As 2021 comes to a close, we’re looking back on all the research, innovations, and learnings around climate solutions that Drawdown Georgia has shared over the past 12 months. That’s why we’ve rounded up the top 5 most read blog posts of 2021 to share with you today. We hope you enjoy these insightful, inspiring articles, whether you’re revisiting them today or reading them for the first time!
#5 Most Read blog post of 2021: Fighting Food Waste: Georgia-Grown Solutions to a Pervasive Problem by the Drawdown Georgia team
According to the USDA, between 30-40% of the nation’s food supply is wasted each year. In Georgia, the total amount of wasted food is estimated to equal over 2 million pounds annually.
Food waste has a detrimental impact on our planet, but it’s also a crisis for our communities when one out of seven Georgia residents faces food insecurity. Many of the solutions to the problem of food waste focus on redirecting excess food to families in need; composting inedible waste is also key.
So what are Georgia businesses & communities doing to help? Read our #5 most read blog post to learn more.
#4 Most Read blog post of 2021: Explore the Impact of Climate Solutions with the Carbon Reduction Visualizer by Blair Beasley
How can Georgia reduce its greenhouse gas emissions over the next decade? The Drawdown Georgia Research Team laid out a vision for reducing emissions in our state, and you can explore the data yourself with our Carbon Reduction Visualizer.
Researchers from Georgia Tech, University of Georgia, Emory University, and Georgia State University identified 20 high-impact solutions that can cost-effectively reduce Georgia’s emissions by 2030. The team then modeled what emissions reductions could look like if all 20 solutions scale to ambitious – but achievable – levels over the next ten years.
The Carbon Reduction Visualizer lets you explore the research team’s data and see how these emission reductions could add up. Read our #4 most read blog of 2021 to learn all about this interactive tool and how you can use it to better understand how each solution can contribute to our goal of reducing emissions by one third by 2030.
#3 Most Read blog post of 2021: Direct Sales of Electric Vehicles Are Up for Debate in Georgia by Allie Kelly
In 2017, 43% of greenhouse gas emissions in Georgia came from transportation - more than any other sector. In particular, our highways present many challenges and risks: to human safety, to the communities they connect, and to the ecosystems they traverse.
As of September 2019, more than 1.3 million electric vehicles (EVs) were on U.S. roads, and this number is expected to increase to 18.7 million by 2030. Following this trend, automakers like GM, Jaguar, Volkswagen, and Volvo have already made the pledge to phase out their gas-powered models.
The future of transportation is electric. Where does Georgia stand on the advancement of vehicle electrification? Read our #3 most read blog post of 2021 to learn more from our friends at The Ray.
#2 Most Read blog post of 2021: Crunching the Numbers: Could Drawdown Georgia Solutions Cut State Emissions by One-Third or One-Half this Decade? by Blair Beasley
We are often asked how much our state’s carbon emissions would fall if Georgia scales all 20 Drawdown Georgia climate solutions in this decade. And the truth is, it depends.
The Drawdown Georgia Research Team estimates that if we grow climate solutions to “ambitious but achievable” levels, we could limit the net carbon footprint of our state to 79 million metric tons (or megatons) of CO2e (carbon dioxide equivalent) by 2030.
But, you may be wondering: Is this a lot? Would a net carbon footprint of 79 megatons in 2030 be a meaningful change for the state? To find out, take a look at our #2 most read blog of 2021.
#1 Most Read blog post of 2021: Drawdown Georgia Climate Solutions: Solving for the Demand Response Gap by Oliver Chapman
Across the United States, local governments, businesses, and people are pushing for cleaner and more reliable electricity grids. One lesser known but impactful solution for reaching this goal is demand response (DR). What is DR, and how can it help Georgia build a cleaner and more reliable grid?
Demand response programs can help reduce peak load, shift the timing of electricity usage, or reduce electricity demand overall. Electricity providers often meet peak demand using higher emitting and more expensive sources of energy. When users can shift more of their demand to off-peak hours, power companies can rely on these sources less, reducing carbon pollution and potentially lowering prices.
How can we encourage more households and businesses to adopt demand response strategies to reduce emissions in our state? Visit our #1 most read blog post of 2021 to learn more.
Thank you to the many writers who have contributed to the Drawdown Georgia blog! We’ll be back in 2022 with fresh content on Georgia climate solutions. Happy New Year!