Be the Change

Recently, the federal government has been taking many steps to reduce environmental regulations that protect the country’s land, air, and water. Additionally, it has been made very clear that climate change will not be taken seriously or even acknowledged at a federal level. These are important issues because once degradation of our natural resources, pollution of air and water, and ozone layer depletion has happened, the effects are very often irreversible, resulting in large scale, worldwide problems, such as water shortage, food shortage, and poor health. So, what can be done? There are very simple things you can do as a citizen of the world to reduce your “carbon footprint,” or the amount of carbon dioxide emitted in the atmosphere due to you. Rising greenhouse gas emissions by humans is what is causing climate change. In this article, I will list and explain very simple activities that if incorporated into your daily life, can really be a force for good.

I will begin with what could make the biggest difference but would be the most challenging to accomplish, political action. If regulations are not going to be at a federal level, they can still happen at the state and even city level. So if you contact your state and city officials about your concerns on environmental protection, and pollution and emissions regulations, they can make policies personal to your state or community. For example, California is often affected by drought and the lawmakers are understanding of global warming, so there is now a mandate for cities to cut water usage significantly, as much as 36% (1). In Florida, we have the delicate and unique ecosystem of the Everglades, and many people have fought to protect the area, so now there are several acts and protections to restore and protect the Everglades (2). If you have an interest personal to your community like a favorite forest or beach you want cleaned and saved, or even want to see expanded recycling programs, call your city and state officials.

Now I’ll get to the easy stuff that can be done around the house and implemented into daily life.

Reusable bags! – I am astonished at how many people still get plastic bags every trip to the grocery store. A set of reusable bags lasts years, dramatically reducing waste. Reusable bags are very inexpensive; they can be bought at the dollar store and even right in the check out line at the store. I like to keep a set in my car for the groceries and a real compact one in my purse for trips to other stores. And, if you’re at the mall just getting a book or a new shirt and you don’t need a bag, don’t take one, very simple.
Reusable water bottle – This is something I am happy to see catching on. This is another product that can last years and dramatically reduce the amount of plastic waste.
Recycle – Do everything you can to recycle something before throwing it away. Most communities now have curbside recycling for plastic and paper, but what about other things that don’t fit in the category? Electronics, batteries, light bulbs, motor oil, paint, etc. can also be recycled; they just require a little extra effort. Many retailers, like Best Buy and Ikea, have a recycling center in their stores for old electronics, cords, batteries, and light bulbs. And most communities have hazardous chemical recycling drop off locations. So before you throw something away, do a quick Google search for local recycling options. Keeping waste out of landfills reduces greenhouse gas emissions and chemicals leeching into the ground as waste decomposes.
Compost – This goes along with recycling. Composting is the recycling of organic waste into soil. Kitchen scraps and lawn trimmings can go into a compost bin to break down and mix into really fertile soil. Composting is great for gardeners because you have rich soil to use, but even if you do not have a use for soil, composting still keeps organic matter out of landfills and waste streams, which makes a big difference. Many cities now have compost programs just like recycling programs, but if your city does not, there are really easy compost systems available online.
Reduce meat consumption – I know this is a touchy subject for meat lovers, but livestock farming produces 20% to 50% of the country’s greenhouse gas emissions (3). Raising livestock requires an incredible amount of resources. So much land is needed for the livestock farms and ranches, and so much agricultural farmland is needed to grow food for the animals. Not to mention the water consumption. The carbon dioxide emissions, methane emissions, and deforestation from livestock farming is an extremely significant factor of climate change. The states of Middle America are already facing a huge drought largely due to cattle ranching and corn farming (4). The corn being for cattle feed. If American families reduced meat consumption, maybe trying a Meatless Monday, great progress could be made. Meatless Monday was once a big part of American culture during World War I and then again during World War II. Its purpose then was to aid the war effort. Now it has been revived by several campaigns to improve cardiovascular health, and the health of the planet (5). Another option without eliminating meat completely is to cut out beef, the most resource needy meat (6).
Reduce water use – Using a shower timer, turning off water while brushing teeth, using low-flow shower heads and toilets, are very simple things that make a big difference. Water is something that is very easy to take for granted, especially in Florida surrounded by swimming pools and sprinklers and springs. But being conscious of water usage in the home can really improve your carbon footprint. You’ll even see the results in lower power and water bills.
Buy used/ fix before throwing away – This is another one that will show itself by seeing more money in your bank account. Buying used goods and donating your used goods reduces waste and reduces emissions from production of new goods. There are many high quality second hand stores now, its easy to find some great stuff. I often even see brand new things people have donated. Also, before replacing something broken, try and fix it first. Appliances and electronics are products that are easy to skip over trying a repair because we jump to the conclusion that it must be complicated to fix, but that may not be the case. For example, while on my trip my phone battery started dying really quickly and was not reliable at all. I was preparing myself to have to spend hundreds of dollars on a new phone but luckily, I talked to my Uncle who told me how simple it was to just replace the battery, something I for sure thought would be more trouble than it was worth. But I ordered a new battery for just $20 and we replaced it in under an hour and I had a just like new phone.
Utilize public transportation and carpool – I think its pretty well known that cars produce emissions, so lets try and use cars less. Many cities have great public transportation systems that are widely used, which is great, keep using them. But other cities just have a bus system but its not really thought of to use it and is even considered sketchy or gross. But, if more people use the bus, the perceptions can change and the service can be improved and expanded. Another option is carpooling. Carpools can be organized between coworkers and sometimes, the public transportation system can organize vanpools for larger companies. This saves money on gas, tolls, and car maintenance.

The common theme of these tips is to reduce consumption and reduce waste. Hopefully an increased awareness will produce results towards healthier communities. I know this saying is cheesy but it is true, we’re all in this together. Let's not wait around for a for a big fix that may not even exist when simple solutions are available now. If everyone makes some small changes we can succeed where our leaders are failing. I love to research these types of topics so if you have any questions, please ask and I can help.

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