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Simple and Inexpensive Actions Could Reduce Global Warming Emissions by One Billion Tons
The United States is the world’s second-largest emitter of global warming pollution, currently pumping approximately 7 billion tons of greenhouse gases (GHGs) into the atmosphere every year. U.S. residents have a “carbon footprint” that is more than 20 times larger than people living in many developing countries. If Americans adopted a series of simple, inexpensive emissions-reducing measures in the areas of transportation, household energy consumption, diet, and waste over the next ten years, the U.S. could avoid 1 billion tons of emissions in 2020 and save money. Behavioral change and personal action--in addition to responsible policymaking and technological innovation--are critical to any successful effort to curb greenhouse gas pollution and avoid the worst impacts of climate change.
last revised
3/18/2010
