Our environment is under tremendous strain. Not a day goes by that I don’t read about dying corral reefs, loss of polar habitat, or diminished biodiversity in our jungles and oceans. Just last week the New York Times revealed that a third of all plant species are at risk of extinction in the next 50 years due to climate change and other forms of environmental degradation.

I’m am an ordinary citizen when it comes to climate change, but my understanding (perhaps simplistic) is that fossil fuels emit greenhouse gasses that build up in the atmosphere and trap the sun's heat.  The result is a change in global temperatures over time. The leading international body tracking this problem warns that earth’s temperatures today vary "much larger and faster than any of the climate changes over at least the past 10,000 years." What could happen in the long haul? Sea levels could rise; glaciers could disappear altogether; drought and disease could spread. Whole ecosystems could disintegrate -- the domino effect on other systems would be very substantial.

Some say climate change is best understood over the long term: not from spring to fall, but from one decade to the next. Others disagree. Former Vice President Al Gore, who earned a Nobel Prize for his contributions in this field, links climate change to the dramatic weather patterns that ripped across the US last year: heat waves scorched Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona; floods tore through the Ohio Valley; and crippling blizzards encased the northeast. Beyond our borders, experts speculate that mudslides in Brazil and floods in Pakistan further illustrate the potential for climate change to cause extreme weather.

Whether a short or long-term problem, we simply can’t continue down this path.

We must become better stewards of our planet. Our environment defines our collective existence – every human being, plant, and animal depends on a healthy, sustainable habitat.

Environmental degradation hits vulnerable communities – like many of the people we serve – hardest. Young, old, and sick people, as well as millions in the developing world are less able to absorb the negative impact of extreme weather and changing environments. World population is expected to grow from 7 to 9.3 billion by 2050, but how will so many people cope when our habitat is already sagging under the weight of existing pollutants? Will they survive if draught pushes farmers from their land or whole species of fish disappear from the sea? Will we be equipped to help millions more famine and refugee victims?

The most curious part of this problem is that it is solvable. Sound, objective scientific, technical, and socio-economic research can help decision makers around the world more fully understand the implications of environmental degradation and enact public policies to mitigate its effects.

But you don’t have to be a climatologist or environmental activist to make a difference right away. I have learned that small, simple changes in behavior can help ...

• Got a few minutes?
  • Read an article in Scientific American, which explains in laymen's terms environmental policies like the cap-and-trade agreement on reducing hazardous emissions.
  • Watch a video from the Climate Reality Project. This organization (founded by Gore) hosted "24 Hours of Reality" – a round-the-clock, around-the-world event that captured the climate crisis in real time.
• Got a few hours?
  • Sign up on VolunteerMatch.org to plant trees, vaccinate stray animals, or test water samples. Doing so might take you out of your normal orbit of volunteer activities and introduce you to new colleagues and organizations.
  • Replace at least 5 conventional light bulbs with Energy Star products. If every household in America did so, we’d save the emissions equivalent of 10 million cars.
• Got a few days?
  • Download Amazon's "best books on climate change" or USA Today's recommended reading on climate change.
  • Start a recycling program at your organization or in your neighborhood.  We did this at IS when we moved into our building. The staff and I recycle – and love it! The cleaning crew at day’s end tells me they do too!
• In it for the long haul?
  • Call EarthShare of Georgia, the Sierra Club Foundation, the International Fund for Animal Welfare, or another charitable organization of your choice. Find out how you can share resources or partner with them.
  • Explore what it’ll take for your building to become LEED certified. Click here to get started.

If you are willing to do more, visit the EPA’s website for hundreds of ways to reverse the effects of climate change. Together we can become better stewards of planet earth. Every step, small or large, helps protect and preserve this fragile ecosystem we all call home.