The Choices We Make Affect Parks
When we burn fossil fuels for electricity, heating, transportation, food production, and other day-to-day activities, we release carbon dioxide (CO2) into the atmosphere. As this principal greenhouse gas has increased, it has caused global average temperatures to rise. Projections indicate these increases will continue, causing further changes in global climate, with negative implications for vegetation, wildlife, oceans, water resources, and human populations. Emissions reduction—the limiting of CO2 and other greenhouse gas production from human activity—is an important step in addressing climate change. There are many simple actions agencies and individuals can take to reduce our daily carbon emissions.
Our choices make a difference. As an agency or an individual, we have opportunities to work towards a solution to climate change. While individual actions may seem insignificant, together they add up. Many individuals at national parks around the country are taking steps to reduce our carbon footprint. You can join us by getting involved at home, school, or work or during a visit to park.
Choosing to make a difference does not necessarily mean giving up modern conveniences. There are lots of ways to help! Look for opportunities to help collect data that will be used to make decisions about managing resources, explore careers in climate change, or learn about personal choices that can make a difference. To learn more about the small steps and large strides parks are taking to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, visit the NPS "My Green Parks" video page.