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Climate change is often considered in the context of large industries and utilites, but small businesses are also a part of this issue. They contribute to greenhouse gas emissions indirectly by using energy in manufacturing and running offices, and directly by moving products using all types of transportation, which burns fuel. They could also feel the impacts of a changing climate: more severe weather could disrupt supply lines, agricultural areas could see decreases in crop production, and coastal businesses might suffer increased flooding or decreased tourism.
However, small businesses can also be part of the solution by purchasing energy efficient products and using renewable energy sources. The ENERGY STAR® Small Business Program helps companies reduce emissions and save money at the same time, providing case studies, online savings calculators, and help finding energy efficient office equipment and lighting. EPA's Clean Energy site takes a different approach to emissions reductions, explaining alternative energy sources that don't rely on burning fossil fuels. In addition to these two strategies, many other options are presented in the site's Actions section. EPA's Climate Change and Waste website provides information on the relationship between climate change and waste.
For people interested in how climate change works, Questions and Answers About Climate Change provides a basic understanding of the issue, while the Climate section presents more detailed information about climate science, trends, and future projections. The emissions section links to inventories of greenhouse gases aggregated at both the national and state levels, with additional tools to help local areas understand their contributions. Finally, the Impacts section explains how climate change will affect the environment and the economy, including sea level rise, water quality and agricultural changes.
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