toward reducing the fossil fuel use that is spewing carbon dioxide into the air: I bought organic produce at the local farmers’ market.
Buying organic at farmers’ markets reduces fossil fuel use in at least two important ways:
- No fossil fuels are refined or manufactured into fertilizers to spread on organic fields.
- Less fossil fuel is used in transporting the food to market because it is grown nearby.
