The effects of climate change are all around us. From rising temperatures to the melting of ice caps, it’s an issue facing the world that is tough to ignore.
While many governments don’t have plans in place to take action, there are plenty of things that individuals can do on their own. If you’re looking for changes you can make in your everyday life that help with climate change, there are lots of things to consider.
Here are just a few things you can start implementing now to help save the planet.
Buy local goods and produce
If you have a local farmers market in your town or a grocery store that specializes in stocking local farmers, buying that produce is the best decision you can make.
This also goes for anything your buying that might be manufactured locally. Buying locally helps lessen the emissions produced when goods are transported across multiple borders to get to you.
Cut down on the energy you use in your home
Air conditioning and heating is a luxury that is often overused. Unless you’re experiencing extreme temperatures, think about cutting back on how often you run yours.
There’s also the option to line dry your clothes, rather than run them through energy-sucking dryers. Even little things like unplugging appliances you’re not using and turning lights off when you leave a room can help. Think about where you can cut back.
Change your diet for the environment
WorldWatch Institute found that greenhouse gas emissions from animal agriculture currently stand at around 51%. Cutting meat and dairy products out of your diet can greatly reduce those figures. Which in case you didn’t notice, is over half.
If entirely giving up meat and dairy is too difficult, consider cutting back a few days a week. Even a small step can be a big one when it comes to protecting our climate.
Choose organic at the grocery store
It might be a bit more expensive, but organic food dramatically reduces the gashouse emissions that go into the air due to regularly grown produce.
Why is that? Many crops use an abundance of fertilizer that releases nitrogen into the atmosphere in the form of nitrous oxide. It’s 298x more damaging than CO2.
Change how you commute
If you have the option, lower your carbon footprint by choosing to commute in a green-friendly way. Ride a bike or take a long walk.
Even taking public transportation or carpooling can make a significant impact on climate change. Not everyone has the option to walk or bike, so find something that works for you!
Recycle and upcycle as much as possible
Learning to consume less takes time. While you’re going through the process, start to find ways to recycle what you can, and upcycle things. Reusing containers from takeout places for your work lunches or turning leftover glass from candles into decorative items in your home. There are so many things that can be done that reduce the waste we put back into our planet.
Climate change is a threat to the world we live in. These small steps can make a big difference in changing how we interact with the world.
