Our current climate problem is being brought on by global warming, which is already having disastrous effects. In the most recent few decades:
- Extreme weather catastrophes are becoming frequent due to rising temperatures.
- In the Antarctic, icebergs have broken apart into pieces.
- Seasons for wildfires are months longer.
- Coral reefs have lost their color due to bleaching.
- Mosquitoes can spread disease and are growing in number.
As long as we take action now, it’s still possible to slow down climate change and prevent the worst effects of the global warming problem. We can overcome this obstacle with small changes:
1. Dry your clothes in the sun
On average, electric dryers produce 1.8 kg of CO2 every load. 4 loads each week in the dryer results in 468 kg of CO2 produced annually. When washing garments on the cold cycle, you can significantly reduce your carbon footprint. 90% of the energy required by a washing machine is typically consumed by heating the water. The amount of CO2 emissions you can reduce each month by washing three out of four loads of laundry in cold water is up to 32 kg. Using an odour free laundry product is another way to lessen your dirty load’s environmental impact. According to research from the University of Tasmania, using odour laundry products can lower some harmful emissions by up to 99.7% in just one load of laundry.
2. Eat seasonal fruits and vegetables
With the option to purchase various fruits and vegetables, like strawberries, all year round, we can be excused for forgetting that some foods are seasonal today. However, if it is out of season, there is a good probability that it has travelled a long way to reach you, accruing food miles. Non-seasonal food typically travels up to 21,073 kilometers or more. Have you ever wondered why fruit that is out of season frequently lacks the same quality? To survive the arduous flight or truck ride to your neighborhood grocery, produce is frequently picked early. Fresh, in-season, locally grown food is much better for the planet and tastes better too! It also supports local employment.
3. Reduce single use plastics now!
It goes without saying that plastic contributes significantly to global emissions. Every hour, 2.5 million single – use plastic are discarded in America. Plastic is ubiquitous, however there are easy steps you can take to lessen its use and effects:
- Instead of purchasing bottled water, bring your own reusable bottle with you.
- Bring your own coffee cup rather than ordering one from the cafe.
- Use reusable produce and shopping bags.
- Instead of purchasing things wrapped in plastic, choose to purchase items in loose bulk such as nuts, washing powder, etc.
- In preference to virgin plastics, support companies that employ recycled or plant-based plastics
- As opposed to the trash, make sure to place recyclables in your recycling container. The majority of large supermarkets also sell soft plastic.
4. Switch to ethical banks
To grow their operations, businesses must obtain loans or acquire funds through the sale of shares. However, there is a new gatekeeper. Companies seeking to grow outdated, toxic industries are no different. the buyer. You probably have more control than you realise over your neighbourhood bank or investment fund. Customers are increasingly choosing ethical banks and funds that forbid funding particular businesses or activities instead of their old bank or pension fund (depending on where in the world you live). As a result, a significant number of conventional banks are increasingly declining to support unsavory projects, which motivates businesses to move to more environmentally friendly options.
5. Avoid going to the supermarket, instead encourage home cooked meals
Food waste significantly contributes to climate change; in Australia, 20% of the food purchased is wasted. That translates to almost 3.3 billion tonnes of CO2 annually. In fact, if global food waste were a nation, it would rank third in the world for CO2 emissions. You might be wondering, though, what this has to do with going to the grocery store while you’re hungry. Numerous studies have shown that shoppers who are hungry tend to make substantially larger purchases. According to one study, shoppers can spend up to 60% more money when they are hungry.
6. Change to green energy
There are traditional methods of producing power, such burning coal, which produces the largest CO2 emissions, and then there are more environmentally friendly renewable methods. Solar, wind, and hydroelectricity are a few of the most popular renewable energy sources. You can now choose to purchase green energy from the majority of electrical providers. If you can afford to pay a little extra for green energy, doing so is a terrific way to convince electricity providers to invest in cleaner renewable energy sources rather than constructing additional coal power plants.
7. Plant as much trees as you can
We can breathe cleaner air thanks to trees, which are also a terrific method to mitigate pollution. Gardening outside is a great way to exercise and improve your mental health.
Did you like this article? do let us know in the comments section below and for more such stories, keep visiting Newsum.
