Your carbon footprint can be defined as the amount of carbon dioxide that gets released into the atmosphere as a result of your activities. With the environment undergoing the stress it is after years of wasteful living, it has become vital that we take it into account more than we have been. Here are some ways in which you can start making a difference!
Eat Less Meat, or Stop Completely
The single most effective action that can be taken to combat climate change is to stop eating meat, but even limiting your intake can make a good difference. Greenhouse gas emissions from the agribusiness pose an even greater problem than fossil fuels do. Getting a single pound of beef will require more than 5 000 gallons of water being used, and there are loads of recipes that don’t require meat! As the number one consumer of freshwater, animal agriculture is increasing the issue of water scarcity on a global scale.
Unplug Your Devices More
You may be surprised to find out that electronics are using energy when they are plugged in, even if you have powered yours down. Anytime a cord is plugged into a socket, energy is being drawn, so even if your device isn’t charging, it will still be contributing to the carbon footprint you are making. A simple solution is to leave your electronics unplugged at all times, unless you are actually using them to play the pokies online games you enjoy or whatnot.
Drive Less
Start walking more, ride your bike around a little more often, or take the bus. These are great habits to have in order to life a healthier lifestyle and it creates less gas emissions from vehicles. So, leave your car at home more and you will be making a small change that will start delivering results at once.
Many more people are choosing to bike to work these days, and, as such, more bike lanes are becoming available. There are more than 65 million cyclists in the USA alone, and this number is one that has risen dramatically in the past five years.
The increase in populations means that more effective modes of public transportation are more necessary, and options like rapid transit, subways, buses, and trains have started growing in order to meet increased demand.
Stay Away from Fast Fashion
Many major clothing stores practice fast fashion, which means that they sell an almost endless supply of must-have items at incredibly low prices. Have you ever stopped to consider why your t-shirt is so cheap?
In our consumer-driven society, we perceive fashion as disposable. Huge amounts of clothing end up in landfills, often in order to justify purchasing the latest styles.
We are talking about more than 15 million tons of textile waste! With quantity being valued over quality, these retailers are able to charge almost nothings for items that are being mass-produced. And to make matters even worse, this industry is still propped up in the main by child labour.
Toxic to the environment, detrimental to basic human rights – do you really need it? Try alternatives like repurposing old clothing, opting for handmade garments locally, buying secondhand clothes, and setting up clothing swaps with your family and friends.
