As springtime returns to our homebase and hemisphere, our hearts go out to the people of Ukraine, and to all others around the world who are caught up in conflicts that are rooted in fossil foolishness. We have known our continued dependencies generate so many ills, layering injustice and war on top of environmental and public health degradation. Between that and the crushing reality that our planet’s climate is destabilized, our energy choices must be made with our common future in mind.
We don't have to drive ourselves to extinction
There are so many resources available today to reduce carbon and promote sustainability by communities, companies, governments and individuals, it’s possible and practical to switch to a variety of renewable sources of energy, including human power!
Thanks to the alternative-rich iconography utilized on locally made Green Maps, we’ve all been charting convivial ways to get around without a car, connecting people with the beauty of nature near home, showing local examples of solar, geothermal and energy efficiency, and illuminating opportunities for reducing our own carbon footprint and connecting with local groups advocating for justice and sweeping policy change in government, business, housing and public institutions. In this way, Green Map System helps inspire local action that can impact effective global policy and help form larger communities of practice that address everything from access to clean drinking water to healthier oceans and regeneration of natural systems.
If you want to see positive change accelerate locally, start at home and create an energy-themed Green Map! Every community has positive efforts underway - use the Green Map Icons to you can put them on the map and make energy saving and renewables visible and desirable. It's a great way to help everyone do their part, meet people who want to share their knowledge and perspectives, and empower your community to move towards renewables, energy conservation and carbon smart practices.
To help your community drawdown, we would be happy to help you get started!
There’s a new Quick Start Guide for the Open Green Map platform we have been developing with your support at new.opengreenmap.org - it walks you through the steps to get started.
Or, pop in for Green Map office hours and ask your questions - the next will be held on Tuesday April 5th 2022 at 8 AM EDT (see your time zone).
Making a Green Map remains free for non-commercial projects, thanks to generous donors, the GISCollective and support from the Green Map network. Let’s use our power to change the ways we source and use our power!
Images: Our icons, energy-themed Open Green Map and scenes from NYC tours, and from the Impacts book, the climate Green Map of Trang Indonesia
