Earth Day, Drawdown, and GenAI

What does GenAI have to say about the scientific-based solutions promoted by Project Drawdown? ProjectDrawdown.org

<This Article is modified and reproduced from SustainZine.com, with permission. The discussion related to scenario planning is added here.>

It is the 54th Earth Day, April 22 of 2024.  The population was about 3.7b in 1970, it’s now more about 8.1b. But as worldwide life span increases and wealth increases so does lifetime consumption.

See Project Drawdown’s Table of Solutions: https://drawdown.org/solutions/table-of-solutions … Drawdown has two “scenarios”: a +2.0C and a +1.5C. “Both scenarios shown … are plausible and economically realistic. Drawdown Scenario 1 is roughly in line with +2˚C temperature rise by 2100, while Drawdown Scenario 2 is roughly in-line with +1.5˚C temperature rise at century’s end.” That is, Scenario 2 is a very aggressive approach world-wide to decarbonize. Unless things change rapidly, the world will blast past +1.5C and will likely exceed the +2.0C by the end-of-century. The costs of business-as-usual are very real, and generally exponential. To avoid confusion, let’s call these “global warming scenarios”, so as not to confuse with scenario planning within industries.

Scenarios for an industry and businesses with that industry. Think about the major scenarios for industries possible from various Drawdown initiatives. Two of the biggest drawdown categories that reduce in human impact on the planet are related to women. Educating girls in poorer countries, for example. If they are in school longer, they are not marrying and starting a family at very young ages (10 to 14). They are better able to plan their families, and have fewer children who are better nurtured. Plus there are huge positive externalities of more education. Along the same lines is empowering women so they can be a more vibrant part of the economy.

Project Drawdown uses peer-reviewed research to build their various cases for drawdown effort which include anticipated costs/savings as well as the carbon reduction. Initiatives are not mutually exclusive, but avoiding putting more carbon in the atmosphere is generally better and easier and more cost-effective then trying to remove it afterwards. The savings from saving the rain forest is significantly greater the the combined costs of reforestation and carbon removal.

We employed our fav GenAIs to chat about it… and to generate graphic. This is the overview with the prompts. Please feel free to run GenAI chat with your own queries.

Q: Project Drawdown looks at the biggest places to make the greatest impact toward reducing human impact on the planet. What are the most impactful of these?

Q: What are the ways that someone of average income in the USA could make the most impact based on these top 10 solutions?

Q: Are there better places to look related to reducing human impacts than Project Drawdown?

Q: Create a table of the key things someone could do that indicates how they might help: Time, Treasure ($), or Talent? i.e., Time, $, or Skill

Q: Create a graphic that visualizes imagery from this table.

#EarthDay #ReduceReuseRecycle #SustainZine #Sustainability #CarbonFootprint #ScenarioPlans #DelphiPlan

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You: Project Drawdown looks at the biggest places to make the greatest impact toward reducing human impact on the planet. What are the most impactful of these?

ChatGPT (2024, April 20)

Project Drawdown is a research organization that identifies and models the most substantive solutions to stop global warming. According to their research, some of the most impactful solutions for reducing humanity’s impact on the planet span various sectors, including energy, food, women and girls, and land use. Here are some of the top solutions they’ve identified:

1. Reducing Food Waste: About a third of all food produced globally is either lost or wasted. Reducing food waste can significantly cut down on methane emissions from landfills and reduce the need for additional food production, which is a major driver of deforestation and habitat loss.
2. Plant-Rich Diets: Shifting diets away from meat, particularly beef, can reduce methane emissions, save water and land, and decrease carbon emissions. Livestock farming is one of the biggest contributors to deforestation and methane emissions.
3. Tropical Forest Restoration: Restoring degraded tropical forests and stopping further deforestation can act as a carbon sink, removing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere while also preserving biodiversity and preventing habitat loss.
4. Health and Education: Addressing the health and education of women and girls can have a profound impact on population growth. More educated women tend to have fewer children and healthier families, which can slow population growth and reduce the associated pressures on the planet’s resources.
5. Solar Farms and Rooftop Solar: Solar energy can replace reliance on fossil fuels for electricity production, which is a major source of CO2 emissions. Expanding both utility-scale solar farms and rooftop solar installations are key strategies in the shift towards renewable energy.
6. Wind Energy (Onshore and Offshore): Like solar, wind energy provides a substantial mitigation opportunity for carbon dioxide emissions from fossil fuels. Onshore and offshore wind farms are becoming increasingly cost-competitive and efficient.
7. Refrigerant Management: Managing and disposing of refrigerants like HFCs, which are potent greenhouse gases, is critical. Proper management can prevent these chemicals from reaching the atmosphere when cooling devices are discarded.
8. Electrification of Transportation: Transitioning from fossil-fuel-powered vehicles to electric vehicles (EVs) can significantly reduce carbon emissions, especially as the electricity grid becomes greener with increased penetration of renewable energy sources.

These solutions are not only effective in reducing carbon emissions but also in helping adapt to climate change impacts, preserving the environment, and enhancing sustainability. Implementing these solutions globally requires collaboration across governments, industries, and communities to realize significant impacts.

You: What are the ways that someone of average income in the USA could make the most impact based on these top 10 solutions?

ChatGPT (2024, April 20)

For someone with an average income in the USA, there are practical and impactful ways to contribute to Project Drawdown’s top solutions for combating climate change. Here’s how individuals can make a difference based on some of the most effective strategies identified by Project Drawdown:

1. Reducing Food Waste:

1. Plan meals carefully to avoid over-purchasing.
2. Store food properly to extend its shelf life.
3. Use leftovers creatively to ensure that less food ends up in the trash.

2. Adopting a Plant-Rich Diet:

2. Reduce meat consumption, particularly beef, which has a high environmental impact.
3. Incorporate more plant-based meals into your diet, which can also be cost-effective.

3. Supporting Renewable Energy:

3. If possible, switch to a green energy provider that supplies electricity from renewable sources like solar or wind.
4. Consider installing solar panels if you own a home and it’s financially viable. Many states offer incentives that can reduce upfront costs.

4. Enhancing Home Energy Efficiency:

4. Upgrade to energy-efficient appliances as older ones need replacement.
5. Improve home insulation to reduce heating and cooling costs and energy use.
6. Install smart thermostats to better control heating and cooling.

5. Using Sustainable Transportation:

5. Utilize public transportation where available.
6. Consider purchasing an electric vehicle or a hybrid if you’re in the market for a new car.
7. Carpool with others to reduce the number of vehicles on the road.

6. Recycling and Composting:

6. Follow local recycling guidelines to ensure proper recycling of materials.
7. Start composting food scraps and yard waste to reduce landfill use and produce valuable compost for gardening.

7. Educating and Advocating:

7. Educate yourself about environmental issues and solutions through credible sources.
8. Advocate for policies that support renewable energy, conservation, and sustainable practices at local, state, and national levels.

8. Supporting Responsible Companies:

8. Purchase from companies that have committed to reducing environmental impacts.
9. Support businesses that use sustainable practices and materials.

9. Community Involvement:

9. Participate in or organize local clean-up days, tree-planting events, or other community-based environmental initiatives.
10. Volunteer with local groups that focus on environmental stewardship.

These actions, while individually small, can collectively lead to significant environmental benefits when adopted by a large number of people. By making mindful choices about how we eat, travel, consume, and invest our money, average-income individuals can indeed contribute effectively to global efforts against climate change.

You: Are there better places to look related to reducing human impacts than Project Drawdown?

ChatGPT (2024, April 20)

Project Drawdown is one of the leading organizations focused on identifying and promoting effective solutions to combat global warming. It offers a science-based analysis of the most impactful ways to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and suggests practical solutions that can be implemented across various sectors. However, depending on your specific interests or focus, there are other organizations and resources that also provide valuable information on reducing human impacts on the environment:

1. Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC):

1. Offers comprehensive scientific reports on climate change, its implications, and potential future scenarios based on different mitigation strategies. These reports are used worldwide to guide policy and decision-making.

2. World Resources Institute (WRI):

2. Provides research and recommendations on environmental issues like climate change, energy, food, forests, water, and cities. WRI focuses on large-scale policy shifts and practical solutions that can drive sustainable growth.

3. The Nature Conservancy:

3. Focuses on conservation efforts to protect natural areas and biodiversity around the world. They work on climate change, sustainable land use, and water conservation projects and provide guidance on how individuals and companies can reduce their ecological footprints.

4. Union of Concerned Scientists:

4. Uses science to address global problems such as climate change, energy, transportation, and agriculture. They offer practical solutions and advocate for science-based policies.

5. Environmental Defense Fund (EDF):

5. Focuses on tackling environmental issues through strong science, innovative markets, corporate partnerships, and effective laws and policy. They work on climate, oceans, ecosystems, and health.

6. Greenpeace:

6. An independent organization which uses non-violent creative action to pave the way towards a greener, more peaceful world, and to confront the systems that threaten our environment.

7. 350.org:

7. An international movement working to end the use of fossil fuels and transition to renewable energy by building global grassroots movements.

8. The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI):

8. Focuses on conducting research for sustainable development of India and the Global South. TERI has pioneered conversations and actions in energy efficiency, renewable energy, and climate resilience.

Each of these organizations offers unique perspectives and solutions based on their areas of expertise, from local action plans to global policy advocacy. Depending on the level of involvement or type of impact you are interested in, these resources can provide additional insights and avenues for action alongside or beyond what Project Drawdown offers.

You: Create a table of the key things someone could do that indicates how they might help: Time, Treasure ($), or Talent? i.e., Time, $, or Skill

ChatGPT (2024, April 20)

Here is a table categorizing key environmental actions based on whether they primarily require time, financial investment (treasure), or specific skills (talent). This can help individuals decide how best they can contribute to reducing human impacts on the environment based on their personal resources and abilities.

Action	Main Requirement	Description
Reducing food waste	Time	Planning meals, storing food properly, and using leftovers effectively require time management.
Adopting a plant-rich diet	Time	Researching recipes and meal planning for a plant-based diet involves a time commitment.
Installing solar panels	Treasure	Requires a financial investment but can lead to long-term savings and environmental benefits.
Upgrading to energy-efficient appliances	Treasure	Initial cost is high, but these appliances save money in the long run and reduce energy use.
Using public transportation	Time	May require more travel time compared to personal vehicles but reduces carbon footprint.
Purchasing from sustainable brands	Treasure	Often involves paying a premium for environmentally friendly products.
Volunteering for local environmental groups	Time	Giving time to support local initiatives and participate in community projects.
Learning and applying permaculture	Talent	Requires learning specific skills for sustainable land use and gardening.
Advocating for environmental policies	Time	Involves spending time to understand issues, communicate with representatives, and mobilize.
Educating others about sustainability	Talent	Teaching requires skills in communication and a deep understanding of the topics.

This table should help you understand where your efforts might fit best in terms of contributing to environmental sustainability—whether you have more time, money, or specific skills to offer.

You: Create a graphic that visualizes imagery from this table.

ChatGPT (2024, April 20)

Here is the educational infographic that visualizes key environmental actions based on their main requirements: Time, Treasure ($), and Talent. The graphic is designed to be clear and colorful, making it suitable for educational purposes. You can view and use this infographic to better understand where your contributions might fit best in promoting environmental sustainability.

NOTE: the graphic might have evidence that it is GenAI created. See what you think?