10 Jan 10 Ways To Be Better Environmental Steward in 2018
If one of your New Year’s Resolutions is to take action where you can to make a difference, writing for EcoWatch, Cassie Kelly outlines “10 Ways to Be a better Environmental Steward in 2018.”
Protecting the natural environment may seem overwhelming with increased natural disasters, melting sea ice, and threatened wildlife. But your choices can truly go a long way for your community and your health. Here are ten ways to be a better steward in 2018 and help others do the same!
1. Reduce the Carbon Footprint of Your Food
Image, courtesy EcoWatch.
Reducing your carbon footprint can seem daunting when learning about the many ways in which humans contribute to global greenhouse gas emissions. But there are a few things you can do to directly cut back on your own influence. Start by looking at your consumables, especially your food. When you factor in transportation, land use, pesticides and waste, food produces up to twice as much pollution as all of the cars on the planet. Being mindful of where your food comes from and how it was produced is the easiest way to cut back.
2. Reduce your Meat Consumption
Image, courtesy, jlastras / Wikimedia Commons.
In addition to knowing where and how your food was produced, it is also wise to cut back on meat. Livestock take up 49 percent of all agricultural emissions on the planet, according to a 2017 study. Although going vegan may not be the best option for you, reducing your meat consumption to just once a week, or even once a day, can make a world of difference. Try healthy alternative proteins such as pea protein or vitamin-rich vegetables such as beets. Your body and the planet will thank you.
3. Buy From Local Farms or Start Your Own
Image, courtesy, Fort Vancouver National Historic Site.
Buying from local farms is a great way to ensure that your food stays close to home and cuts back on the transportation costs or “food miles” of delivering food across the country, which can account for up to 11 percent of agricultural emissions. If locally-sourced food is scarce in your neck of the woods, consider starting your own community farm project. This is a great way to pull your town together toward a common goal and even solve social issues like poverty, hunger, mental illness and more.
4. Compost your Natural Waste
Image, courtesy, Pixabay.
Another great way to spare the environment from your waste is to compost. This simple technique would put a major dent into the 60 billion pounds of food materials that unnecessarily go to U.S. landfills each year. Many cities offer fairly cheap composting services and will make the entire process hands-off for you. You can also do it yourself and end up with rich soil for your own garden!
5. Change Your Mode of Transportation
Image, courtesy, U.S. Air Force / Senior Airman Chad Strohmeyer.
Despite the surge of electric and hybrid vehicles in 2017, fossil fuel transportation still accounts for 27 percent of greenhouse gas emissions in the U.S. Electric cars are more affordable and accessible than ever before, but there are plenty of ways to get from point A to point B in 2018 that will spare your wallet and the environment. Bicycling has grown tremendously in popularity, with more than 66 million bicyclists on the road as of 2017. Public transportation and ridesharing are also great ways to cut down on your fossil fuel consumption in 2018.
6. Cut Down On Single-Use Plastics and Microplastics…
Sorry, the comment form is closed at this time.