 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
Ten things we can do to combat climate change1. Go Organic
So buy organic. Better yet, start planting your own vegetables and fruits in your own garden. You may find that it's easier than you think. 2. Use Public transport
3. Maintain your vehicle
4. Be a smart shopper
5. Be bright about how you use your lights
6. Tap lightly
7. Plant a tree or two
8. Recycle … and then recycle some more
9. Become a minimalist
10. Spread the word
|
Organic food is a better choice for so many reasons. A lot of people think organic food is good simply because it's produced using absolutely no pesticides whatsoever. Sure that's heaps healthier. But did you know that when pesticide is sprayed onto vegetables, they not only kill the insects and the pests, but they also kill all the microorganisms in the soil that keep the carbon contained in the soil? Without these microorganisms, the carbon is released into the atmosphere as Carbon Dioxide. This in turn requires farmers to use unnatural chemical fertilizers to keep the soil in fertile. This in turn pollutes the soil and eventually, water sources. 
Take a bus, hop on a tram, catch the next train. If its there, and it's readily accessible, why not use public transportation once in a while? When someone else is driving, you get to use your commute time for other things, like catching up on that novel you've been putting off. Biking or walking to work are two other superb options for getting to the office, provided the distance and the weather is suitable.
If you must drive, make sure you drive right. Get your engine tuned regularly, and remember to inflate your tyres every two weeks – properly inflated tyres can improve your mileage by 3 percent. Every litre of petrol saved, is not only good for your monthly expenditure, but is also good for the planet's resources. Try not to accelerate too quickly, nor stop your vehicle too abruptly. Petrol is unnecessarily lost during these two instances, and also when your car is idle for too long. If you know that you're gonna be idle in one place for more than half a minute, than just turn off the ignition.
Buy in bulk. When you buy things in bulk, the packaging used is less than if you bought them individually. Choose products that have been manufactured or produced in environmentally friendly ways, using environmentally friendly materials. Go for function rather than form! Say no to the counter person who offers you a plastic bag for your groceries. Always, always bring your own bag. 
Replace at least one of the bulbs in your home with an energy saving bulb. In most countries, a Compact Fluorescent Light (CFL) bulb is available. Although more expensive than you regular light bulb, it helps save in the long run as they last about 10 times longer than incandescent light bulbs, and use at least two-thirds less energy – leaving you with a lighter electricity bill at the end of the month. Be sure to turn off any light when you no longer need them on. Keep lights dim whenever you can bring in natural light in through the windows or the skylight. 
Always turn off your water tap, if you're not actually using the water that's coming out of it – like when you're brushing your teeth, or when you're putting soap on while in the shower, or if you're shampooing your dog, or while you're slapping the detergent on the dishes. Not only will you slash your water bill, but you also play a role in conserving the water for others to use as well. 
What's there to lose? All it takes is a little bit of effort. Trees have a calming effect on any environment, and they look good no matter where you plant them. But leaving aesthetics aside, planting a tree is actually the perfect way to help the planet. Did you know that a single tree can absorb up to one tonne of carbon dioxide during its lifetime? That's a lot of CO2. And that's all just from one tree. So what's stopping you? Go get that shovel. 
There's a long list of things that can be recycled. Why not make a pledge to start separating your garbage into recyclable plastics, recyclable paper products and recyclable glass products? Make some effort to find out where the nearest recycling centres are in or around your housing area. You'll find that the amount of waste you produce becomes much smaller as you start recycling. Think about the fantastic impact you make on lessening the burden of overflowing landfills on the planet. 
Why do you need 21 pairs of shoes, when you can easily do with five or less? The key word here is less. It's not an easy change to make, we admit – it calls for great strength and will power – but a simple way to make a difference is to buy less. When you buy less, you use less and you waste less. It makes a lot of sense, yes? Go through your wardrobe, and place everything you haven't used in a year onto a pile – call it the donation pile. Tell yourself that you are not going to go out on a shopping spree to replace everything you just placed in the pile. Look out for charity organizations that could make use of such donations – and make the delivery. Buy quality products that will last longer (although they may cost more) – this way you don't need to buy the same product repeatedly due to faults or defects. 
Once you start making changes in your lifestyle that help the planet – you already have started making a difference. To increase that impact is easy – convince a friend to make some changes too. Show your friends how easy it is to make simple changes in your life, and explain to them the difference it makes when more people make the small changes. If you feel you don't know enough there are loads of sites on the internet with enough information on the subject to make anyone an expert. Just google it.  |
 |
 |