Climate change is indeed the biggest challenge for our generation. The melting arctic ice, rising sea levels, polluted air, toxified water, extreme weather inconsistency, and natural disasters have been happening on our watch. So, how do we even get here? Several factors causing global warming include deforestation, degenerate agriculture, polluting transportation, imperishable waste in landfills, intensive use of fossil fuels, and energy waste. It may sound larger than our lives, and it feels like we're too small to help restore the Earth's temperature. Don't worry! Before we jump into the how-tos, let's understand how global warming works.
The Notorious Greenhouse Gases
As simple as how we breathe oxygen (O2) and release carbon dioxide (CO2), all matter in this world releases certain gases into the atmosphere. The more we need O2 to live, the more we need trees to exist consuming CO2. Sadly, CO2 is not the only toxic gas we have on Earth. Here they are:
1. Carbon Dioxide (CO2) releases from burning fuels, transportation, and deforestation,
2. Methane (CH4) emits from agriculture, livestock, and coal mining,
3. Nitrous oxide derives from manure, combustion of solid waste, and burning fuel,
4. Water vapor (H2O) sheds from the boiling of liquid water (in this case, ocean and sublimation of ice[the arctic]),
5. Fluorinated gases release from industrial, manufacturing, and refrigeration.
The Daily Solution
Let's not focus on the problems but the solution. Making a slight change is better than making no changes at all. The most important thing is to influence your close ones to do the same fashion because significant changes always come from a minor force that gets bigger at times. Here are some small things you can do daily to help Mother Earth to thrive.
1. Consume less meat, and dairy products
Try to conduct a flexitarian diet, where you can drop the meat and dairy consumption to 85gr (out of 790gr weekly). Switch your latte milk with soy, oat, or almond because they're healthier too.
2. Bring your shopping bag, tumbler, and cutleries!
To limit the use of single-use plastic, bring your own shopping bag, drinking bottle, and cutleries everywhere. Don't forget to avoid plastic cutleries inclusion when ordering food online.
3. Shop wisely
It's easier said than done. However, exercise to control your impulsiveness and only buy what you need. For example, clothes, opt for functionality and items that are considered long-lasting and easy to be mix-and-matched.
4. Limit energy use
Switch off your AC, lamp, and any electronic devices when not used; try to utilize a power strip for more efficiency. Also, use enough water when showering or simply when brushing your teeth.
5. Smart commute
Put your car on pause, and use public transportation or carpool instead. If you're the sporty type, let's bike to work!
6. Separate your trash
This one's a little bit more advanced. Generally, you need to separate five types of trash (liquid waste, solid rubbish, organic waste, recyclable rubbish, and hazardous waste). For starters, you can go with two; organic and non-organic waste. Don't forget to wash plastic bottles before disposal, and call your waste management to pick them up.
Start small and simple, make it a lifestyle, and aside from saving the Earth it will make you happier and healthier both physically and mentally. Don't get too stressed, because Rome wasn't built in a day.
(MEL/HAL)