Nancy Jackson’s to-do list for reducing emissions and improving the environment is long. But not all of the steps are difficult, she said.

“We can all cut our energy use in our homes by half while staying completely comfortable,” said Jackson, executive director of The Land Institute’s Climate and Energy Project. “That would have a tremendous impact on how many new coal plants we have to build, which would dramatically reduce our emissions in the state of Kansas.”

Jackson spoke to about 40 people Saturday at the annual summer meeting of the Kansas Rural Center at Lawrence Public Library, 707 Vt.

She shared the podium with Johannes Feddema, a geography professor at Kansas University, who spoke on climate change.

Feddema showed charts tracking historical records of temperatures and precipitation. He discussed the possible factors of climate change and showed climate scenarios for the future.

Feddema urged the audience to examine climate change data critically because data can look different depending on the scope of the lens.

“I encourage everybody to really think about what comes across your desk : because there is a lot of misinformation,” he said.

Jackson listed several actions Kansans can do right now to reduce carbon dioxide emissions and help improve the environment.

She urged the audience to show support for a national low-carbon fuel standard and more efficient vehicles.

“What many people have been suggesting lately is that we begin to think differently,” Jackson said. “Instead of talking about miles per gallon, we need to talk about gallons per mile. That’s a much more productive way to think about that.”

Both issues are best achieved on the national scale, she said.

She also pressed for local efforts and told the audience to speak up on an issue before the Kansas Corporation Commission regarding whether to provide incentives to utilities for reducing customers’ energy use. Jackson said public input to the commission is due by Sept. 30.

She urged the audience to support the advancement of renewable forms of energy. And she said reducing one’s carbon footprint can start easily at home.

Saturday’s meeting culminated with a tour of the Bowersock Mills and Power Co., a hydroelectric power facility on the Kansas River.