Let's talk

 While you and your families (if you're American, that is) sit around or walk along, digesting the feast from Thankful eating...it's a great opportunity to talk about a subject dear to my heart.

Climate change. You knew that was coming I bet.

Here's a nice little TED talk about how it can be done. 

I was involved with a few others in a group we called "Climate Conversations" for a while. We definitely became more educated about our own possibilities, and some of us made big changes...one or more driving hybrid cars now.

A recent international gathering in Brazil (COP30) to discuss and maybe make decisions about climate change was less than successful...though plans are continuing, "Colombia and the Netherlands announced the first International Conference on the Just Transition Away from Fossil Fuels, to be held in Colombia in April 2026." 

This year marked ten years since the signing of the Paris Agreement and, despite the frustratingly slow pace of the COP meetings, significant progress has been made in the last decade. As I shared two weeks ago, global emissions used to be tracking a scenario that would take the world to 4-5C (7-9F) by the end of the century. But thanks to all the policies enacted and advances in clean energy over the last decade, we’re currently heading towards a world that’s 2.8C (5F) warmer. And if all of the countries’ Nationally Determined Contributions are implemented, the warming will be around 2.4C (4.3F). For more on where things stand post Paris, see these ten graphs.  

For example, the first graph from the NY Times shows:

Global greenhouse gas emissions and expected warming

Source: Climate Action Tracker’s most recent projection and its 2015 projection

But none of the world's biggest emitters — China, the U.S., the European Union, India — have met their Paris promises. And every degree of warming matters.  

NY Times Nov 7, 2025

The following is from Katharine Hayhoe's free newsletter "Talking Climate." 

This COP promised to be the “implementation COP” where countries would figure out how to limit temperature rise to the Paris target of 1-2C.

Much of the last-minute negotiations hinged upon whether the final agreement included a pledge to “transition away from fossil fuels.” 83 countries pushed to have this statement included in the final agreement, supported by a letter organized by the We Mean Business coalition that was signed by over 150 other non-profits, regional and city governments, and companies.  

Ultimately, however, that wording didn’t make it into the final deal. Instead, the COP30 president promised that “the issue of stronger language on moving away from fossil fuels can be raised again in six months’ time at an interim COP meeting.” 

Here’s the problem, though. There is no path to meeting the Paris targets without almost entirely phasing out fossil fuels. This isn’t rocket science; it’s basic physics we’ve understood for over a century. 

To stabilize global temperature at any level, let alone 1.5–2°C, we must remove the same amount of heat-trapping gases from the atmosphere as we emit. Although some carbon removal is possible thanks to a range of nature-based and technological fixes, from reforestation and regenerative farming to carbon capture, their capacity is nowhere near enough to offset the emissions of unchecked fossil fuel use.  

The science is settled; what’s missing is the resolve to act on it. And the longer we wait, the higher the cost. 

I no longer use paper napkins (and very limited paper towels.) It doesn't sound that big, but having the cloth napkins to wash and fold is a nice reminder that every bit counts.

Of course the biggest bits are the most important. But as we've seen with all the rallies lately, people power is how things will change on a bigger scale. So my information sharing is the way I let folks know what's happening, in order to encourage others to be out there marching and holding big signs while I can't do it myself any more.

And while I'm at it, thank you so much for reading my little blog. I love this community of people who mostly think the same as I do. 

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The great old song, Alice's Restaurant by Arlo Guthrie, from the movie of course. You might have needed to have been there to enjoy it as much as I do.

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Today’s quote:

The light of love is always in us, no matter how cold the flame. It is always present, waiting for the spark to ignite, waiting for the heart to awaken...

BELL HOOKS Today’s goddess: