Just in the past month alone the world has witnessed the shocking, tragic realities of climate change. The most destructive and deadly fire in California’s history ravaged the northern region of the state, killing at least 88 people and burning through 150,000 acres of land. According to the new US government climate report which was released on November 23, the average global temperature is higher and rising more rapidly than “anything modern civilization has experienced.” Climate change has severe effects, causing more droughts, a rising sea level, and increases in diseases—to name a few. With governments and big corporations simply not doing enough to invest in renewable energy sources and reduce carbon emissions, the task of resolving a problem of this scale seems daunting. However, there are doable steps that each one of us, as individuals, can take to work towards a better, sustainable planet.
1. Reduce, Reuse, & Recycle—and Compost!
Though you’ve likely heard it many times before, reducing, reusing, and recycling is an essential and easy way to reduce your carbon footprint. Just as important as having a recycling bin however, is compost, as composting waste is natural process of recycling organic material.
2. Make energy-efficient choices.
Handle water efficiently, take shorter showers, replace incandescent light bulbs with compact fluorescent bulbs, wash clothes in cold or warm water, and unplug your electronics when you’re not using them.
3. Make smart transportation decisions.
Take public transit, carpool, ride a bike, walk, and look into more fuel-efficient car options.
4. Eat less meat, buy organic, and don’t waste food.
Approximately 20% of the man-made greenhouse gas emissions is generated by the meat industry, hence opting for meat-free meals is a smart change you can make to your diet to reduce its climate impact. Buying local and even growing your own food are further great ways you can reduce your diet’s impact on the environment.
5. Stay informed and spread your awareness with others.
Keep up to date with issues regarding climate change and, more importantly, share that knowledge with friends, family, and your community so that a wider group of people will be working toward climate solutions and a sustainable future.
It may seem as though each of these efforts are futile in a battle as large as climate change, but in the words of the Canadian environmental activist David Suzuki, “In a world of more than seven billion people, each of us is a drop in the bucket. But with enough drops, we can fill any bucket.”
Sources:
https://nca2014.globalchange.gov/report
https://www.cnn.com/2018/11/26/health/climate-change-report-15-takeaways/index.html https://davidsuzuki.org/what-you-can-do/top-10-ways-can-stop-climate-change/
https://www.aiesec.nl/blog/sustainability/5-ways-to-help-combat-climate-change/
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