Take real climate action

Sunday, the Sustainability Institute and others will host an EARTH Fair ftom 11 to 4 at Myrick Park. There will be music, food, kids' activities, information, demonstrations, and opportunities to connect and learn.

Will anyone be there with a display of the latest dire predictions about what's coming thanks to accelerating global heating due to still increasing greenhouse gas emissions? That should be the main event if we're honest.

But, honestly, we're not very honest when it comes to looking the climate crisis in the face and following through on commitments to really do something about it. We're still fighting global fossil fuel monsters; politicians, national and local, afraid to make necessary meaningful changes; systems that block or slow lower-emissions processes; and individuals who prefer to party on while the party boat is aimed straight at the waterfall.

Since summer 2019, when the City of La Crosse pledged to reduce community-wide carbon emissions--5% by 2020, 20% by 2025, 30% by 2030, 45% by 2035, 60% by 2040, 80% by 2045, 100% by 2050--global atmospheric carbon dioxide has increased from about 415 ppm to 430 ppm, indicating our local goals were too timid and too slow. 

A May assessment of city-wide greenhouse gas emissions concluded that local emissions are down just 12%, mostly thanks to Xcel energy's efforts to switch out fossil fuels with renewables. What's the city's plan to get on track or even ahead of the 2030 goal? That's something Earth Fair goers could ask city staff or elected officials they might meet at the fair.

A comprehensive Climate Action Plan (CAP) was approved by the city council in December 2022. It listed hundreds of action steps, not as a pick-and-choose menu, but as a complete guide. If we could accomplish each and every one of those steps, all together those actions might give us a chance to meet our goals. 

But, so far the plan has mostly gathered dust. Many of the priority "cross-cutting" steps meant to create an atmosphere and favorable conditions for the rest, have not been done or even started. Our CAP steering committee, with a minimal budget and facing city councils that really just don't get it (to be kind), has been stuck trying to accomplish much with too few resources and too little support.

As we saw with the bike lanes battle, even relatively simple steps to reduce transportation-related emissions that the state would have paid for are stymied by a timid council swayed by baseless, hysterical arguments by those who want nothing to change. 

But, things have to change.

The SHIFT initiative at Project Drawdown suggests ways individuals can start taking high-power climate action within five spheres: citizen, professional, investor, consumer, and role model. The top recommendations for individuals are pushing electeds for action, connecting with groups that are pushing for action, and encouraging all our connections, including neighbors and workplaces, to push for and take action.

The main benefit of individual change, reducing one's "carbon footprint" (which we now know was a marketing scheme developed by the fossil fuel industry to push off responsibility for the climate crisis on people changing light bulbs) is in the behavior modeling. Individual's solar panels, electric vehicles, plant-based diets, investment divestment, and waste-less lives may not have much impact, but as a way to change others' and community behaviors, it's powerful.

Here's one individual behavior that can make an immediate and, possibly, long term difference: don't drive to the Earth Fair.* 

U.S. transportation-related emissions, mostly from us driving fossil fuel cars and light trucks around, are the highest of all sectors. Replacing driving with walking, biking, car-pooling, or taking public transit immediately reduces emissions and tailpipe and particle pollution. Taking the bus and inviting friends to ride with you can model and demonstrate more climate-friendly behaviors that can reduce emissions and improve the system for everyone.

The MTU will be free on Sunday and the hourly Route 4 will stretch a bit that day to drop off and pick up at the park. If you're not already on the 4 route, you can take your closest bus to the Transit Center and transfer there. Or you can carpool and park along the route, including the Jay Street ramp, Aldi South, or other lots and streets. Get more details here: http://lacrosseata.blogspot.com/p/earth-fair-bus.html

* Some will be driving to the fair to help people learn about another low-emissions way to travel - electric vehicles. Ask Me About My EV will be in the lower parking lot where volunteers will show their vehicles and talk about their experiences as EV owners--buying , charging, traveling, maintaining--and how solar + EV can be a cost-effective way to step out of the fossil fuel system.

Come to the Earth Fair. Take the bus. Connect with groups who are pushing for stronger, faster clinate action.