Climate change is something that has to be acted on immediately  and dramatically. With the understanding of anthropogenic global  warming, the word "green" has acquired a broader environmental meaning than it ever had before.

In fact, it seems like everyone is jumping on the "green" bandwagon, as commercial interests seek to capitalize on the public's renewed interest in "earth friendly" products. The challenge is to separate the genuine from the superficial, the real progress from the "greenwashing."  "Green" Seniors are genuine indeed, and growing numbers of them are addressing the problem of climate change.

THE PROBLEM
As this is being written, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) is predicting that the global temperature will rise by 1.8°C (3.25°F) by the end of the 21^st Century. At worst, this rise could be around 6°C.  The way the industrial, consumer world is moving, we are looking at a minimum 4°C  rise. Many scientists estimate that serious feedback effects, such as the world's soils ‘exhaling' carbon dioxide rather than absorbing it, could begin at only a 2°C rise-a mere 40-50 years from now. The effects of such temperature rises are likely to spell the end for 30 percent of the species for climate change. In addition, seniors in the US are becoming more affluent, and with affluence comes emissions. It is no coincidence that the very richest countries in the world are also the biggest producers of greenhouse gases.

But there is a way. With a mass movement of people who really care what will happen to the planet and, hence, to their descendants, it is possible to create great change of the kind that is needed. There was a time when we cycled to the park or the river, rather than fly across the world. There was a time when we

walked to the local shop to buy just what we needed, rather than drive to the shopping mall to buy what we don't. There was a time when we wore sweaters instead of turning up the heating and closed the shutters rather than switching on the air conditioning.

GREEN SENIORS AROUND THE WORLD

Green Seniors from around the world are taking the lead, not only in greening their own lifestyles, but also in calling for the significant societal changes that are needed. We have discovered these wonderful examples through the Green Seniors blog. Australia is the home of Grey Power Community, a sub-division of Greenpeace Australia, but very much an organization in its own right. Grey Power concentrates on energy related emissions, a subject that is of huge importance in a country like Australia that generates a massive 80 percent of its electricity using coal. This compares to the US with about 50 percent truly dirty electricity.

As with Green Seniors, Grey Power has no affiliations or financing from sources that could compromise its views or effectiveness. When we came across Grey Power we were on Earth and most of the world's rainforests. Climate projections are especially severe for areas of the globe that rely on snow melt waters to feed aqueducts and rivers used for irrigating farmland and for sustaining towns and cities. In the United States, the Sierra Nevada of California and the Rocky Mountains which extend from Alaska to New Mexico are two such sources of snow meltwaters. Millions of people depend on water from the California Aqueduct and the Colorado River that are fed by these meltwaters. Then there is the matter of sea level rise and its impact upon coastal city infrastructure, beaches, coral reefs, estuaries, and upon all nations with large portions of the population dwelling at barely above sea level.

A SOLUTION IS POSSIBLE IF WE ACT NOW

Are we doomed to a breakdown of global life support systems? The IPCC models assume that the way we live does not fundamentally change, i.e. we continue to have an economy that thrives on consumption and a world populace that aspires to the Western lifestyle. If we are to avoid the worst consequences of global warming, then we must make huge changes to the way humans live-at home, at work, in the food we eat, in the way we travel and, most importantly, the value we place on the natural environment. To avoid the most serious feedback effects, the science shows we need nothing less than an 80 percent cut in global carbon dioxide emissions by 2030. Most of the carbon emitted when today's seniors were children is still in the atmosphere, so even today's very oldest citizens have some direct responsibility for climate change.

In addition, seniors in the US are becoming more affluent, and with affluence comes emissions. It is no coincidence that the very richest countries in the world are also the biggest producers of greenhouse gases. It is no coincidence that the very richest countries in the world are also the biggest producers of greenhouse gases. But there is a way. With a mass movement of people who really care what will happen to the planet and, hence, to their descendants, it is possible to create great change of the kind that is needed. There was a time when we cycled to the park or the river, rather than fly across the world. There was a time when we walked to the local shop to buy just what we needed, rather than drive to the shopping mall to buy what we don't. There was a time when we wore sweaters instead of turning up the heating and closed the shutters rather than switching on the air conditioning.

GREEN SENIORS AROUND THE WORLD

Green Seniors from around the world are taking the lead, not only in greening their own lifestyles, but also in calling for the significant societal changes that are needed. We have discovered these wonderful examples through the Green Seniors blog.

Australia is the home of Grey Power Community, a sub-division of Greenpeace Australia, but very much an organization in its own right. Grey Power concentrates on energy related emissions, a subject that is of huge importance in a country like Australia that generates a massive 80 percent of its electricity using coal. This compares to the US with about 50 percent truly dirty electricity. As with Green Seniors, Grey Power has no affiliations or financing from sources that could compromise its views or effectiveness. When we came across Grey Power we were very happy to know that the Green Seniors Movement was already in operation.

We had a surprise contact from Puerto Rico in March 2007. A lady named Nelly, who provides exercise classes for seniors, wanted some "I'm A Green Senior" buttons to give out to her class, and also for a booth she was running at Puerto Rico's annual Day of the Planet. We duly dispatched a pack of buttons and, as far as we know, Nelly is still spreading the word. With great enthusiasm, Zufan from Ethiopia contacted us in May, asking what he could do to help. Ethiopia is, in terms of financial wealth, a very poor nation, but clearly lacks nothing in terms of the human spirit and the desire to make things better. We have done our best to help Zufan, and he has assured us that Green Seniors will be known in the Horn of Africa.

The odd thing about running something like www.greenseniors.org is that we rarely get to know exactly what's going on around the world unless someone tells us about it. We know, for instance, that there are many seniors in the United States educating others about climate change and working to "green" their lifestyles, their communities, and beyond. For example, retired ecologist Erv Klaas- whom we featured as a "Green Hero"- helped a Midwestern town save a billion gallon reservoir for its emergency water supply. Developers were intending to build upscale homes around an old quarry-whose pristine water could be released to recharge the aquifer that supplied the city's drinking

water. Dr. Klaas knew that such development would create runoff and ground water changes that would turn the quarry water into a green eyesore in time, ruining the water quality for any use. He educated people about what was at stake and helped work out compromises between the city and the developers. A bond issue was passed, and Ada Hayden Heritage Lake was the result. Now partially protected by natural areas of park land for the enjoyment of the entire community, the lake will require continuing vigilance by succeeding generations to preserve the value of this lake to the community.

In the United Kingdom, senior activist Irene Willis-another "Green Hero"-has been arrested for her non violent direct actions for world peace and environmental stability. Irene's advice: "Think about yourself as someone who can make a difference-we have created the world and we can change it, and we will change it because we have to."

It really does take all sorts to change the world for the better, and we raise our hats to all seniors, whatever their style of campaigning, who are helping ensure the future world is habitable. The more we know about their efforts, the more we can publicize them, to the benefit of both the Green Seniors Movement and the planet.

Seniors have a collective memory of earlier times when far less energy was consumed, and yet life was good. These life experiences help seniors lead the way now in embracing the changes required for the next generations. Seniors care about their legacy, and they have endured too much and laboured too hard to allow it to be derailed now by global warming.

Green Seniors-the website, the organization, and the movement

Joyce Emery from the USA and Keith Farnish from the UK launched the Green Seniors website and organization in 2006. The Green Seniors Movement, on the other hand, refers to the spontaneous actions-by individuals, groups, and networks- that seniors are taking to improve earth's environment.

Green Seniors, the organization, is trying to ensure the movement becomes a truly global movement for positive change. Green Seniors, the organization, does not have formal members, believing seniors should choose their affiliations according to their beliefs and circumstances. The Green Seniors website is a ‘stopping off point' for people of all ages to "find information, join networks, build communities, make a difference."

In July 2007 the Green Seniors Movement received a welcome boost by gaining the formal endorsement of the United Nations Environmental Programme.  This provides credibility for both the movement and the organization at a time when urgent environmental action is needed.

Joyce Emery

Joyce Emery loved science from an early age and earned postgraduate degrees in Biological Sciences and Science Education. Following her retirement from a state government career in 2006, she co-founded Green Seniors with Keith Farnish of the United Kingdom. She also began writing as Green Granny on her blog Greengranny.org and as the "going green" expert on Eons.com. Joyce believes that retired people can make a significant contribution to bettering the world and thereby giving their grandchildren-and all children- a future on a beautiful planet. She and her husband relocated in order to be close to their six grandchildren and to live in a walkable, bikeable neighborhood. By blogging, letter writing, and trying to set a good example, she strives to increase awareness of global warming and to help others bring about positive environmental change within their communities.

Keith Farnish

Keith Farnish is an environmental writer, philosopher and activist who, in a former life, was a business continuity and IT security manager. He lives in Essex, UK with his wife and two children. He has been involved in environmental issues for about 10 years, for a large part of that as an active member of various environmental organizations, and is continually striving to minimize his impact on the natural world. He also has a deep interest in human rights, and the way in which this is closely wrapped up in the protection of the global environment. Keith founded The Earth Blog, intended as a source of inspiration for people who want to be challenged, and offering uncompromising solutions to difficult problems. He also writes regularly for Reduce3, a blog of inspirational news, and The Sietch of which he is proud to be a member. In 2006, Keith co-founded Green Seniors alongside Joyce Emery of Iowa, US.

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 2.5 License.

For more information, visit: www.greenseniors.org

Post your comment (2500 character limit)

Your screen name will be displayed with your comment

Screen Name: email: