I saw "An Inconvenient Truth" twice last week. It is an excellent film on the topic of global warming, certainly deserving of its many "must see" reviews. The response has been overwhelmingly positive and has spurred many people to take action to permanently reduce their greenhouse gas emissions.

Since the United States is by far the leading contributor to greenhouse gas emissions, it's crucial that we get on with the task. The concept of green living goes hand-in-hand with the reduction of carbon dioxide emissions.

There is no single, all-encompassing solution to global warming. The results that we must create will come from a combination of many actions at every level of society. This issue requires "a man on the moon in 10 years" mentality (for those of you old enough to recall that tremendous effort in the 1960s), including a personal commitment from each of us. Effective, rapid and permanent change requires a paradigm shift in our thinking with the realization that every single thing we do has consequences.

Each choice we make is an opportunity to solve the problem of global warming. It has become absolutely critical that we choose wisely. Here are a few examples:

* Power down. Since most of our energy comes from fossil fuels, whenever we use power, we contribute to global warming. Always remember this simple fact, then start turning off more things when they are not needed. Vote with your dollars when buying new homes, cars or appliances, selecting the most energy-efficient models available. The positive impact of our collective choices will be tremendous.

* Lighten up. Living lighter applies to many things. Recycling paper, plastics and glass greatly reduces the energy required to manufacture new products. Eating vegetarian meals once or twice a week (or all the time for some of us) saves water and energy, while choosing organic foods reduces the need for fossil-fuel-based fertilizers and pesticides. The benefits of walking or riding a bike are obvious.

* Educate yourself. There is no substitute for education. Turn off the television more often. Use our excellent public library system to learn about our place in the nature of things, the sacred balance of the earth's biosphere or the incredible biodiversity that we are a part of and totally dependent upon. An excellent new book on climate change is "The Weather Makers" by Tim Flannery and one of my favorites is "The Sacred Balance" by David Suzuki. You can browse the library via the Internet at www.lvccld.org/ for Clark County, or www.hdpl.org/ for Henderson.

* Think long term. In our society, we tend to focus on immediate results, this quarter's profits or only what will happen during our lifetime. Our technology has become so powerful that the decisions we make right now will affect the future for many generations. Let us not forget that.

* Reconnect with nature. There is tremendous value in getting out there occasionally. But don't just drive the Red Rock Loop and then head home. Get out of the car and walk around. Go to the higher elevations if it's hot. Hike some trails (always make sure you have the necessities, including plenty of water). Go slow and look at the smallest details, noticing the relationships between sun and shade or trees and insects. For too long, we have excluded the value of our biosphere from our economic system. Re-establishing our connection with the natural world is crucial to our success.

We will face the challenge of global climate change, for it is upon us. Our choices and actions will dictate its severity. Choose wisely. Green living is more than a good idea, it is a new and very necessary paradigm.

Steve Rypka is a green living consultant and president of GreenDream Enterprises, specializing in renewable energy, green building, alternative transportation and lifestyle choices for both residential and commercial clients. The company is committed to helping people live lighter on the planet. Steve can be reached via e-mail at steve@greendream.biz or at www.greendream.biz.