The Carbon Emissions Challenge

Recognizing that the vast majority of scientists now agree that global climate disruption is a reality and is largely caused by human activities that emit carbon dioxide into the atmosphere; and

Recognizing that climate disruption is a moral, health and economic issue, with its current effects already reeking havoc on humans throughout the world in the forms of hurricanes, tsunamis, melting glaciers, disease and droughts, and having predicted future impacts of increasing severity; and

Recognizing that the United States of America, although having less than 5 percent of the world’s population, is responsible for producing approximately 25 percent of the world’s pollutants that cause global climate disruption; and

Recognizing that around the world a movement to stop and reverse climate change is growing and being led by nations that have signed the Kyoto Protocol, many leading US and foreign companies that embrace corporate social responsibility, and by over 300 state and local governments in the United States that have made bipartisan pledges to reduce their emissions of climate disruption pollutants; and

Recognizing that reducing emissions of carbon pollutants through energy conservation and new energy technologies also reduces personal and business costs, helps create new jobs, and supports national security; and

Recognizing that I have the power to make changes in my personal life that will promote local economic growth, support national security and help prevent and reverse global climate disruption;

I Accept the Carbon Emissions Challenge and voluntarily pledge:

• That I will reduce my personal carbon emissions by at least 5 percent within the next year (year 1);
• That I will reduce my personal carbon emissions by at least another 5 percent within the year following (year 2);
• That thereafter I will not increase my personal carbon emissions, but rather will attempt to further reduce and/or offset them;
• That I will ask my friends, family, elected officials, and employers and local businesses to follow my leadership example.