Climate & Energy Go Together Like Peanut Butter & Jelly

If you are an Earth Ranger, you’ve probably been hearing about climate change a lot lately! Especially in June as we celebrate World Environment Day. This year’s theme is ecosystem loss, which is depriving the world of important carbon sinks like forests and wetlands, and contributing to global warming.

But what exactly is climate change? Climate change describes a change in the average conditions — such as temperature and rainfall — in a region over a long period of time. Scientists have figured out that a global increase in temperature of 1.5℃-2℃ is the highest we can go in order to avoid major impacts to our global ecosystems and wildlife. Although this number doesn’t seem like much, it’s a big deal! Even small changes in temperature can have serious effects on how many organisms and ecosystems function. But the good news is, there are small changes we can all make in our daily lives that can make a big difference!

The energy we use every day to do things like watch TV, wash our clothes, and heat and cool our homes can contribute to climate change? Most of the world’s energy produced is supplied by fossil fuels – 84% to be exact. When fossil fuels are burned, they release greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. Greenhouse gases trap heat, causing temperatures to rise – just like the way a real greenhouse works! This means that when energy is created and then wasted, it causes fossil fuels to be burned unnecessarily, which leads to even more greenhouse gas emissions being released.

We humans have to do everything we can to help avoid climate change. And that’s where you come in Earth Rangers! You can do your part in fighting climate change by being aware of energy consumption in your household. It’s impossible not to use energy at home, but if we stop wasting energy whenever we can, we’re helping do our part to make sure the only fossil fuels being burned are the ones we absolutely require. There are lots of things you can do as an Earth Ranger to reduce energy waste, like: 

• Unplugging electronic devices and appliances when they are not in use
• Turning the tap off in between uses
• Ensuring your washing machine and dishwasher are only run with a full load
• Air drying your clothes instead of using the dryer
• Remembering to turn off the lights when you leave a room

If you need a place to start, check out the Operation Conservation Mission in the Earth Rangers App. This Mission outlines all you need to know about saving energy at home, and tells you about 7 particular energy-wasting culprits to look out for! Join Captain Conservation’s team and help us catch the Earth Rangers’ Most Wanted Energy Wasters today!