Writing for Moms Clean Air Force, “Mom Detective” Alexandra Zissu explores ways of avoiding single-use plastic—and using less plastic in general. Here is practical advice for plastic-free living:

“Living a plastic-free or even zero waste life is such a gorgeous goal. There are so many reasons to use less plastic, including that plastic is harmful to the environment as well as human health. Plastic is made from petrochemicals and it’s increasingly showing up in our bodies. We’re eating plastic, and we’re drinking plastic. As you say, plastic is truly everywhere, and the health impacts of petrochemical pollution are disturbing. Plastics and other petrochemicals are also the world’s fastest-growing industrial source of greenhouse gases.”

On December 1st, Melissa Hoffer, Massachusetts’ Climate Chief, released the Massachusetts Climate Report Card, the official assessment of how well the Commonwealth has been meeting the challenges of global warming. According to the report, the Commonwealth has made “significant progress,” yet very significant challenges are just around the corner, with the “sharpest emissions reductions [needing to occur] between 2025 and 2030.” Whether that will happen, of course, depends entirely on the political will of our elected officials and on the willingness of us, the un-elected citizens, to make our wishes known.

An excellent, Pulitzer Prize-winning source of online information, both on climate change and climate action, is the weekly newsletter published by the non-profit news organization, Inside Climate News. Here’s their website, where you can sign up for the newsletter at no cost (donations not required but welcomed). Options include receiving the newsletter daily, bi-weekly, or each Saturday.

Part of a large and growing group of environmental organizations that includes Acadia, Conservation Law Foundation, Environmental League of Mass., Gas Transition Allies, HEET, MAPC, PLAN, and Zero Carbon MA, the Green Energy Consumers Alliance has presented state lawmakers with a specific list of recommendations on how Massachusetts can cost-effectively and equitably reduce greenhouse gas emissions from buildings. The resulting recommendation is the Mass Clean Heat Platform, detailed in a letter to legislative leaders in late October, 2023.

A September 13th report by Alison F. Takemura (published in Canary Media) presents evidence of the superior performance of heat pumps in cold weather. A recent study by the nonprofit Regulatory Assistance Project debunks the message gas utilities are promoting that it is a good idea—even if you install heat pumps—to keep your gas connection as a backup for the coldest of days and nights.