According to the United Nations, climate change is not only the defining concern of our day, but we are also at a watershed moment in history. Weather patterns are shifting, threatening food supply, and sea levels are increasing, potentially causing catastrophic flooding worldwide. Countries must take dramatic measures to avert permanent harm to important ecosystems and global climate.
But what about individuals? What can we do to help rescue the Earth? There are several things you can do every day to help reduce greenhouse emissions and your carbon footprint and so have a less negative influence on the environment. Taking care of the Earth is not just a responsibility, but also a need.In that spirit, HowStuffWorks has compiled a list of ten things you can do right now to help rescue the Earth.
1. Save Water
Little things may make a huge difference. You're doing excellent every time you turn off the water while brushing your teeth. Have a dripping faucet? Every day, you might be flushing up to 90 gallons (340 liters) of water down the toilet [source: EPA]. So repair it! It is simple and inexpensive. Also, quit drinking bottled water. Use filtered tap water instead. You'll save a ton of money while also helping to decrease a ton of plastic garbage.
2. Be aware of your surroundings when driving.
If possible, avoid driving two days a week or more. You will cut greenhouse gas emissions by an average of 1,590 pounds (721 kilos) per year [source: EPA]. It's easier than you think. You may combine your errands and go to the school, grocery store, and dog daycare all in one trip. And discuss teleworking with your supervisor. It's a boon for you and your business. However, being automobile mindful also entails servicing your vehicle on a regular basis. You may increase your gas mileage by 0.6 percent to 3 percent by keeping your tires filled to the right pressure and making required repairs if your automobile fails emission tests [source: EPA].
3. Walk, ride a bike, or take public transportation.
Walking and biking are obvious methods of lowering greenhouse gas emissions. You'll also get some cardio and burn some calories. If you reside in a location that is not walkable, use public transportation as often as possible. You might also carpool. It just takes one automobile off the road to make a difference.
4. Reducing, Reusing, and Recycling
Simply placing that drink can in the recycling bin can help to minimize pollution. It truly does make a difference. Paper as well. Each year, the average American family discards 13,000 pieces of paper, the majority of which is junk mail and packaging [source: Brigham Young University]. You may, however, bring reusable bags to the grocery store and avoid using throwaway plates, utensils, glasses, cups, and napkins. Contact firms who send you junk mail and ask to be removed from their mailing lists. When ordering online, investigate if you can combine your products together for shipment. Purchase items made of recycled materials. And don't forget to recycle your own paper. It all counts.
5. Replace incandescent bulbs with LEDs
CFLs (compact fluorescent light bulbs) are fantastic. They can last ten times as long as incandescent lights and consume at least two-thirds the energy, yet even CFLS have drawbacks. Because they contain mercury, they are difficult to dispose of. Then there are light-emitting diode (LED) bulbs. They produce light in a relatively narrow wavelength region, making them extremely energy-efficient. If you haven't already, start replacing your old incandescent lights with LED bulbs. They are more expensive than CFLs and incandescents, but equivalent LED bulbs have a lifespan of at least 30,000 hours, compared to 1,000 hours for incandescent bulbs and 8,000 to 10,000 hours for CFLs.
6. Consume sustainable foods.
As much as 25% of the greenhouse gases released today are related to industrial food production. Therefore, how do you eat sustainably? Buying food from producers who make an effort to minimize their influence on the environment and the natural resources they use. However, even supporting local farmers by purchasing as much as you can changes things. Consuming fewer red meats and processed meals while increasing your intake of nutritious grains, vegetables, fruits, and nuts can help. you may produce your own fruits and vegetables. A garden is possible to grow.
7. Grow a Tree—or Two
Things are worse than ever before, according to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) report from the United Nations in 2023. While most nations are failing to reduce carbon emissions, greenhouse gas emissions are still rising. However, there is an organic approach to stop climate change: Put in a tree. Naturally, plants take up carbon from the atmosphere. The rate of CO2 absorption by a young tree is 13 pounds (5 kilos) per tree. All. Year. Long. And that is only a tiny baby tree. Its capacity for storing carbon is at its peak once the tree reaches the age of roughly 10 years. It may then take in 48 pounds (21 kilograms) of CO2 annually. Sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, and other airborne debris of all sizes are also removed by trees. So feel free to plant a tree. Everyone benefits from it.
8. Avoid using plastics
The figures are shocking: 5 trillion single-use plastic bags are used annually and 1 million plastic water bottles are purchased globally every minute. People are addicted to plastic, but only around 9 percent of it is recycled. Our oceans already contain an astounding 68 to 219 million tons (75 to 199 million metric tons) of plastic. Cut the cycle off. Don't buy bottled water anymore. Avoid using plastic shopping bags and switch to cloth ones. Use paper straws only. Instead of using a plastic cup, use a reusable one. Avoiding plastic can keep tons of trash out of landfills and oceans.
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