Finding information, ideas on climate change and living green in Sacramento

When the Nobel Peace Price was given out in October of 2007, most of the attention went to former Vice President Al Gore, who turned his attention to the matter of climate change after losing the race for the White House.

His movie "An Inconvenient Truth" won an Academy Award after it seemed to ignite a debate that has been simmering for years - whether or not the earth's climate is changing, and what effect that will have.

The consensus now is that the climate is changing, but the debate over the effect and what can be done continues. While the work of Gore has attracted widespread attention, it's perhaps even more convincing -- if less entertaining -- to look at the work of the group that shared the Nobel with Gore, the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC).

While not nearly as snappy as Gore's supercharged cinematic PowerPoint presentation, the IPCC's massive 2007 report, the "Physical Science Basis of

Climate Change," offers a nearly overwhelming argument supporting the point of view that global warming is real. Probably the most useful part of the document, from the perspective of someone just coming to the issues, is the Frequently Asked Questions section, which includes this succinct description of greenhouse gases: what they are, where they came from and what they do:

Here you'll find some of the information you need to get started, to learn and to act on what you find out, for the good of the Sacramento region, our local quality of life - and the big blue planet we all call home.

Getting started: Click with the research, ideas and resources on living green

Want to learn more about climate change and how you can change your own life to help reduce carbon emissions? We've put together a list of resources - most local, some not - to get you started. Please feel free to give us more suggestions.

If you have a few hours to spare and figure yourself to be a major policy wonk, the place to start has to be the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). Their massive 2007 report is hardly the page-turner the latest best-selling thriller can be, but the science is in - and it's heavy. Read it online; too many trees will die if you print it out.

Easier to digest sources of information can be found on the Environmental Defense Web site.  and StopGlobalWarming.org. Time magazine's For Kids Web site offering has a useful and age-appropriate guide.

The exhaust from hundreds of thousands of internal combustion vehicles is a major contributor to global warming, not to mention the degradation of the quality of life in the Sacramento Valley. Want to help? Get some information on commuting by bicycle, by public transportation or by ride-sharing..

Want to look at all your alternatives? SactoRegion511  can help. How about information on alternative fuel vehicles? Visit the California Cars Initiative and the

California Fuel Cell Partnership. Finally, the Sacramento Metropolitan Air Quality Management District, the Sacramento Area Council of Governments (SACOG) and the Sacramento Regional Gateway offer information on land-use, transportation and air-quality issues.

SMUD has for years not only been offering advice on making homes and businesses more energy-efficient, but also providing programs that help with the cost. For residential customers, the starting point for information on the Saving Energy page; here is the version for business customers. Information on choosing energy- and water-saving appliances can be found on the ENERGY STAR Web site.

All the municipalities in the SMUD service area offer programs on recycling, including the Country of Sacramento  and the cities of Sacramento, Elk Grove, Rancho Cordova, Folsom, Citrus Heights and Galt.

Water is the life's blood of California, and California's water politics have long been a subject of controversy. One thing no one disagrees on, though: It's takes energy to move water, whether its water for home use, water for industry or agriculture - or taking it all away and treating it for return to the waterways.

Conserving water and the fuel it takes to move it is important to going green. Check out the Regional Water Authority's Be Water Smart Web site for information.

Food miles - the distance your food travels from harvest to plate - has an impact on global warming. The fuel it takes to move your food really adds up. Instead, buy locally produced food.

We're lucky here that great local food is available all year round, and you can find Certified Organic, too, which helps even more. Local farmers markets are one place to start - find one at the Web site of the California Federation of Certified Farmer's Markets. You can also get a weekly box of organic produce from a local farmer, including ones smack dab in urban areas; check Local Harvest for listings.

Information on how local businesses are working green - and how your business can, too - is available at the Sacramento Sustainable Business Web site. The Responsible Purchasing Network is a national resource for green procurement practices.

Contact us with more ideas, suggestions and links and we'll add to the resources here.