Seriously, some people really do talk about it as if it was just another nice but not so important to our lives kind of thing. I just want people to realize the real short vs. long term choices they are making. The consequences of inaction are going to be VERY big, and potentially huge. But, if that is understood, I also understand that families have many choices to make.

I am suspicious of the carbon offsets and green energy options, but as I understand them they are a step in the right direction. Since I can't put up a solar panel or wind generator in my yard, the only way I can help expand the market for green power is to do the green energy option through my utility. It does make a difference, but I am sure it isn't as wonderful as it is billed. But I do recommend it. Of course ours is done through Con Ed and so would be radically different from yours. One option in some areas that sounds good is Green Mountain Energy. But it isn't available everywhere.

Carbon offsets are somewhat different and varaiable. I can recommend one which helps build wind generating facilities on Native American land which is highly recommended (and is Gore's method of choice if I recall) but there are others than can also be used to plant trees. Again, not doing this yet though thinking of it. I do donate through the Wildlife Conservation Society to preserve forests and I pay to plant trees in Israel, being a good Jew as well as good environmentalist.

As for coffee, my wife is particularly addicted and I am also pretty into it. So we like buying beans and grinding as we go along, so cost is already higher than the robusta stuff you buy in the store...though we sometimes buy that to mix because it is cheaper and adds some body to the thinner arabica beans. We buy this because it is supposedly carbon neutral (skepticism alert, but again, better than business as usual) and tastes good and is fair trade and organic. We can feel good about it in several ways while getting our fix.

It will take some effort to make this problem better. And some choices. But there really is no good alternative.