Action of the Month for March Basic Action: In March, as we begin our season of Lent, our Action of the Month asks you to commit to reducing your transportation carbon footprint by 10%. This is like a tithe to honor God’s creation. The ELCA church’s Social Statement on Caring for Creation: Vision, Hope, and Justice, asks us to be a community committed to the principles of sufficiency and sustainability. The Statement advocates for an environmental tithe and other measures to limit consumption and reduce waste. Examples below can help you achieve the 10% reduction of your transportation footprint. Reduce vehicle engine idling – When your car idles, you are using gasoline to achieve 0 mpg! Idling more than a minute or two uses more gas than starting your car, except in the case of hybrids. Where can you reduce the amount of gasoline waste when you are not moving?
Drive differently
Maintain your vehicle to lower your emissions
Require fewer truck-delivery services
Use some electronic communications instead of travel, when possible Minimize air travel The average domestic commercial flight in 2019 emitted 0.39 pounds of carbon dioxide equivalents per passenger mile. How many miles did you fly in 2021? Multiply that by 0.39 to calculate your share of carbon emissions. from flying.
Check to see your progress. Compare your gasoline expenditures or frequency of fill-ups.
In these days of higher transportation fuel costs, using these methods to save on transportation use can also save you money. DID YOU KNOW… The transportation sector is the largest source of carbon emissions in the U.S. and creates about 1/3 of our annual global warming emissions. It is also a major source of air pollution. Low-income communities of color are especially impacted by living close to major highways, warehouses, airports, and ports where the air pollution is higher. (Source: Sierra Club 2021 Summer Newsletter, “What We Want for the Next Generation” by Michael Brune) Advanced action: Make a big reduction by choosing to reduce dependence on fossil fueled transportation in a big way. If it is time for a shop for a newer car, upgrade to an alternative fuel vehicle—electric or hybrid—or one that has significantly higher miles per gallon fuel efficiency than your previous model.
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Action of the MonthJoin our Creation Care’s Action of the Month Program to carry out a monthly task for the earth! Purpose of the program:
Part of our spiritual calling for personal discipleship at home and work is to care for creation. Because the quantity of actions this implies can seem overwhelming, our Action of the Month Program provides one action to take each month. At the end of the month, you have a new habit. And if you find the basic action is something you already do, or if you find it not appropriate to your situation, or if you simply want to be a high-achiever, you can also find an advanced option to use as your alternative. Categories |