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O ? WHAT CAN I D ongratulate yourself and anyone else who asks this Make presentations to groups like the Chamber of Commerce question . History shows that individuals can make a dif- and Rotary Club about how businesses can save money, lower ference . In fact, it's only individuals who change the world . energy bills, and protect the climate - We do so by inspiring others to act . • Join the California Climate Registry • Lobby your industry to change its practices ; encourage GHG The list below focuses on whole -system strategies for climate pro - accounting tection to emphasize their importance, and because those that focus on changing individual consumption habits, like recycling and us - r : ni ing compact fluorescent bulbs, are already relatively well known . J5 Sonoma County is in the midst Shifting our focus from individual consumption habits to the large - s of making history. scale system changes is needed to dramatically reduce GHG pollu - a ` tion . Whether you have a little or a lot of time , everyone can do something , yIffyI . — Bogdan Uasi, Cornell Univer- sity climate protection researcher :./.,f': :: y:ti •:".;: ;k%: try 4' foi::... � Ciyh'iN� Learn and reflect, talk and listentab Check out resources listed at end of this report • Talk to others about climate protection —talk is not cheap • Join or form study groups; help educate others Government Speak up m Thank jurisdictions for joining Cities for Climate Protection, and • Write letters to the editor of newspapers and to elected repre - encourage others to do so sentatives I I ® Help elect people who will protect the climate • Make presentations • °Ask people for money and give it to groups making a difference Encourage walkable, mixed use development with nearby pub- • Encourage others es eciall young people, to speak u lic transportation , stores, schools, etc . —to minimize sprawl and g p y y g P P P P the need to drive Schools m Adopt green building guidelines and codes, and reward devel - • Help schools reduce their energy use, and measure and reduce opment teams who follow them their GHG emissions ° Reward resource efficiency and conservation among utility users • Encourage your district to have all its schools participate in en - a Develop local control over your energy system and make the ergy- saving programs shift to energy efficiency and renewable power • Help school building and remodeling demonstrate the highest standards for energy and water efficiency Encourage public entities to mandate a Renewable Portfolio • Green your fleet (This applies to business and government, too . ) Standard ( RPS ) of at least 20 % renewable electricity • Create programs that offer staff and students incentives for walk- Help eliminate government subsidies for fossil fuel and increase ing , bicycling , riding the bus, etc . ; enact parking fees (This ap - subsidies for energy efficiency and renewable energy plies to all sectors on this page . ) ° Encourage the U . S . government to ratify the Kyoto Protocol • Change the tax system to reward actions that protect the climate, Business and penalize those that don 't • Develop a company-wide Environmental Management System • Form a water and energy efficiency task force • Make a pledge to reduce GHG emissions, meet a target, then set What is essential a new targets encourage other companies to do the same is invisible to the eye. • Adopt policies to require suppliers and vendors to adhere to energy efficiency practices —Antoine de Saint- Exupery • Ask your bank to favor projects that emit fewer GHGs 19