My Journey -- and Jeep's -- to Keep the Same Driving Vibe with Very Different Results

 By Danielle Civitillo, KLA's Director of Technology

When you make lifestyle choices and purchases that are considered “green,” it’s often painted as a “sacrifice.” My experience moving from a standard to a plug-in hybrid electric Jeep Wrangler tells a different story.

The process required patience -- it’s a decision that even seasoned journalists who write about things like EVs for a living apparently struggle with -- but the end result is that I’m still driving my coveted Jeep, and now I’m also saving money at the pump and doing my part (not just Earth Day but every day!) to save the planet.

For local governments, engaging the community is key to achieving climate goals, and Earth Day is one of the best opportunities to get people to take action. That’s especially true right now when the recent headlines – like USA Today’s "'It's now or never': UN climate report shows globe is on 'track toward an unlivable world'"-- are driving awareness and, ideally, action.

The next few weeks are when people will be searching online for ways to "go green." It's when you have the chance to convert someone looking for a one-time litter or river clean up into a regular participant in your climate programs.

Earth Day can be a springboard for climate action in your community.

But you can't do this if people need a PhD to understand the challenges your community faces and where you're headed. Or if they have to navigate a typical local government website to find the most effective actions. Don’t lose the Earth Day momentum!

It's Earth Day. Are you still looking for ways to be more proactive and engaging in your community? Do you want to use the momentum of Earth Day as a springboard for future events? Could you use ideas for how to sustain your outreach through the summer and fall? Keep reading.