Things To Know About Climate Change

Posted on December 2, 2021March 22, 2024 by Jennifer Norman

Climate change refers to long-term shifts in temperatures and weather patterns. These shifts may be natural, such as through variations in the solar cycle. But since the 1800s, human activities have been the main driver of climate change, primarily due to burning fossil fuels like coal, oil, and gas. Climate change has many reported detrimental effects on our planet, so the call for action to change human behavior is critical.

The Causes of Climate Change

Since the Industrial Revolution, human activities have released large amounts of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases into the atmosphere, which has adversely impacted Earth’s climate. However, natural processes, such as volcanic eruptions, also affect the Earth’s climate.

Source: United States Environmental Protection Agency

Causes, both human and natural, that combine to the acceleration of climate change are:

Greenhouse Gas Emissions

Concentrations of greenhouse gases have increased since the Industrial Revolution due to human activities. Carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide concentrations are more abundant now in the earth’s atmosphere than any time in the last 800,000 years.¹ These emissions have increased the greenhouse effect and caused the earth’s surface temperature to rise. It’s been scientifically proven that burning fossil fuels changes the climate more than any other human activity.²

Greenhouse gases to be aware of are:

Carbon Dioxide: Human activities currently release over 30 billion tons of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere every year.³ Atmospheric carbon dioxide concentrations have increased by more than 40% since pre-industrial times, from approximately 280 parts per million (ppm) in the 18th century to 414 ppm in 2020.⁴
Methane: Human activities increased methane concentrations during most of the 20th century to more than 2.5 times the pre-industrial level, from approximately 722 parts per billion (ppb) in the 18th century to 1,867 ppb in 2019.⁵
Nitrous Oxide: Nitrous oxide concentrations have risen approximately 20% since the start of the Industrial Revolution, with a relatively rapid increase toward the end of the 20th century. The concentrations have increased from a pre-industrial level of 270 ppb to 332 ppb in 2019.⁶

Source: Global Monitoring Library

Reflectivity or Absorption of the Sun’s Energy

Activities such as agriculture, road construction, and deforestation can change the reflectivity of the earth’s surface, which leads to local warming or cooling. This effect is observed in heat islands, which are urban centers that are warmer than the less populated areas. Buildings, pavement, and roofs tend to reflect less sunlight than natural surfaces, causing these areas to be warmer.

Emissions of small particles, known as aerosols, into the air can also lead to reflection or absorption of the sun’s energy. Many types of air pollutants undergo chemical reactions in the atmosphere to create aerosols. Overall, human-generated aerosols have a net cooling effect on the Earth.

Pictured: Heat Island    Source: Land 8

Changes in the Earth’s Orbit and Rotation

Changes in the Earth’s orbit around the sun and the tilt and wobble of the Earth’s axis can lead to cooling or warming of the Earth’s climate because they affect the amount of energy the planet receives from the sun. These changes, known as Milankovitch cycles, cause climate changes on time scales of thousands of years. For example, the amount of summer sunshine in the Northern Hemisphere, resulting from changes in the planet’s orbit, appears to be the primary cause of past cycles of ice ages. At the coldest part of the last glacial period (or ice age), the average global temperature was about 11°F colder than it is today. At the peak of the last interglacial period, however, the average global temperature was at most 2°F warmer than it is today.⁷

Source: Wikimedia Commons

Volcanic Eruptions

Volcanoes have played a noticeable role in climate, with recent eruptions releasing large quantities of carbon dioxide. Some explosive volcano eruptions can throw particles into the upper atmosphere, where they can reflect enough sunlight back to space to cool the surface of the planet for several years. These particles are an example of cooling aerosols.

Volcanic particles from a single eruption do not produce long-term climate change because they remain in the atmosphere for a much shorter time than greenhouse gases. In addition, human activities emit more than 100 times as much carbon dioxide as volcanoes each year.⁸

Source: Carbon Brief

The Effects of Climate Change

The entirety of the planet is warming. Since 1906, the global average surface temperature has increased by more than 1.6 degrees Fahrenheit (0.9 degrees Celsius), and is even more sensitive in polar regions.⁹ The impacts of rising temperatures aren’t waiting for some far-flung future; the effects of global warming are appearing right now.

Many people think of global warming and climate change as synonyms, but scientists prefer to use “climate change” when describing the complex shifts now affecting our planet’s weather and climate systems. Climate change encompasses not only rising average temperatures but also extreme weather events, shifting wildlife populations and habitats, rising seas, and a range of other impacts.

Scientists have documented these current impacts of climate change:

Ice is melting worldwide, especially at the Earth’s poles. This includes mountain glaciers, which cover West Antarctica and Greenland, and Arctic sea ice. In Montana’s Glacier National Park, the number of glaciers has declined to fewer than 30 from more than 150 in 1910.¹⁰
The majority of this melting ice contributes to sea-level rise. Global sea levels are rising 0.13 inches (3.2 millimeters) per year, and scientists have found that the rise is occurring at a faster rate in recent years.¹¹
Rising temperatures are affecting wildlife and their habitats. Vanishing ice has challenged species such as the Adélie penguin, which is a species that has survived in Antarctica for nearly 45,000 years. Their population has since collapsed by 90% or more.¹²
As temperatures change, many species such as butterflies, foxes, and alpine plants, are on the move and migrating further north or to more elevated, cooler areas.¹³
On average, precipitation has increased across the globe. However, some regions are experiencing more severe droughts. This increases the risk of wildfires, lost crops, and drinking water shortages.¹⁴
Some species, including mosquitoes, ticks, jellyfish, and crop pests, are thriving. Bark beetles, for example, currently have booming populations that feed on spruce and pine trees, devastating millions of forested acres in the U.S.¹⁵

If climate change and the planet’s warming continues, we are expected to witness the following signicant effects:

Sea levels are expected to rise between 10 and 32 inches (26 and 82 centimeters) or higher.¹⁶
Hurricanes, tornadoes, and other storms are likely to become stronger. Floods and droughts will also become more common. By 2100, for example, large parts of the U.S. face a higher risk of decades-long “megadroughts.”¹⁷
Since glaciers store about three-quarters of the world’s fresh water, less of this incredibly important commodity will be available due to glacial melting.¹⁸
Many diseases will spread, such as mosquito-borne malaria and the 2016 resurgence of the Zika virus.¹⁹
Ecosystems will continue to change: Some species will move farther north or become more successful; others, such as polar bears, may not be able to adapt and could become extinct.²⁰

If you want to see dramatic eye-opening photos taken around the world that document many of these climate change effects, click here.

3 Degrees Makes a Difference

Earth’s sea levels are rising at faster and faster rates as waters warm and ice sheets melt. Researchers led by Steve Nerem, a professor of aerospace engineering at the University of Colorado Boulder, looked at data dating back to 1993 to track sea-levels and temperatures. Their findings, which were published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences journal in 2018, show that sea levels and temperatures aren’t just rising, they’re accelerating.²¹

The research group Climate Central has created a plug-in for Google Earth to illustrate how catastrophic an unlikely, “extreme” sea-level and temperature rise scenario would be if the flooding happened today, based on 2017 projections from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

Some of their findings and illustrations are as follows:

Now: The Potomac River runs through Washington, DC.

3℃ Hotter: Rising sea levels will cause the Potomac River to rise and overflow into DC.

Now: New York City sits on one of the world’s largest natural harbors.

3℃ Hotter: New York City could suffer from floods around the city’s perimeter and low-lying areas, such as the West Village, due to extreme flooding from the Hudson River.

Now: San Francisco is prominent in the technology world and is home to the Golden Gate Bridge.

3℃ Hotter: San Francisco is also a peninsula, which means it can easily flood.

Now: Charleston, South Carolina already suffers from a flooding problem due to being flat and having a low elevation.

3℃ Hotter: If sea-levels and temperatures continue to rise, a boat will be needed to get to the city center of Charleston.

Now: Residents of New Orleans, Louisiana are no strangers to the issues that come along with sea-level rise.

3℃ Hotter: New Orleans could completely disappear underwater, and in the next century, 500,000 people will have to leave the area to stay abov.

If you’re interested in taking a look at more sea-level predictions based Earth’s rising temperatures, you can install Climate Central’s plug-in and see what might become of other major US cities

How You Can Take Action Against Climate Change

In 2015, 196 countries signed on to a single, sweeping plan that aims to keep global warming to well below 2° C (3.6° F)—or even 1.5° C, which is known as the Paris Agreement. It aims to build on decades of gradual work by the international community to combat climate change and adapt to its impacts. To eliminate the release of heat-trapping carbon by 2050, world leaders must work together, strengthening their commitments and cutting greenhouse emissions to ensure a safe planet for future generations. However, you can take action, too.

Here are few ways you can join the fight against climate change:

Eliminate Food Waste

Food waste in the US occurs mostly in stores and at home—either because it spoils on the store shelf or before you can eat it. According to a Natural Resource Defense Council (NRDC) study, Americans throw away up to 40% of the food they buy.²² You can combat food waste by shopping for what you need, eating leftovers, composting scraps, and donating excess to food banks. Project Drawdown estimates that curbing food waste could avoid 70.5 gigatons of CO2, which would have a bigger impact than restoring 435 million acres of tropical forest.²³

Use Clean Energy

Renewable energy is fundamental to powering the world as we move away from fossil fuels. Modelled after World War II “war bonds,” Clean Energy Victory Bonds—a bill introduced to Congress by Sen. Udall (D-NM), Reps. Lofgren (D-CA), and Reps. Matsui (D-CA)—would offer Treasury bonds as low as $25 to finance the government’s clean energy programs. Using your democratic rights, try asking your representatives to support this bill to make Clean Energy Victory Bonds a reality. Additionally, you can purchase renewable energy from installers such as Blue Pacific Solar and RGS Energy, as well as plug into renewable utilities with companies like Clean Choice Energy, which don’t require you to install any new hardware in your home to get sun and wind power.

Rethink Transportation

Overhauling the world’s transportation systems, both commercial and personal, would save as much CO2 as one billion acres of regenerative agriculture. Commercial trucks alone account for 6% of the world’s emissions—more than the collective emissions of airplanes around the globe. While individuals can’t revolutionize the shipping, flight, and automobile industries overnight, we can demand they change by voting with our dollars for public transit, using electric or hybrid vehicles, and reducing our total trips taken.

Recycle

Acquiring virgin resources—from logging trees to mining minerals—exploits more resources than recycling existing materials. For example, recycled aluminum products use 95% less energy than creating new ones.²⁴ About 50% of recycled materials come from households; if that number were to increase to 65%, at-home recycling could prevent 2.8 gigatons of carbon emissions.²⁵ However, recycling wrong can slow the system and create more waste, so be sure to rinse out your recyclables and stay up to date on local regulations to make sure what you recycle isn’t causing contamination.

Humanist Beauty Environmental Commitments

Humanist Beauty knows how important protecting the environment is to ensure a healthy future and planet for all generations after ours. Our products are formulated with 100% naturally derived ingredients and packaged in recyclable componentry. To complement this, we are always striving to make Humanist Beauty more climate-conscious by constantly updating and adding environmental commitments to our business practices.

We Are Carbon-Neutral

We fully support the move towards a more circular economy by maintaining a carbon-neutral footprint. To do this, forecasted annual greenhouse gases are calculated, including office operating, manufacturing, and all shipping. Through our CarbonFund.org partnership, our company has ordered credits to support reforestry initiatives that completely offset our business emissions.

We Are Striving For Zero Waste

Additionally, at Humanist Beauty, we believe that beauty should live forever – not its packaging, which is why we are now committing to becoming a zero waste brand through the help of TerraCycle’s Zero Waste Box platform.

You can send us your beauty boxes, bottles, jars, tubes, and makeup palettes. The packaging doesn’t even have to be from Humanist Beauty; it can be from any brand. We’ll even pay and provide your postage to make sending your empty packaging to us easy and seamless. Once we receive your packing, we’ll hand it over to TerraCycle to be broken down and recycled or repurposed.

A few notes about our Zero Waste Program:

Our Zero Waste program is presently limited to accepting packages from within the 48 contiguous states.
We’re a small company, so right now we can accommodate funding postage for one 1-pound package per customer per month.
If you’d like to pay for your own postage, by all means! Send your beauty empties with reckless abandon to: Humanist Beauty x TerraCycle, 5826 Fairhaven Ave. Woodland Hills, CA 91367.
We’ll keep this page updated with any enhancements to our Zero Waste program.

If you have any questions about our environmental commitments, don’t hesitate to email us at customercare@humanistbeauty.com.

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https://www.nap.edu/catalog/25733/climate-change-evidence-and-causes-update-2020 [1]

https://climate.nasa.gov/causes/ [2]

https://nca2018.globalchange.gov/ [3]

https://gml.noaa.gov/ccgg/trends/mlo.html [4]

https://gml.noaa.gov/ccgg/trends_ch4/ [5]

https://gml.noaa.gov/ccgg/trends_n2o/ [6]

https://science2017.globalchange.gov/chapter/1/ [7]

https://science2017.globalchange.gov/downloads/CSSR_Ch2_Physical_Drivers.pdf [8]

https://www.globalchange.gov/browse/indicators/global-surface-temperatures [9]

https://www.nationalgeographic.com/science/article/geo-signs-thaw [10]

https://climate.nasa.gov/news/2680/new-study-finds-sea-level-rise-accelerating/ [11]

https://www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/article/adelie-penguins-antarctica-climate-change-population-decline-refugia [12]

https://www.nationalgeographic.com/science/article/climate-change-species-migration-disease [13]

https://www.c2es.org/content/drought-and-climate-change/ [14]

https://www.fs.usda.gov/ccrc/topics/bark-beetles-and-climate-change-united-states [15]

https://www.climate.gov/news-features/understanding-climate/climate-change-global-sea-level [16]

https://www.ipcc.ch/site/assets/uploads/2018/03/SREX-Chap3_FINAL-1.pdf [17]

https://www.usgs.gov/faqs/how-much-earths-water-stored-glaciers?qt-news_science_products=0#qt-news_science_products [18]

https://earth.stanford.edu/news/how-does-climate-change-affect-disease [19]

https://news.climate.columbia.edu/2018/03/30/helps-animals-adapt-not-climate-change/ [20]

https://cires.colorado.edu/council-fellows/r-steven-nerem [21]

https://www.nrdc.org/sites/default/files/wasted-food-IP.pdf [22]

https://drawdown.org/solutions/reduced-food-waste [23]

https://lbre.stanford.edu/pssistanford-recycling/frequently-asked-questions/frequently-asked-questions-benefits-recycling#:~:text=Aluminum.,40%20barrels%20of%20oil%2C%20130. [24]

https://earth911.com/inspire/drawdown-plan-reduce-carbon-emissions/ [25]

Top 10 Environmental Charities to Support

Posted on July 29, 2021March 22, 2024 by Jennifer Norman

If you’re reading this, chances are you care a lot about environmental charities, advocating for climate change, and upholding the planet we live on. There are numerous facets in the fight for climate justice, such as environmental health and justice, education, conservation, and advocacy. With that being said, there are also an abundant amount of nonprofit environmental charities looking for support. With so many out there, how on Earth are you supposed to choose?

Using Charity Navigator, which is a charity assessment organization that evaluates thousands of nonprofits, we’ve rounded up the top 10 environmental charities to support right now. Here are the most recommended environmental charities, as listed by Charity Navigator, to keep an eye on:

1. Earthjustice

Earthjustice was founded in 1971 to challenge those who put profit and power before people and our planet. It’s comprised of 160 environmental lawyers who wield the power of law and the strength of partnership to protect people’s health, preserve magnificent places and wildlife, advance clean energy, and combat climate change.¹ Additionally, Earthjustice has over 500 clients, whom they represent free of charge, that consists of community organizations, Indigenous groups, Tribes, national nonprofits, and more.

A few of Earthjustice’s recent victories in the courtroom include:

The ban of brain-damaging Pesticide Chlorpyrifos in New York²
Protections of “America’s Climate Forest” from major old-growth logging³
The end of the world’s largest fracked gas-to-methanol refinery⁴
Suspending a 49,000 hog farm in the Mayan Community of Mexico⁵
And many more.

Earthjustice promises to always move forward with taking on high-stakes cases for an enduring impact and continue crafting regulatory, legislative, and communications strategies to solidify the lasting impacts of their victories.

Check out its Action Tip Guide to find your way to speak out.

2. The Climate Reality Project

In 2006 former US Vice President and Nobel Laureate Al Gore caught the attention of the entire world with his Academy Award-winning film, An Inconvenient Truth. Later that same year, he founded and formed what would soon be known as The Climate Reality Project, which focuses on making urgent action a necessity for a global solution to the climate crisis.

The Climate Reality Project actively recruits, trains, and mobilizes individuals to become powerful activists that can transform society. It teaches exceptional skills and provides campaigns and resources to push for climate action and policies that will accelerate the world’s transition to clean energy.

Currently, The Climate Reality Project has trained over 31,000 activists that fight for climate change in their 10 branches, which are located in Australia, Brazil, Canada, India, Indonesia, Japan, Mexico, The Philippines, South Africa, China, and the United States.

To learn more about The Climate Reality Project’s training and how you can make a difference, click here.

3. National Environmental Education Foundation

The National Environmental Education Foundation, or NEEF, was created in 1990 as a nonprofit to complement the work of the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Today, however, the NEEF is dedicated to creating opportunities for people to experience and learn about the environment to improve their health and the planet.

NEEF maintains that caring and supporting the planet shouldn’t be limited to one group of people, which is why it offers a variety of grants and awards to help organizations build diversity. Additionally, all of its programs and online courses are designed to reach audiences of all perspectives, backgrounds, and geographies, and identities.⁶

Source: NEEF

If you’re interested in learning more about NEEF’s online courses and how to further your knowledge of the environment, sign up for its newsletter to stay informed.

4. 350.org

Founded in 2008, 350.org aims to build a global climate movement with ordinary people working to end the age of fossil fuels and build a world of community-led renewable energy for all.⁷

Here’s how 350.org plans to get there:

Support community-led energy solutions for a fast transition to 100% renewable energy for every single person.
Bring all oil, coal, and gas projects to a halt by utilizing local resolutions and community resistance.
End all financing and social licensing for fossil fuel companies.

The organization has done amazing things for the environment thus far, such as playing an instrumental role in bringing about the Paris Climate Agreement. Additionally, last year, 350.org organized the biggest climate mobilization in history, known as the Global Climate Strike, which saw over 7.6 million people taking to the streets to demand climate action.

To get involved and find a 350.org group near you or start your own, venture around this interactive map.

5. 1% for the Planet

Established in 2002, 1% for the Planet was created by B Corp Brand founders Yvon Chouinard of Patagonia and Craig Mathews of Blue Ribbon Files. The duo pledged to give 1% of sales back to the environment…even if they weren’t profitable. According to Yvon, the intent of 1% of the Planet is “to help fund these diverse environmental organizations so that collectively they can be a more powerful source in solving the world’s problems.”⁸

Currently, 1% of the Planet has more than 3,000 members who help spread the word and fight for their 1%. For example, Jack Johnson, a long-time member of the organization, showcases his 1% by leading missions to preserve the shores of Hawaii. Additionally, his 2005 album, Between Dreams, was the first to carry the 1% label, and his 2005 world tour promoted 1% of the Planet’s mission and helped to launch the organization.⁹

This charity has given hundreds of millions of dollars to environmental nonprofits around the world. The total giving by 1% of the Planet across its 6 core areas are:

Climate: 41%
Land: 21%
Water: 15%
Food: 10%
Wildlife: 7%
Pollution: 6%

You can view 1% of the Planet’s solutions regarding its 6 core areas here.

6. The Sierra Club Foundation

The Sierra Club Foundation was founded in 1960 and relies on both individual and institutional donors to fund its campaigns for innovation, to help build capacity in the environmental movement, and to create partnerships between allied organizations. Its mission is to educate and empower the people to protect and improve the environment.

According to its website, The Sierra Club Foundation’s goals are:

Solve the climate crisis by transitioning to a resource-efficient, clean energy economy
Secure protection for public lands and water and promote healthy ecosystems
Expand opportunities for more individuals to enjoy, explore, and protect the planet
Build a diverse, inclusive environmental movement that reflects and represents today’s American public

The Sierra Club Foundation’s collaborations with various nonprofits associations and community groups have helped further its cause with successful campaigns such as Our Wild America, Beyond Coal, and Sierra Club Outdoors.

If you’re interested in becoming a member, fill out the form here to get more information.

7. Friends of the Earth

Friends of the Earth was established in 1969 in San Francisco by Donald Aitken, David Brower, and Gary Soucie. In 1971, it became an international network of organizations with a meeting of representatives from four countries: the United States, Sweden, the UK, and France. Today, though, Friends of the Earth operates in 71 countries.

Friends of the Earth pushes for reforms that are needed to make our planet more sustainable and healthier. The organization has three main principles that guide its work, which are being bold with a fearless voice, fighting for a systematic transformation, and organizing and building long-term power.

This international organization covers a wide array of environmental and social issues, such as:

Climate, Gender, and Economic Justice
Promoting Biodiversity
Defending Human Rights
School of Sustainability
Food Sovereignty

To take a deep dive into its current campaigns, such as the “We Can and Must Save Our Pollinators from Extinction” effort, take a look at its current list to see how you can make a difference.

8. Union of Concerned Scientists

Founded over 50 years ago by scientists and students of MIT, the Union of Concerned Scientists has now grown into a national movement. It is composed of 250 scientists, analysts, policy, and communication experts that aim to use rigorous, independent science to make change happen.

The experts and everyday members of the Union of Concerned Scientists work tirelessly to:

Combat climate change and alleviate the harm caused by the heat, sea level. risings, and other consequences of runaway emissions.
Create sustainable alternatives to feed, power, and transport ourselves.
Reduce the threat of nuclear war.
Fight back when large corporations mislead the public.
Ensure that solutions further racial and economic equity.

The Union of Concerned Scientists has an abundance of successful wins, but most recently, the charity achieved the enactment of California’s 100% Clean Energy Bill. This bill allows California to step front and center to lead with scientific innovations that will slow climate change.

You can engage in the Union of Concerned Scientists’ campaigns and missions, too. Click here to view its brochure to learn more.

9. Nature and Culture International

Nature and Culture International (NCI) was founded in 1997 by San Diego businessman Ivan Gaylor after he witnessed the destruction of the Amazon while flying across South America. Ivan then met with Renzo Paladines, now the NCI Vice President and Director of Naturaleza y Cultura Ecuador, and together they created an ecosystem conservation project, buying land that was threatened in southern Ecuador.¹⁰

Currently, 91% of NIC’s staff work in South America and Mexico, leading fights for the protection of the most biodiverse forests in the world and the natives who live in them. They’ve conserved 21 million acres of forest that holds 3.4 tons of carbon, which helps keep deforestation at bay. NIC has also worked with 32 indigenous communities that are committed to the protection of their land.

NIC’s reserves are huge. Here’s a way to visualize them in comparison to Oahu, the main island of the state of Hawaii which is 382,000 acres:

The Entre Rios Reserve in Bolivia is close to the size of Oahu.
The Maijuna Indigenous Reserve in Peru is 3 times the size of Oahu.
The Pastaza Reserve in the Ecuadorian Amazon is 17 times the size of Oahu.

Source: NIC Website

The NIC was featured on PBS with a small documentary detailing its mission and how even one person can make a difference. You can watch the episode here.

10. As You Sow

As You Sow is the nation’s non-profit leader in shareholder advocacy. It was founded in 1992 to harness the power of shareholders to create lasting changes that benefit the planet, people, and profit. Its mission is to build a safe, just, and sustainable world where the protection of the environment and human rights is central to corporate decision-making.

As You Sow works directly with corporate CEOs, management, and institutional investors to discuss how changes can be made for more eco-friendly corporations. The charity further presses the importance of long-term decisions and how ignoring the impact of its policies and actions can cause negative implications down the line for the planet and people.

The organization actively publishes its resolutions with corporations on its website. A few of the most recent are:

Amazon was asked to reduce the use of plastic within their products
Automatic Data Processing (ADP) and AutoZone were asked to issue a report that discloses their plans to minimize greenhouse gas emissions that are aligned with the Paris Agreement goals
Booking Holdings was requested to allow shareholders the opportunity to vote on the global climate benchmarks they approve or disapprove of that are mentioned on the company’s publicly available climate policies and strategies webpage

As You Sow keeps an up-to-date blog where it discloses the campaigns it is currently working on. Additionally, if you own a company or invest, it has a voting page on its website that prompts on how to vote for shares.

Humanist Beauty Supports Carbon Fund

Humanist Beauty knows the importance of supporting environmental non-profits to stand tall against the climate crisis we are currently enduring. The brand maintains a carbon-neutral footprint by calculating annual greenhouse gas emissions, which includes office operations, manufacturing, and all shipping. Through Carbon Fund, Humanist Beauty has ordered credits to support reforestry initiatives that completely offset greenhouse gas emissions.

Carbon Fund is a leader in the fight against climate change by providing education, carbon offsets, and reductions, and reaching out to the public. Carbon Fund, along with Humanist Beauty, is always taking actions to move towards a sustainable future where our planet and people are healthy.

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References:

https://earthjustice.org/about [1]

https://earthjustice.org/news/press/2021/new-york-bans-brain-damaging-pesticide-chlorpyrifos [2]

https://earthjustice.org/brief/2021/americas-climate-forest-now-safe-from-major-old-growth-logging [3]

https://earthjustice.org/news/press/2021/washington-climate-activists-celebrate-victory-over-massive-fracked-gas-refinery [4]

https://earthjustice.org/news/press/2021/mexican-supreme-court-ruled-in-favor-of-mayan-community-suspends-49-000-hog-farm [5]

https://www.neefusa.org/about-neef [6]

https://350.org/about/ [7]

https://www-onepercentfortheplanet-org.sandbox.hs-sites.com/en/about?__hstc=129216466.b5f82f8f6f031650bf46d7630076e39c.1627243523289.1627243523289.1627243523289.1&__hssc=129216466.1.1627243523290&__hsfp=1861548089 [8]

https://www.johnsonohana.org/about#:~:text=In%202004%2C%20Jack%20Johnson%20became,helped%20to%20launch%20the%20organization. [9]

https://www.worldlandtrust.org/who-we-are-2/partners/nature-and-culture-international/#:~:text=Nature%20and%20Culture%20International%20(NCI,while%20flying%20across%20South%20America. [10]

Carbon Footprints and a Circular Economy: How You Can Contribute

Posted on March 18, 2021March 22, 2024 by Jennifer Norman

Humans have thrived on Earth for millennia; from the beginning, we have always been a part of nature. However, since the Industrial Revolution, we have increasingly polluted the precious planet we call home. During this time, machinery was introduced such as the power loom and cotton gin to increase quality and efficiency over human labor. Reliance on fossil fuels for energy overshadowed the use of renewable energy sources like wood, water, and wind. These changes have caused domino effects that are now becoming crippling to our planet and our health.

Awareness of our global environmental crisis has sparked the urgent call to move away from a linear economy toward a circular economy. In contrast to the linear economic model, where we take, make, use, and waste, the principle of a circular economic model is regenerative, not extractive. It is where we take, make, use, recycle, reuse, repair, return, and strive to minimize waste as much as possible.

To reduce our carbon footprints, we must reduce our reliance on fossil fuels, minimize our urge to buy brand new items, and reuse/repair/recycle with rigorous habit.

Why are Carbon Footprints Important?

On average, each American citizen has a carbon footprint of 16 tons, which is the highest in the world.¹In other countries, the per capita average is around 4 tons.² According to various studies, the ideal carbon footprint is closer to 2 tons.

If our carbon footprints continue to skyrocket due to fossil fuel extraction, pollution and waste, climate impact will become even more dangerous in the form of global temperature risings, severe weather, higher ocean temperatures, a decline in Arctic sea life, and decreased snow cover. These occurrences are all linked; warming oceans fuel horrific hurricanes. Higher, drier temperatures lead to melting ice caps and increases in wildfires. Our consumptive behavior has a long-term effect on our entire planet.

If you’re interested in calculating your own carbon footprint, you can do so here. It’s a free evaluation that will indicate the areas of your life that you can alter to achieve a smaller carbon footprint.

A Circular Economy Will Greatly Impact the World’s Carbon Footprint

According to the Ellen MacArthur Foundation, a circular economy is a way for us to imitate the cycles of nature: make something, use it, and reintroduce it to nature as a nutrient, or reuse it for something else. The loop entails the elimination of waste, regeneration of natural systems, and keeping products and materials in use. Today, we have the technology to change manufacturing processes to support a circular economy, but systemic change is never easy. To make the global impact necessary for the health and longevity of our planet, major changes will be needed from most of the world’s businesses, governments, and consumers.

We will all need to do our part to preserve Earth’s resources and dramatically minimize pollution. There are small changes that you can make to help propel the transition to a circular economy while shrinking your own carbon footprint. Here are a few ideas:

Your Transportation Methods Have an Effect on Your Carbon Footprint

Electric cars are a wonderful step towards minimizing your carbon footprint, considering they use almost zero fossil fuels. Hybrid cars are also a good option. They don’t eliminate the use of fossil fuels, but they do reduce them greatly.

It is also important to be aware of the way you drive. According to a study administered by Columbia University, you should avoid unnecessary acceleration and braking which can result in 40% more fuel consumption.³ Not only does that mean spending more money at the gas pump, but it’s dreadful for your carbon footprint, too. Listening to calm music may help you drive more serenely.

Air travel is also a contributor to greenhouse gas emissions. Taking a long-haul flight generates more carbon emissions than the average person in dozens of countries around the world produces in a whole year. The pandemic has curbed air travel significantly, which has had a positive impact on pollution, however travel is forecasted to increase as COVID19 herd immunity increases. If your air travel starts back up, you can offset emissions from your flights by donating to sustainable projects. For your next big trip, you can do this by visiting Native.

Ways to Reduce Your Home’s Carbon Footprint

If you spend a lot of time in your home, optimizing your household energy is an important step towards shrinking your carbon footprint. Getting a home energy audit is helpful for calculating the energy you use. To reduce your energy consumption, you can:

Turn down your water heater
Use LED lightbulbs
Turn off lights in rooms that aren’t being used
Switch to energy-efficient appliances
Take shorter showers
Turn off the tap while brushing your teeth

Renting or purchasing solar panels as an alternative source of energy can have dramatic benefits. Proper insulation can help avoid unnecessary energy expenditure to heat and cool your home.

The Groceries You Buy Have an Impact on Your Carbon Footprint

Going vegan is not for everyone though it is better for the environment to cut red meat out of even a few meals throughout the month. Cow farming transmits a substantial amount of emissions into the atmosphere, and it’s even been proven that these emissions are more dangerous than CO2 from cars.⁴Next time you’re eyeing the red meat section, try grabbing ground turkey or tofu instead.

Avoid allowing rotten food to collect in your fridge. Strive to always use the ingredients that you pick up from the grocery store, as food waste is very damaging to the atmosphere and your carbon footprint. Americans discard around 40 million tons of various foods every year.⁵ Endeavor to purchase only the food that you’ll consume during the week to overbuying perishables that will go uneaten.

Strive to eat all your leftovers. Take the extra piece of chicken breast you made last night for lunch and use it the next day in chicken tacos. Or mix your random veggies for a salad so they don’t spoil. Small changes can make a big impact in the long run.

Humanist Beauty is Carbon-Neutral

Humanist Beauty supports the move toward a more circular economy. The brand maintains a carbon-neutral footprint. To do this, forecasted annual greenhouse gas emissions were calculated, including office operations, manufacturing, and all shipping. Through Carbon Fund, Humanist Beauty has ordered credits to support reforestry initiatives that completely offset emissions. Additionally, Humanist Beauty products are formulated with 100% naturally derived ingredients and packaged in recyclable componentry.

You can learn more about Humanist Beauty’s mission, values, and environmental commitments here.

References:
https://www.nature.org/en-us/get-involved/how-to-help/carbon-footprint-calculator/ [1] [2]
https://blogs.ei.columbia.edu/2018/12/27/35-ways-reduce-carbon-footprint/ [3]
https://www.independent.co.uk/climate-change/news/cow-emissions-more-damaging-to-planet-than-co2-from-cars-427843.html [4]
https://www.rts.com/resources/guides/food-waste-america/#:~:text=Just%20how%20much%20food%20do%20Americans%20waste%3F%20Here%E2%80%99s,30-40%20percent%204%20of%20the%20US%20food%20supply. [5]

Tag: climate change