Did you know there is a Wikipedia page called List of disasters by cost that lists the world's largest disasters and associated costs in response and recovery efforts? This list is purely fiscal and in no way representative of the social costs, but the frequency of disasters and the rising average cost is startling in itself. In fact, a recent accounting of last year's (2020) natural disaster relief and recovery efforts top $210 billion and they continue to grow.

In a list that dates back as far as the Great Chicago Fire of 1871, 29 disasters happened before 2000, while 80 happened after 2000, with 7 from 2020 alone. It's no surprise that climate change is disrupting our everyday lives. Our lifestyles are literally changing the environment and the natural catastrophe losses spurred by warming air currents and warming oceans are catching up with us and costing us billions.

In the list of 109 documented disasters, #12 on the list is the Deepwater Horizon oil spill, the first industrial disaster and largest marine oil spill in the history of petroleum. But while BP has since paid the costly price of more than $60 billion in fines (criminal, civil, natural resource damages, claims, and cleanup), it's estimated that the enduring impact is far greater, with some experts pointing to $100 billion if not more in damages. Again, no accounting of long-term social costs and externalities.

I retell the story of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill because while BP and several companies before it have paid dearly for their part in the risky business of drilling, the petroleum industry was left largely unchanged and unchecked with exception to several key pieces of legislation that were passed reactively rather than proactively. Yet, business-as-usual, lobbying against anti-fracking platforms, and even deceptive marketing campaigns have gone on largely unchecked.

Carbon accounting today is missing a critical piece — accountability. Environmentally conscious consumption is helping to bridge the gap, for better or worse.

Today, carbon accounting conjures the image of a large-scale carbon footprint calculator for corporations, but there is no direct financial basis or disincentive for accounted emissions (just like your carbon calculator doesn't guarantee a reduction or donation to offset your own emissions). Instead, the world's largest emitters of GHG have only recently begun committing to green energy and carbon reduction projects due to consumer pressures, slowly following the latest corporate trend to bring business to 100% renewable.

"There needs to be a consistency between the approaches used for the social cost of carbon and other regulatory actions." - Richard Newell, CEO of Resources for the Future

So what does this mean for us? Despite growing pushback against carbon footprint calculators, I believe that the data behind our individual impact on the planet is valuable. Our personal emissions data does not absolve corporations from polluting but instead drives home a valuable message about the trifecta of reducing the cost of lifestyles, holding corporations accountable, and encouraging investment into environmentally friendly products.

Social scientists have long argued that ditching plastic straws, bringing reusable bags to the grocery store, and other small steps could be a gateway to getting politically involved. There’s also evidence that green habits are contagious; if you get solar panels and drive an electric car, your neighbors are more likely to do the same, thanks to peer pressure.

Time to create an Action Plan

In 2020, my wife discovered the Climate Reality Project, a non-profit founded by former VP Al Gore to bring the world together to solve the climate crisis through education and action. This year, I followed her lead and joined the Climate Reality Corps to take a household pledge to become more conscious citizens and advocates as climate reality leaders. Although the organization is casual by nature, it drives home its mission of education and advocacy in what is described as an Action Plan.

Like a corporate mission statement, every climate reality corps member commits to creating a plan that is both personal and actionable. Although I recommend everyone join the Climate Reality Project to learn and join a thriving community of climate activists, there are 2 simple questions to ask yourself when you're crafting your plan:

1. What will I be doing with all this information once it’s done?

2. What are my ideas going into the future?

Each person in a small group discussion comes with different life experiences — whether environmentalism and climate activism has been a personal or professional venture, each person has something to offer.

Just like our individual carbon emissions are personal to our behaviors and lifestyles, so are our action plans. Because I have a background in construction, software, and a personal dedication to housing and homelessness mitigation, my action plan is designed around an urban upgrade:

Work with local, state, and federal agencies to enact policies and best practices behind urbanism — a force multiplier in reducing emissions and building resilient communities at the city level.

This is a living action plan and will continue to take shape as I learn more about local initiatives. I look forward to learning, participating, and teaching at events on a local and global level. In time, I will define the action plan in more detail, including how my city and county can work to incorporate small to large changes.