11 November 2024

The results are in. 

We [Americans] would rather bury our heads in the sand and be “free” to consume what we want when we want than deal with the horrific and expensive impacts of climate change.

The total damage estimate for Hurricanes Helene and Milton have been estimated at $20 to $34 billion, and that's just for what was covered by insurance. 95% of Helene victims were uninsured.

It's clear the federal government will not be investing in climate mitigation nor adaptation once the new administration takes over. (How can you address what you don't measure?) Based on past experience, we know that a Trump administration is about the here-and-now, without regard to future consequences.

Luckily, America is a land of innovators, pioneers and sensible business people who recognize the value of being proactive. Community groups that work together to mobilize for solutions. And plenty of individuals who recognize that humans can play an important role in helping nature to prevent the worst climate impacts.

Did you know that most cells in our body have hundreds of mitochondria in them? They're decentralized power plants - sort of like if we all had a bunch of solar panels on our houses, rather than getting electricity from NYSEG or Con Ed. So if all those “tiny factories” can all work together to give us life, I think it's clear we can all do the same.

I can't stop Mother Nature, but I can think about my daily habits and the impact they have on the planet. The world will not be saved by one Elon Musk selling billions of EVs (there's a reason coal-mining CEO Joe Craft donated a million dollars to his America PAC!). Our survival will be down to millions of people making climate-friendly choices every day.

So PLEASE keep eating plants (now I'm talking about the kind that grow, not the factories!). Note I did not say “plant based foods” because that makes me think of ultra processed choices. Those are definitely better than animal foods (both in terms of the planet and our health), but we can always do better. Still, don't let perfection get in the way of progress. Eat MORE vegetables, fruits, whole grain, legumes, nuts and seeds. Eat an appropriate amount of food (eating all those fiber-rich plants makes that a lot easier). And, for heaven's sake, don't waste it.