Every day, we make choices which impact the world around us. We are at a crucial point in our lives and right now, it's so important that we make the right choices to preserve our planet, not only for ourselves and our futures, but also for future generations. Global warming is dangerously close to spiralling out of control, a U.N. climate panel said in a landmark report Monday, warning the world is already certain to face further climate disruptions for decades (if not centuries) to come. It's time to make the right decisions; here's some great tips how live a more sustainable lifestyle.
Firstly: recycle, recycle, recycle! Recycling reduces the need to grow, harvest or extract new raw materials from the Earth. That in turn, lessens the harmful disruption and damage being done to the natural world: fewer forests cut down, rivers diverted, wild animals harmed or displaced and less pollution of water, soil and air. Recycling is simple and efficient, it can be done in your home, or expanded into your community. When you purchase products, check if they can be recycled or if they have been made from recycled materials. This is better for our planet and slows down the rate that we are using our raw materials.
Reduce household energy consumption. The less we use, the less we need to generate; this means less damage to the planet. Pollution released from power plants contributes to climate change; coal power plants also release radiation. There are many ways you can do this, for example: turning off appliances and lights that you're not using, installing energy efficient appliances, opening windows to allow cold air in rather than turning on air conditioning and hanging clothes to dry instead of using a tumble dryer. These are all simple and easy swaps which make a great difference.
Save water - an easy way to live more sustainably is to conserve water. Making swaps in your household appliances can really help you do this, for example, upgrading your washing machine as many newer models (can automatically sense the smallest level of water needed for each wash). If this isn't possible, there are smaller changes to be made, for example, taking quicker showers, turning off the tap when brushing your teeth or collecting rainwater and recycling it when watering your plants.
Adopt a plant-based diet. Just like veganism, it is the sustainable option when it comes to looking after our planet. Plant- based living is also a more sustainable way of feeding your family. A plant based diet requires only one- third of the land needed to support a meat and dairy diet. With rising global and socio- economic problems, there's never been a better time to adopt a more sustainable way of living. Avoiding animal products isn't just one of the simplest ways an individual can reduce the strain on food as well as other resources, it's also the simplest way to take a stand against inefficient food systems which disproportionately affect the poorest people all over the world. If you want to learn more about how a plant based lifestyle would help our planet, there are many great documentaries such as Seaspiracy (Netflix) and Cowspiracy (Netflix).
A powerful way to live more sustainably is to eat locally. The convenience of supermarkets has changed how people think about food. You could stroll through aisles stocked with fruit, vegetables and other products from all over the world, any time of the year. But these products consume huge amounts of fossil fuel energy to get from those global locations to your supermarket.
Dispose of disposables. Previous generations didn't dream of single use items such as razors, forks, cups, bags and food storage containers, but these days, you can find a plastic version of almost any object, and then throw it away after you use it. Many of the environmental health issues today stem from the toxins released into the environment by rubbish and landfills. Landfills can release dangerous chemicals which enter the surrounding environment. When you make a purchase, consider the item's life expectancy. How long can it be used? Will it have more than one use? When you've done with it, will it end up in a landfill? Start investing in reusable products for the items you most often throw away.
Rely less on your car. Using fossil fuels to support one person in each car on the road is clearly no longer sustainable. Start using mass transport systems in your town or city, such as busses, trains or a carpool between your friends/ colleagues/ family. Alternatively cycle or walk when travelling to a closer destination.
Grow your own food. By simply planting a few seeds in your garden, produce grown in your back garden or local allotment is the definition of fresh. With no need for it to be tightly packaged for transit, home grown produce causes no increase in plastic waste. Other environmental benefits that come from tending your own vegetable garden include reduced food waste. You don't need acres, a few square feet on a patio, along a driveway, or in a window box can provide enough space to grow edible herbs, fruit and vegetables.
I hope you find these tips useful. We must all do our best to help our environment and we need to live more sustainably so future generations can live as happily as we would like to.
Do you already do any of these things in your home? Do you want to adopt a more sustainable lifestyle? Well done if you already do, and if you're considering it, the best thing to do is start small and gradually make bigger changes, even the smallest things can make a big difference.
By Annabel Haggar
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