Gearing up for a ten percent reduction is an ambitious goal from the perspective of human convenience, but not from the perspective of the earth’s atmosphere and climate. Our climate has been changing faster than scientists expected even five years ago, with rising average temperatures, fiercer storms and floods, polar ice cap melt, and atypical weather variations. The highest concentration of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere that is considered safe by most scientists is 350 parts per million. The conctration right now is around 380, and alarmingly, emissions are still increasing.

 

Global ten percent reduction would bring us back from the brink.

 

Local ten percent reduction shows that people care, and can organize to take meaningful action.

We have created this situation, in part, by underestimating ourselves. Yes, we need energy. Yes, many people are motivated by convenience. But it is human nature to rise to a challenge that is properly offered.

 

The 10% Challenge is an invitation to creative redesign of our lifestyles, work routines, and communities. The real transformation is in getting 10% of our people involved, developing energy-savvy local leadership for the future.