By now you’ve probably heard the latest news on climate change. Basically, a recent reportby the IPCC (International Panel on Climate Change) found that we have 12 years to avert a serious crisis. Before you feel defeated by this news, know that we still have the power to limit the effects of global warming. For everyone wondering how melting ice in Artic has anything to do with our daily lives, here’s the summary: disappearing sea ice causes a weakened jet stream, which translates to floods, droughts, intense heat waves, hurricanes, blizzards, and so on.
The report says that we’re looking at more heat-related deaths, extreme weather events, smaller crop yields, slower economic growth, more people in poverty, and more displaced refugees. So what can we do about this? All signs point to one single answer: Cut carbon pollution as much as possible, as quickly as possible.
OK. HOW?! Here are a few simple things you can do now:
Change your driving habits.It’s unrealistic to expect everyone to stop using their vehicles, but if we all drove a little less, carpooled more, rode our bikes, walked, used public transportation, and traded in our gas-guzzlers for hybrid or electric vehicles, we’d substantially cut emissions.
Take fewer flights.One round-trip can generate 20 percent of the emissions that your car generates each year. Is there another way you can get where you need to go? Can you cut out one trip per year? (Click hereto read more on lessening your carbon footprint while flying.)
Stop using plastic.Carbon dioxide is emitted while manufacturing and disposing of plastics. Plastic is harmful in so many ways, from exposure to gases it puts off to the micro-plastics that are making their way into our drinking water to the danger it poses to marine life, so it’s time to stop buying it. Period. Bring your own bags to the grocery store, opt for non-plastic toys for your kids, and find out what clothes are made of before buying them. (Synthetic fibers equal plastic.)
Plant trees.A tree in the tropics can absorb about 50 pounds of carbon dioxide per year. Still, researchers say we’d have to cover the country, border-to-border, with trees to even offset 10 percent of the emissions we create each year. To that I say, stop creating so many emissions then! Each of the measures we’ve talked about today combined with planting more trees can’t hurt the cause.
Eat less meat.You don’t have to become a vegetarian, but you do need to recognize the impact meat production has on our environment. Increased greenhouse gases, deforestation, and water shortages are just a few of the problems. Researchers say we could reduce greenhouse gases by more than 50 percentif we all cut down our meat consumption. The same goes for buying animal-based products, like fur and leather.
Recycle everything.Not everything is recyclable, but you’d be surprised how much actually is. Aside from tossing all of your cardboard, aluminum, and glass into the curbside bin, look up electronics recycling programs in your county or city before throwing them away. According to the EPA, we only recycle 10 percent of our cell phones. How many have you purchased in the last 10 years and what have you done with them? If you’re not going to donate them, find a recycling program to send them off to. For everything else, check out TerraCycle.
Use less energy at home.Can you hang dry any of your clothes (which will actually make them last longer anyway)? Can you wash them on the cold setting? Do you really need to crank the A/C or heat, especially when you aren’t home? (Changing the setting even one degree helps.) Turn off the lights and TV, don’t waste water, and teach your kids to do the same. In general, if you go to the edge of your comfort zone, I bet you’ll still find you’re incredible lucky. You’ll be mildly inconvenienced, at most. When you’re ready to make bigger changes at home, look into solar panels, environmentally-friendly insulation, and energy efficient appliances.
Be a conscious consumer.Think before you buy. Ask yourself if you can go without whatever it is you’re about to purchase, and if the answer is no, shop with ethical and/or fair-trade brands (like Everlane and Pact); shop with local small businesses; buy from farmers markets and natural food stores; and opt for organic makeup (just name a very few ways start using your dollars to affect change). Click here to read more about how fashion is contributing to our environmental crisis.
Invest in people who are trying to save the world.Much like spending your money with businesses that are trying to do the right thing, making a micro loan to someone whose environmental values align with yours creates a domino effect. Check out Kiva and select someone who is trying to develop his or her organic or sustainable business and needs as little as $20 from you to make it happen (all of which they pay back to you when they are up and running).
Becoming a vegan, “zero-waste” family may not be in the cards for you, but making these small adjustments to your lifestyle can drastically reduce your carbon footprint. Don’t throw the baby out with the bath water; every little bit helps! Once you start making these changes, you’ll realize that making more environmentally conscious choices is actually linked to better public health and poverty alleviation. It’s a win for everyone and everything involved.
In what ways are you and your family trying to solve the environmental crisis?
Theresa @ DocWife.com says
This one hit home for me because I always wonder, “What can I do to make a difference?” I feel so little next to all the problems in the world. The answer is a little goes a long way. With each Californian now re-using their grocery bags, for example, their oceans are looking better. Thanks for writing this!
Kelly says
Thank you for reading! So many of us just think “oh I’m only one person what can I do” but think about if a lot of just one persons did what they could. Small changes can make a big impact!