We are destroying the planet. Since there is currently no backup planet we can escape to (and because ruining the planet for the many other species who live here would be awful and selfish of us) we need to change our lifestyles to be more sustainable. The average American has a larger carbon footprint than is sustainable. Since the government will not step in, (especially during this administration) we must take it upon ourselves as good global citizens and children or mother earth to make steps towards a more eco-friendly lifestyle. While we might not all be able to afford solar panels, hybrid cars, and eating only local food, there are steps one can take as a college student to be better towards the environment.
1) Buy a reusable water bottle
Instead of buying a crate of disposable water bottles at the store or a single bottle of water every time you eat a meal, next time you’re at the store, buy a reusable one. This will save you lots of money, reduce the amount of waste you produce, and keep you hydrated. It’s easy to keep the bottle full here at Geneseo since there’s at least one filtered water bottle refill station in each residence hall, the library, the union, the athletic center, and Welles. Another benefit is getting to personalize your water bottles with stickers or paint.
2) Take shorter showers
I am definitely guilty of taking long, hot showers. However, this is bad for the earth since it wastes water and energy (to heat up the water) so I am changing my ways. If you too are used to taking super long and relaxing showers, set up a timer in the bathroom or play music (to help keep track of time) and look for other ways to relax or pamper yourself.
3) Eat less meat and other animal products
A little over a year ago I learned how terrible meat consumption was for the planet (seriously, animal agriculture contributes as much to global warming as transportation does, not to mention it’s a major cause of deforestation, and a major waste of water. Look it up, seriously). Knowing I couldn’t live with this information while continue eating lots of meat and still claim to care about the environment, I decided to slowly reduce my meat consumption by challenging myself at first to eat it in only one meal a day, then reducing it to every other day, and continuing to incrementally reduce consumption. When I felt like I’d gotten the hang of it, I went fully vegetarian (in May). Since then, I’ve gone completely vegan (in August). It’s a difficult transition at first, but I have a whole other article you can check out with some transitioning tips.
4) Write to your representatives
While we might not have the most eco-friendly president and there’s not much chance of that changing, we can work on swaying our representatives at the federal, state and local levels. Let your congress people know how much climate change and pollution concern you and urge them to talk to their colleagues to take action. We’ve destroyed our planet to the point where we need government action. A handful of people recycling and driving Priuses isn’t going to cut it anymore (but PLEASE keep doing those things too). If writing to your federal representative seems futile, try writing to members of the state legislature or local government. Big change starts small. If you can only inspire change at the town or city level, so be it. That’s one more eco-friendly place on the map.
5) If you can’t reuse or reduce, recycle it!
This one might seem super obvious, but I can’t count how many times I’ve seen an empty soda or juice bottle in the trash. The recycling bins at Geneseo take all metal and glass, and plastic types 1-7. This means pretty much any bottle can be recycled. There is no excuse for putting this stuff in the trash. Plastic takes forever to decompose so it will stay in our landfills throughout your lifetime, your potential children’s lifetime, and down through the generations.
While the idea of saving the planet might seem like too much for one person to do (because it is) it is important to remember that your impact matters. Even small actions build up over time. This short list is only the beginning, there are plenty of other little changes one can make to improve the environment and our future. Do your own research and encourage your friends to join you in the actions you decide to take. Happy Earth Day!
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