Spring is returning, the grass is getting greener, the skies are clear and blue… but here’s a reminder that things aren’t this way for everyone, and it certainly won’t stay this way if we don’t step up our game at protecting our planet. Just last month, thousands of students across Montreal participated in a walkout as part of a global movement demanding climate action. The message sent by the hundreds of thousands of youth around the world was clear and simple: we are skipping classes to demand climate action from our governments now, because we (and the generations following) are seriously concerned about our future. Undoubtedly, our governments do play a huge role in how our Earth is going to look like in the next few years, but what can we, as individuals do? Read on for a few ideas on how you can give back to the Earth.
- Buy a Reusable Water Bottle and/or Travel Mug
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The water bottle idea might seem like a no-brainer at this point. In fact, McGill is phasing out the sale of bottled water by May 1, 2019, so this is definitely an idea that you should get behind if you’re a McGill student. But why stop there? Buy yourself a travel mug, so you can refill on coffee and tea in between classes too. All dining locations on campus offer a 25-cent discount when you bring your own mug when you buy coffee or tea, and most cafés are okay with clients bringing in their own mugs as well.
- Recycle Old Mascara Wands
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Did you know that your old mascara wands can be repurposed to help wildlife? Many animal rescue centres use mascara wands to help clean the feathers and fur of rescued animals. The recycling project was first started by a non-profit in Western North Carolina, Appalachian Wildlife Refuge, and has since spread to Canada after receiving an overwhelming response on social media. Ask a few of your friends to pool together any old mascara wands that you possess and ship them/drop them off at a wildlife centre that needs them.
- Buy Local and Seasonal Produce
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How far did the food on your plate have to travel? How much energy went into transporting and preserving your food? Purchasing in-season, locally grown foods can help you minimize your carbon footprint. With the warm season coming up, there will be more farmer’s markets open in Montreal too. Although the big ones such as Jean Talon Market and the Atwater Market are open year-round, their selection in the summer is undeniably a lot more impressive (but still, buying locally in the winter is possible!). Do keep in mind that not all produce sold at farmer’s markets are locally grown, and conversely, it is possible to buy local products at grocery stores as well (pay attention to labels and do a little bit of research into what products are in-season beforehand).
- Buy a BIXI Membership
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Montreal’s BIXI bikes will be back soon (the season begins April 15th!), and McGill students have access to a 15% promotional discount towards an annual membership. Biking is an extremely convenient way of transportation in Montreal, and it’s an environmentally-friendly activity that reduces greenhouse gas emissions and promotes a healthy lifestyle. Don’t forget to be a safe biker on the road!
- Participate in a Neighbourhood Clean-Up
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Neighbourhood clean-ups are much more than a symbolic Earth Day gesture — they’re a way for communities to show that they feel responsible for the environment around them. With the warm weather settling in, litter in the streets can be an eyesore, but it can also be a health and safety hazard. Trash can clog up sewer systems, as well as attract rodents and other unwanted pests. You can make a local impact by participating in an upcoming clean-up activity in your community, such as Clean Up The Ghetto (happening April 28th), or you can register online/organize your own clean-up and get a cleaning kit from the city of Montreal.
- Go Meatless
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Perhaps the single most effective adjustment that you can make to benefit the environment (without having to sacrifice some serious time or money) is switching to a less meat-intensive diet. Animals are incredibly energy- and resource-intensive to raise: it takes about 54 calories of fossil fuel to produce 1 calorie worth of beef protein (only 2 calories of fossil fuel are needed to produce 1 calorie worth of soy protein) and 20 000 L of water to produce a pound of meat (only 200 L are needed to produce a pound of apples). Of course, raising animals also require a lot of land, grain feed, and they produce methane, a greenhouse gas that contributes directly to our warming atmosphere. Cutting meat out of your diet doesn’t mean that you should become a vegetarian, it just means that you should eat less of it. Montreal in particular has several options for vegetarian fare: Lola Rosa, Aux Vivres, Café Leaves, and La Lumière du Mile End are all worth checking out!
It’s important for us to be environmentally-conscious because it’s our future that’s at stake. So, in addition to making small lifestyle adjustments, it’s important for us to be educated about environmental issues. Look into the sustainability policies of the products that you purchase, reflect on the environmental impact of your day-to-day activities, and stay up-to-date on the environmental movements that are taking place around you and globally. Take some time to read the report released earlier last year by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), learn about what your government and local institutions are doing with regards to environmental conservation and climate change, and understand how they are seeking to protect the environment. You can be an advocate for environmental protection and climate action in both your private and public life — just remember to stay educated and active about your advocacy.
Information sources:
https://www.food.ee/blog/why-are-farmers-markets-so-popular-in-north-america/
https://www.marchespublics-mtl.com/en/markets/
https://montreal.bixi.com/en/who-we-are
https://www.dummies.com/home-garden/green-living/cleaning-up-your-community/
https://www.epa.gov/ghgemissions/overview-greenhouse-gases
https://mcgill.ca/oss/article/science-science-everywhere/environmental-cost-meat