Stewardship Tip Oct 26th, 2010 – Walk or Bike
In 2009, during the months of May through September, I spent $661 on gasoline for my truck. During the same period in 2010, I spent $331.
The Difference? In 2010, I commuted to work on my bicycle.
Not only did I save money by biking, I also reduced my carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions. According to the US EPA’s calculators, I reduced my CO2 output by .88 metric tons.
Bike or Walk: According to a recent report published by the Rails to Trails Conservancy and Bikes Belong, “half of all trips we take are only three miles or less-yet we drive almost everywhere we need to go, even to the closest destinations.”
Rather than driving to nearby locations, walk, or ride your bike.
Why it is important to the fish: Since the start of the industrial revolution (~1750), the amount of CO2 in the atmosphere has increased from 280 parts per million (ppm) to current levels of about 388 ppm. Ironically, the oceans absorb CO2 naturally. This helps to mitigate the effects of anthropogenic CO2 in the atmosphere. However, dissolving CO2 in seawater increases the concentration of hydrogen ions. This decreases pH. The oceans’ preindustrial average surface pH was about 8.179; the current average is in the neighborhood of 8.069. This process is known as ocean acidification.
As the pH of the ocean falls, so does the concentration of carbonate. When carbonate becomes undersaturated, structures made of calcium carbonate are vulnerable to dissolution. This, according to the NOAA, leads to
a drop in the rate at which reef-building corals produce skeletons,
a reduction in the ability of marine algae and free-swimming zooplankton to maintain protective shells, and
a reduction in the survival of larval marine species, including commercial fish and shellfish.
According to scientist Thomas Lovejoy, ocean acidification pulls “the rug out from under the marine food chain.”
The next time you have an errand to run, hoof it or ride your bike. Believe me, if I can do it, you can, too.
You’ll save a little bit of coin and reduce your CO2 emissions. The oceans will benefit.
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This week’s sponsor-partner:Green Tackle
Green Tackle is an environmentally friendly fishing tackle and supply store. They promote environmentally responsible fishing practices through education and the sale of eco-friendly fishing products.
Green Tackle now donates 1% of all sales to Recycled Fish.
You can use the code RF2010 to save 10% on every order, too.
Rising demand for our weekly Stewardship Tip and a new partnership with Fly Cast America now makes the Stewardship Tip available in Spanish. Ahora, reciba el Stewardship Tip en español. Gentileza de Fly Cast America.
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