The Truth About Climate Change

10 Indisputable Facts and 4 Easy Actions

Let your grass grow. Plant trees. Create a habitat for wildlife. And vote with your actions, your dollars, and your heart for a better world.

Somewhere between hysteria and denial lies the truth about climate change. It’s not a new concern. The first scientific mention of it was in 1824 when people realized that carbon dioxide in the atmosphere traps heat. Back then, coal was the primary fuel for heating homes and powering factories, and its burning was so toxic that the skies over London were often black. It wasn’t called Global Warming until 1975. Then, somewhere in the 1980s, Climate Change started to be used in conjunction with Global Warming because it wasn’t just about heat but about floods, fires, droughts, and other catastrophes. That’s why, in my 2009 book Organic Manifesto, I call it Climate Chaos. Inconvenient Truth, by Al Gore, popularized Global Warming and Climate Change in 2006 (full disclosure my old company, Rodale Inc. published the companion book to the documentary). Since then, all the predictions have come true.

Some of us have been talking about this for a looooooonnnnnnggggg time. And honestly, I am a bit tired. It can be depressing to see people so sure of themselves in their ignorance that they perpetuate the problem and make it much worse than it needs to be (like monster trucks spewing black exhaust). Honestly, it’s even more frustrating to see “intellectuals” and tech bros trying to find a “tech” solution that will make them billions and enable them to “offset” buying the biggest yachts and sexiest planes (they should know better!). And it’s infuriating to learn that oil, plastic, and chemical companies have been purposely deceiving people about recycling and electric cars and fear-mongering about food and farming. Fun fact: the first cars were electric, but they were seen as too feminine, so they were extincted. (Yes, I made up that word.)

But after 2 good cups of certified Regenerative Organic coffee, I have some energy to share these facts with you. Pay attention!

Fact number 1: The Earth is a volatile place to begin with. There have always been periods of warming, cooling (ice ages), volcanic eruptions, earthquakes, floods, fires, pandemics, mass extinctions, asteroid collisions, etc. etc… Continents have broken apart. New continents have been discovered. Our goal can’t be to stop the Earth’s natural process of creation and destruction. Our goal can be to live healthfully and happily in harmony with nature for as long as possible without extincting ourselves. (I made that word up, too.)

Fact number 2: The climate IS warming. Remember, weather is different than climate. Climate is the total average aggregate across the whole earth. 2023 was the warmest year on record since we first started measuring in 1850. And the 10 warmest years were all in the last decade.

Fact number 3: The oceans are hotter than they have ever been since measurements began. 2023 was the hottest. The oceans are a major source of oxygen and carbon sequestration.

Fact number 4: Glaciers and icebergs around the world are melting. Permafrost is also melting, which releases even more carbon dioxide into the air, causing homes to sink into the earth in places like Alaska.

Fact number 5: Sea levels around the world have risen 8 to 9 inches since the 1880s, thanks to the rising heat of the oceans and air. I was talking with some commercial fishermen in Rhode Island this summer, and they told me even the most vehement Trump supporters will adamantly tell you the sea levels have risen, the ocean life has changed for the worse, and climate change is real. The combination of sea level rise and ocean heating is what has led to more severe hurricanes and higher storm surges since the surges are occurring from a higher ocean base level.

Fact number 6: Nature’s ability to store carbon happens in plants (from “weeds” to trees, seaweeds to fungi) and soil when they are healthy and not destroyed by chemicals. This natural process has been decimated by chemical toxins applied on farms, lawns, golf courses, national parks, cities, and even by conservation organizations to eliminate “invasives.” Stop doing that.

Fact number 7: Clean, renewable energy is completely viable and safe. I saw a recent statistic that if the US switched to 100% renewable energy, ocean shipping would decrease by almost half. Seven countries are now 100% renewable. England just closed its last coal mine. Fun fact: at a recent visit to the Pocono Raceway in Pennsylvania, I learned that a 20-acre solar array powers 100% of the racetrack and organic cafe and greenhouses, as well as approximately 300 surrounding homes. This proves that you can still have fun, drive fast cars, eat amazing organic food, and not suffer in any way. In fact, since the power is local, they are more resilient in bad weather. Also, don’t be fooled by people saying that solar and wind cause pollution and toxic waste. The number one cause of ocean plastic pollution is plastic fishing nets. Coal, oil, and nuclear are extremely toxic and polluting. So are cars! Cats, windows, and cars kill significantly more birds than wind turbines. But you don’t hear people complaining about getting rid of cats, cars, or windows, do you?

Fact number 8: Plastic and chemical pollution contribute to climate change and are significantly impacting our health. These chemicals, which are produced from fossil fuels, are major hormone disruptors, leading to things like obesity, diabetes, cancers, sterility, gender changes, and birth defects. Microplastics and PFASs are in our brains, blood, breast milk and basically anywhere you can think of. It’s too late to fix what we did in the past. But it’s not too late to fix our behaviors going forward.

Fact number 9: Climate Change is a major cause of immigration. Think about it. If your home and community have been burned, flooded, or destroyed by war, drought, landslides, or famine, you are going to leave and try and find a new place to live. You are going to go where you need to go to find food, shelter, safety, clean water, and, if you are lucky, a better life for you and your family. It’s a tale as old as time. Fortunately, immigration is a major driver of economic growth and health, as well as a healthy sign of diversity. Inbreeding is never good for people or nature, which is also why things and people travel. It makes us healthier and more secure. Don’t believe the lies that immigrants are the problem in society.

Fact number 10: We are all indigenous to Planet Earth. I recently re-learned that until 1876, Colorado was considered part of Mexico. And Texas was Mexico until 1845. Mexicans are just different tribes of “Native Americans,” aka, Indigenous people. Yes, white people are often colonizers. But white people are indigenous to the earth, too. We have ALL been born on this planet, often migrated at some point (because, remember, we are all descendants from a black woman in Africa), and experienced the pain and suffering of all sorts of persecutions — whether they be religious, political, domestic, or just plain life. People are terrible to each other! This is not something new.

The solutions are radically simple:

Support regenerative organic wherever you can. This includes food, clothing, personal care products, landscaping, and homewares. This eliminates so many of the climate change-causing problems, especially if you buy locally, in season, and directly from farmers. Better yet, plant a garden and grow food and fruit. It’s fun! And don’t forget to plant trees.

Support renewable energy whenever you can. Localize your power source and support renewables. During Hurricane Milton, this one apartment complex never lost power. Some people used their electric cars and trucks as backup generators. Don’t believe the bullshit about it not working or being polluting. We have to make the change and figure out multiple solutions for powering our lives. Renewable energy is an easy one.

Make your home and surrounding land a natural habitat. If you think about it, the most important thing you can do is make any property you have, whether you own or rent or live in the city or country, and make it a natural habitat that welcomes all sorts of plants, animals, insects, and bird biodiversity. We have been taught to fear nature by chemical companies and scary movies. But nature is our best friend, our ally, and our partner. And the most important thing we can do is not poison and kill the things that keep us alive and healthy. What we often consider weeds are healers and nature’s first responders. Things we have been taught to fear, like bats, are key to our health and survival! Seriously, check out this article about the correlation between bat populations and infant mortality.

VOTE. Vote with your dollars. Vote at the ballot boxes. How we spend our money is truly the greatest power we have and drives the biggest changes that either benefit us or destroy us. The same goes for voting in elections. Your right to vote is precious and should never be taken for granted.

We won’t know what the future brings. And while we can predict the weather to a certain extent, it’s still a guess. But we can take action and be prepared.

Don’t be afraid. Believe in the power to make the world better with your actions. Then, whatever happens, you will be ready.