If you’ve read any of our emails or blogs, you know we do our best to focus on what's going well in the world, and not what’s going wrong.
There are enough other organizations who focus on the doom and gloom.
Today is different.
A few days ago, the IPCC (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change) released its summary report.
Hundreds of the world’s leading scientists contributed to the report. It was signed by the 195 countries who are IPCC members.
The findings are alarming, so say the least.
In my opinion, it’s crucial that everyone is aware of these findings from hundreds of the world’s leading scientists.
In short, the planet is on 🔥🔥🔥
And not in a good way.
The most important takeaway is global warming is happening faster than expected.
The world will reach 1.5 degree Celsius temperature increase by early 2030, if we do not dramatically reduce carbon emissions.
That’s only 10 years from now.
Previously, the science said we needed to keep global warming to 1.5 degrees by 2050 in order to keep life on earth the way we are used to it.
Just look around to see the impacts of climate change that surrounds us:
- Central California is battling catastrophic flooding of its farm lands. Over 1,100 farms and ranches are underwater in the San Joaquin Valley county.
- Then yesterday, Mar 22, a bomb cyclone hit the San Francisco Bay area.
- I was fortunate enough to be in Costa Rica with my family last week. It rained every day. I’m not complaining about a little rain on our holiday. It is literally unheard of to have rain in the Nicoya region during March. It’s called the “dry” season for a reason. Every local I spoke to said they had never seen rain in March in their entire lifetime.
Even though we usually focus on what’s going well, today I wanted to bring the IPCC report to your attention.
From talking to people in my network, I found that very few people are aware of the IPCC report (in my circles at least).
I don’t know about you, but I can’t sit and wait for governments and policy makers to take action.
I need to take action in my own life.
If the 8 billion people on earth make small changes in their daily lives to reduce carbon emissions, the impact will be meaningful.
As people who have the privilege of living in North America, I think it’s up to those of us who can, to take action now.
Today, I have committed to:
- Never driving to work. I will walk, bike or take public transportation instead.
- Lowering my thermostat by 1.5 degrees Celsius during the winter months, and wearing a sweater in the house.
- Developing and launching more Weightless products that are liquidless, and that weigh ~32 times less than traditional liquid and powder detergents. This dramatically reduced the transportation emissions compared to shipping heavy liquid detergents around the world. Liquid detergents are 75% water, which is a waste because we have water in our homes, and that extra weight burns more fuel when it's shipped from the factories to the stores to our homes. I’m committed to giving people who want to reduce their carbon emission more options to consider.
- Donating a percent of profits to organizations who are decarbonizing the air and re-foresting our environment. Trees are nature's way of removing carbon from the air.
I ask you, the Weightless Community, to help hold me accountable to these 4 commitments. Ask me anytime for an update.
Yes, I have my own selfish motives - I want my children and all children to inherit a healthy planet. I want to leave the earth in better shape than we all found it.
I hope future generations get to experience the wonders of nature that I have been privileged to experience - from skiing in Colorado, to surfing in Costa Rica, to canoeing in Ontario.
Nature is our greatest teacher, and playground, if we'll just let her thrive.
Thanks for reading.
It would be great to hear from you in the comments. Especially any ideas or actions you have for reducing carbon emissions. All feedback is welcome.
Until the next time,
Jamil al Jabri
Founder, Weightless Clean
5 comments
Thank you for this powerful and very alarming wakeup call. Many of us are aware of climate change, but are not sure what we can do. I will commit to turning my thermostat down 1 degree in the winter and to using my gas-powered vehicle even less than I do. I will use cloth grocery bags and mesh produce bags.
What a sobering and powerful post! Climate change is devastating and we all must do something about it for our kids and future generations. As my pledge I’m also going to bike to work and start using my cloth bags in bulk stores again. Thank you for your leadership and reminder to take this seriously.
Sincerely,
Joy Broadbent
You have highlighted a wake up call re the effect of being oblivious to the information that scientists have warned us about for many years. Thank you for your personal commitment toward actions which can contribute to sustaining a healthy planet. It’s an example we can all follow!
I appreciate the summary but why aren’t more people talking about the elephant in the room. That animal agriculture is the biggest carbon drain.
I agree that many people are not yet aware of how quickly the earth is changing. I also agree that we must cut back on transportation of goods around the world. Globalization was a way to make money but there are more urgent concerns.
I want to tell you that I am a senior who lived on a farm and remember how things were done before plastic! The use of plastic, the manufacturing of plastic, the pollution of plastic has to stop!