What’s Happening in Your Neck of the Woods?

We don’t know about you, but we’ve noticed some extreme weather around The Motherhood’s offices lately – in Pittsburgh and New York, temperatures have been unusually low and accompanied by truckloads of snow. In Seattle, winter has been surprisingly dry and cold.

Extreme weather is just one indication of climate change. It is real, it is man-made, it affects all of us, and we can do something about it.

Last week, The Motherhood hosted a virtual conversation with Maggie Fox, president and CEO of The Climate Reality Project, who shared details about the organization’s latest initiative, called The People vs. Carbon, to support a new rule proposed by the Environmental Protection Agency. The rule will significantly limit the amount of carbon pollution new power plants are allowed to dump into our air and help ensure a safer, cleaner and healthier future for us all.

We also came away from the conversation with some great ideas from a wonderful group of concerned, involved bloggers to effect change in our own lives and do what we can to decrease our carbon footprint:

Check with your energy provider to find out if you can access green energy. We just changed energy providers and were able to add green energy to our use. We pay a little extra for wind power – they use the funds to build more green options. (Kelly, The Centsible Life)

Switch to earth-friendly options in your home. We recycle, have changed all our lightbulbs, EnergyStar appliances and changed our thermostats. (Nichol, KiddiesCorner Deals)

Watch your garden grow. Spring is almost here … gardening is a wonderful way to reduce your carbon footprint AND feed your family on the cheap! And scientists have actually suggested that people who get their hands in dirt are happier. (Diane, Turning the Clock Back)

Go solar. I would love to do solar powered panels eventually when we build a new home. (Toni, A Daily Dose of Toni)

Shop farmer’s markets or sign up for a Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) program. Shopping local is so important. Not only does it help the local economy but it lowers carbon use. We belong to a local organic CSA. We split the cost with friends and then divvy up the week’s vegetables based on who likes what. (Jessica, Eat.Sleep.Be.)

Collect water from nature. I see more and more people with rain barrels. We don’t have one yet but have thought about it. (Nicole, SAHM Reviews)

You can join the conversation and share your own tips and suggestions, too – tweet with us during a Twitter party with Maggie tomorrow, March 4, at 1 p.m. ET, using the hashtag #ClimateReality. For more details and to RSVP, visit the Twtvite.

In the meantime, you can help the planet by using your voice to support The Climate Reality Project and the EPA in the People vs. Carbon initiative. You can copy and share one of these tweets to help spread the word:

Tell the @EPA “I support limiting carbon pollution from new power plants” http://bit.ly/1fSHK3k #CostOfCarbon

Tell the @WhiteHouse you support the @EPA. Reply saying “no to carbon pollution” & then sign here: http://bit.ly/1fSHK3k #CostOfCarbon

We are looking forward to seeing you at the party!