A common excuse I hear when I talk to people about environmental sustainability is, "What could I possibly do to stop global warming/climate change? I'm just one person!" Just so we're all on the same page, let's define some terms first. Global warming refers to the rise in Earth's average temperature and is directly attributed to a variety of anthropogenic (human-induced) drivers including increased carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gas emissions, as well as the destruction of forests and other plant life (which, when alive, serve to decrease carbon dioxide in the atmosphere by consuming it during the process of photosynthesis). Climate change, on the other hand, refers to changes in the Earth's weather patterns over long periods of time. While climate change has occurred throughout all of Earth's history, when we use this term today, it generally refers to anthropogenic climate change, which appears to occur at a much faster rate. Finally, environmental sustainability is used to describe a ideal system wherein human consumption is equal to or less than nature's capacity to renew those resources. If this balance is shifted so that humans consume more than the Earth can handle, the abundance and diversity of organisms will decline. If over consumption is severe (as some argue it is today), this drop will become even more precipitous. Increasing population sizes is putting greater pressure on Earth's natural resources, and the effects can be seen clearly today. Coral reefs, for example, have all but died in only the last decade in many areas of the Caribbean and western Pacific oceans.
That all sounds daunting, but there is an acceptable response to the question posed above, and it is simple. Each and every person contributes whether or not humans are environmentally sustainable. We know that our collective actions are grossly unsustainable at present. The only reasonable way I see to reduce the group's footprint is to decrease our individual impacts. Never fear though; this doesn't mean we need to all stop driving or using electricity (not that that wouldn't be amazing!). In fact, there are some incredibly simple actions that have already started to take hold in many places around the country and the world. These things should be no-brainers, and I hope that in the coming years they are considered commonplace. The following is a list of actions I would consider commandments for working towards environmental sustainability, but it is by no means comprehensive. Please feel free to add your own ideas to the list!
1) Take your own bags to the grocery store
Tim Minchin sums it up nicely below.
Don't forget that you can save those thin produce bags too. Throw them right into your canvas bags so you don't forget them next time you head to the grocery store.
2) ALWAYS choose glass over plastic when selecting items in the grocery store.
3) Use Tupperware containers rather than plastic baggies to store leftovers and lunches.
4) If you must use plastic baggies, wash them out and reuse them (unless they had raw meat in them).
5) If you must use bags from the grocery store, reuse them when you get home. Paper can be used to store recyclables in, and plastic bags can be used as trash can liners (among other things).
6) If you have a choice, WALK or BIKE instead of driving.
7) Better yet, don't own a car at all, then you won't even be tempted. Carpool or take the public transportation to your destination.
8) Turn off lights, unplug appliances, and keep the windows shut and sealed when the air conditioner or heater is running. This will not only help increase efficiency, but will also keep your energy bills lower!
9) NEVER drink bottled water again. Bottled water alone produces millions of tons of waste every year. Challenge yourself to bring your own water bottle rather than dumping more plastic into our landfills!
10) Buy locally. Whether it is food, clothing, or furniture, the more you buy locally, the more you cut transportation costs and carbon dioxide emissions, thus saving you even more money! Buying locally can also help sustain your community.
I hope these start to get you thinking about how easy it is to live sustainably!
the FruGAL
What a coincidence, Kelsey! I am just reading a book Dire Predictions, which talks about global warming. Maybe we can also live a more natural life, and try to enjoy different charaters of four seasons, biginning with less AC in the summer and less heat in the winter.
ReplyDeleteHi Kelsey, Scott here. You may be interested in this book, which discusses the long-term impacts of soil erosion from conventional farming practices.
ReplyDeleteAlso a quick plug, my interwebs presence is here.
Really bringing me back to my UGS days here! Looking forward to more of your thoughts.