It may come as no surprise to you that Greengranny likes to hide behind the written word. Email and blogs are a safe haven. One need not reveal too much or face direct confrontation. Yet, I am committed to fight global warming in every way I can. And so, when my post-retirement work took me to professional meetings in Washington DC last week, I had to gather my courage and my wits and bring my activism along.

I realized that going at all weighed heavily on me. A plane flight across the country is not easily justified, not even by “offsetting” the emissions I’d help produce. Washington had become a cherished place to me, full of national history and pride, with the added perk of seeing dear friends gathered from all over the country. That was before the catastrophe of climate change had sunk in. But, I thought, if I don’t go, I won’t be able to carry the message to them. I should try this once, to see if I can make a difference.

I flew to Washington with a briefcase of background information, a pocket full of www.greenseniors.org cards, and a lot of trepidation. Still a rank amateur as an activist, I had only landed two formal appointments with environmental entities based in the nation’s capital. I felt like I had failed in my mission before I even arrived.

A few days later I found myself flying home dazed and amazed as I reviewed how it had played out.

Open hearts, willing partners

At my professional meeting I used break times to hand out my cards to everyone I knew (most of those present). For some, a conversation ensued. For others there was only time to say, here is something I’m working on in retirement that you might care to look at. The conversations were all supportive and the cards were all graciously accepted, though taking such a personal action in that business setting was almost unheard of.

I did not know the political inclinations of most of those I approached. Politics is never a good conversation topic for people in government—particularly in the highly polarized atmosphere of recent years. We need to maintain harmony within our teams in order to get our work done, regardless of our differences. It was possible I would offend some people by pushing a cause that had political overtones in the past. The future of the planet is too important to be a partisan matter, I was ready to say, but I never needed to. Concern for the planet had already taken hold—it is right under the surface for most people and in need of expression.

By the time I was having dinner with a large group of friends following the meeting, it had become much easier to talk about Green Seniors and their mission. I had opened the door to the topic about as far as it would go that day, and I was already thinking about next steps.

Monday morning I found myself at the visitor entrance to the monolithic US Department of Transportation building in the heart of Washington. During my trip preparations I had discovered that the USDOT had a Center for Climate Change. I studied their material, then asked for a meeting. A friend was ready to accompany me and provide moral support. Only the day before my departure for Washington did I get confirmation that anyone could see us. I was grateful but did not have high expectations. I was a nobody imposing on the time of busy people.

A young staffer met us at the entrance. After we went though security, she escorted us to a conference room where a senior staff member awaited us. I’d had no idea I would get to speak directly with the Environmental Policy Team Leader. She was cordial, competent, and forthright. She and her assistant had come prepared to answer the questions I had submitted in writing earlier via email. I felt inadequate at first, but they soon put me at ease. There was time to talk things through and to pursue ideas that came up in discussion.

The Climate Change Center is a “virtual” office directed by top USDOT officials and staffed with personnel time donated from various parts of the bureaucracy as needed. I was familiar with that method of organization at the state level and believe it can be just as effective as creating a separate new office, and maybe even more so. A virtual organization necessitates communication and cooperation among all the stakeholders, avoids duplication of administration, and reduces expenses.

In my view, global climate change belongs in everybody’s job description in some way or other. It’s not something that a few work on while all others go about business as usual.

The Center is “dedicated to fostering awareness of the potential links between transportation and global climate change, and to formulating policy options to deal with the challenges posed by these links.” The studies already completed included one on the impact of Hurricane Katrina on transportation.

The key data summary of the Center is a pie chart showing that in the USA, transportation accounted for 27 percent of greenhouse gas emissions during 2004. It was second only to electricity generation at 33 percent. The third largest category was industry at 19 percent, with agriculture, commercial, and residential comprising the remainder.

I learned that there are many opportunities among the various modes of transportation—air, rail, highway--for reducing greenhouse gas emissions, but that much additional research is needed to clarify what steps should be taken. As could be expected, the Center suffers from a lack of funding for the research it needs to do. I felt my instincts were correct: capable, dedicated people were doing good work in spite of that lack of support. I left with my head spinning with ways that Green Seniors could help build support for the work of the Center.

I came home from my Washington trip feeling satisfied. I may have been a novice unsure of where or how to start, but thanks to the warm reaction of everyone I encountered, I found success. Only time will tell if I can convert the knowledge and experiences of this trip into lasting progress. Again, I will try.

To all of the Green Seniors out there, take courage, muster your strength, and start doing the things you know will matter. Don’t feel intimidated. My experience shows that volunteers are accepted and appreciated, and they will only become more so as society moves into action phases. America is ready for you. America needs Green Seniors!