Along with participating in plastic-free July, there are so many other small changes that you can make to help our planet heal! It can be daunting to think about all of the astronomical and detrimental effects climate change is having on our planet, but there are so many small ways that you can help reverse the effects. We only have 12 years to save our planet so even though going green can feel hard, try your best to stick to these efforts in order to make a huge difference!
1. Be Conscious of your Water Usage!
According to the EPA, the average American Family wastes 9,400 gallons of water each year from either leaky faucets or not keeping track of their water usage. Try to limit the amount of water you use by shortening your showers, turning off the faucet when brushing your teeth or face, and not pre-rinsing your dishes before putting them in the dishwasher (or forgoing your dishwasher altogether).
2. Try Switching to a Meatless/Non-Dairy/Vegan Diet!
According to the United Nations University, beef and overall meat production incredibly resource intensive and is attributed to 15% of global emissions. Livestock agriculture has led to deforestation—because they have to cut down forests to create more room for their pastures—along with causing water shortages around the globe due to the high amount of water needed to support the livestock.
So, the biggest change you can make in battling climate change is switching your diet to include less meat and dairy and more beans and pulses. Decreasing your dairy intake can lessen the amount of cows found at dairy farms, and in turn, cause a drop in the quantity of methane found in the atmosphere. An easy way to make a simple change in your diet is to switch from dairy-based coffee creamer to Leaner Creamer’s non-dairy creamer that provides your coffee with a splash of rich flavor.
3. Plant a Tree!
With the influx of greenhouse gasses plaguing our atmosphere and causing catastrophic events—an increase in hurricanes, heat waves, and floods— to occur, planting a tree can make a huge difference by decreasing the amount of gasses found in our atmosphere. Even one tree can help clean up the damage because they can take in gasses like carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, and sulfur dioxide—which are all potent greenhouse gasses—and produce oxygen as a byproduct through the process of photosynthesis! They can slowly repair and restore the natural state of our atmosphere while also being a beautiful addition to your yard.
4. Travel Responsibly!
One of the number one causes of the great amount of greenhouse gasses being trapped in our atmosphere is transportation. This refers to the use of cars or planes to get from point A to point B. Be thoughtful about when and where you use these utilities as you can often walk or bike to your location. If you are considering a far trip, think about taking a train rather than a plane! And if you do have to fly to get to your destination, try and make sure that it is a non-stop flight as it uses less fuel!
5. Be Informed and Vocal!
The key to making change is to be aware of the facts and effects that this change will have on our planet. Make sure to keep yourself updated on all of the new information coming out about this disaster in order to understand the dire consequences and how to help make a difference. Along with being aware of the situation, be vocal! Let others know what is happening and what will happen if we don’t make changes for the better. Participate in local, state, and federal elections to make your voice heard about what you would like to change.
It is incredibly important to remember that our actions do not only affect the human race, but all other living organisms on the planet. Due to overfishing, there are now dead zones that spread for miles in the ocean. Due to our agricultural practices, we have now increased deforestation and have destroyed habitats for many animals, pushing them towards extinction. Much of the plastic we use for a couple of minutes every day end up in the stomachs of animals in the ocean and on land, causing their deaths. Try to make these small changes daily in order to combat this deadly disease plaguing our world, and hopefully, we can save the world.
