As we ring in the new year, we tend to make resolutions pertaining to academics, family, or our personal lives. However, we often forget that it is also important to make eco-friendly resolutions that we can integrate into our everyday lives! As the world is continually changing with climate change and other environmental issues, it is time to actively do our part to protect our planet and future generations!
Now, what can we do to live more environmentally-friendly lives during 2022?
- Transportation Choices
Did you know that personal vehicles are the major cause of global warming in the world? In the U.S, cars and trucks account for more than one-fifth of all emissions. Although cars are a more convenient and faster mode of transportation in comparison to walking or riding our bikes, it also has more harmful effects on the environment. With that said, if our schools or workplaces are within walking distance, we can try to walk or bike instead of driving there. In addition, if we want to go to places that are further, we can use public transportation or carpool with friends or colleagues. By doing so, we limit the number of vehicles on the road while also reducing carbon emissions.
- Limit our usage of single-use plastics
The plastic bags that we use at grocery stores, the plastic straws that we use to drink beverages, and plastic water bottles are all considered single-use plastics. Did you know that we produce 300 million tonnes of plastic per year worldwide, half of which are single-use plastics? Although these items seem harmless, they all have a steep environmental impact. Every year, we dump around ten million tonnes of plastic into our oceans. This is a problem because plastic cannot decompose and will stay in our oceans indefinitely, affecting marine ecosystems.
Perhaps we can purchase reusable cloth bags to carry our groceries in or invest in metal straws! As such, we can also purchase a water bottle in order to limit the amount of plastic we use. Over 500 billion plastic bags are used worldwide – Imagine how many benefits the planet could gain if this number was significantly reduced!
- Try to have a “Greener” home!
Although many of us do not consider the types of light bulbs we use in our homes, they can actually make a significant difference in our energy consumption! LEDs (Light-Emitting Diodes) are the most energy-efficient light bulbs on the market today. Did you know that using LEDs can reduce your energy consumption by up to 80% per year? Although LEDs can be a tad costly, they are totally worth it when it comes to saving energy!
In addition, some of us tend to leave the lights throughout our homes. With that said, we can try to conserve our energy by turning off the light sources that we are not using. We can also try to turn off our taps when we are not using them to save water!
- Food Choices
Have you ever considered buying locally? Well, if you have not, 2022 is the perfect time to try! Buying food locally can reduce costs and environmental impacts such as production, processing, and transportation. Transporting food has a large carbon footprint due to trucks, plane travel, or boats. If you buy locally, you can limit unnecessary fossil fuel use and excess packaging that can end up in landfills!
Did you know that the U.N reports that nearly 17 percent of the food produced globally each year is wasted? As such, it is important to consume all the food that we purchase in order to be sustainable. If we have waste, we can also consider composting which benefits the environment!
- Grow your own food if you can!
Have you ever considered having your own garden? As mentioned earlier, purchasing food can come with a plethora of environmental costs. With that said, growing your own food can be beneficial to not only the environment but also yourself! By growing your own garden, you decide what goes on your plants and into your soil, allowing you to limit the number of harmful chemicals polluting our waterways and environment. Also, you can enjoy the benefit of eating your fresh grown vegetables or fruits!
As it is the beginning of a new year, we can consider some of these resolutions, as they can bring about environmental change within our communities. As we are presented with these environmental challenges, we need to be more mindful of our lifestyle choices. Thus, it is up to us, as individuals to follow an eco-friendly lifestyle in order to create a brighter and greener future for everyone!
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