With Earth Day coming up and the clock for Earth’s future ticking, you may be thinking of ways that you can try to help the planet.
Mahatma Gandhi once said: “If you want to change world, start with yourself.” and we couldn’t agree more. Although it may sometimes seem like one person cannot make any significant impact on our planet's future, you’d be surprised how even the smallest changes can affect the world around us.
With Earth Day approaching fast (Friday, April 22), we’re sharing a few simple ways to reduce your carbon footprint that go a long way toward a safer future for all of us.
Reduce the amount of single-use plastics in your day-to-day life.
While avoiding plastics altogether may seem too difficult to do, any small amount of change can have a big impact. Try out reusable or biodegradable straws this Earth Day, even if you don’t use them all of the time—using a reusable straw instead of a plastic straw even one-third of the time means you are throwing away 33% fewer plastic straws than you used to. This adds up quickly.
Try to eat less meat.
The factory farming industry is a huge contributor to the production of greenhouse gasses (among other harmful effects on the environment). You don’t need to completely cut out meat, because even just reducing the amount of meat you consume adds up. An even better option would be to buy your meat from local farmers. Support those who practice sustainable farming, and try to avoid meat produced in factory farms.
Buy used when you can.
Go thrifting! It can be fun to see what you can find in your local thrift store, and it is better for the environment than buying new. Sometimes you can even find a high-quality product for a huge discount. Depending on your area and the stores near you, you may be able to find a secondhand shop offering an Earth Day sale! It also works the other way, so donate your old clothes and furniture that are still in good condition instead of throwing them into a landfill.
Try to reduce your contribution to carbon emissions by driving less, carpooling, or taking public transit when possible.
If it is within your budget, consider investing in a more fuel-efficient or electric vehicle when you need to get a new one. If you can bike or walk to places instead of driving, consider doing so now and then. Not only is it good for the environment, but a walk to work on a nice day can also boost your mood!
Vote for change.
One of the most important things that we can do is use our voices to vote and demand change from those in charge. Even though the general public is becoming more environmentally conscious, more needs to be done to ensure the Earth is safe. Corporations are a huge contributor to pollution and carbon emissions, so don’t be afraid to take a stand when you see environmental wrongdoing!
