Ways you can Help Slow Climate Change

Different actions you can take to slow climate change.
Photo By Worldwatch Institute 

Both those of us who believed in climate change and those who prefer to ignore it had a harsh awakening to reality with the recent horrible storms Hurricane Harvey, which dumped around 50 inches of rain on Houston in just three days, or Hurricane Irma, the most powerful hurricane on record in the open Atlantic Ocean.

    In a recent Facebook post, Michael Mann, scientist at Pennsylvania State University, said that climate change makes storms stronger, and that is what happened with Harvey. Mann stated “while we cannot say climate change ‘caused’ hurricane Harvey (that is an ill-posed question), we can say that it exacerbate [sic] several characteristics of the storm in a way that greatly increased the risk of damage and loss of life.”

    With that said, maybe it is time to think of what we, as individuals, can do to stop or slow down climate change. Even if you think that one person cannot achieve anything on a global scale, remember that a sea is made of single drops. Here are some simple but helpful things you can do:

Eat wisely

    Eating organic and locally grown food is not only better for your health, but also for the planet as it minimizes transportation required to move the products to the chain stores. Try to go vegan or at least vegetarian. Estimations of animal agriculture’s greenhouse gas emissions differ, but according to Worldwatch Institute, it comes up to 51 percent, Forbes according to Forbes. Worldwatch Institute suggests that meat and dairy production might be a huge greenhouse gas emitter. If you are still not convinced to give up meat completely, try to do it at least one day a week.

Be energy more efficient

    There is a bunch of small things you can do which will not only help the planet in the long run but also save you some money. Unplug your electronics when you don’t use them, hang dry your clothes instead of using dryers (they are very energy inefficient), wash your clothes in cold or warm water (not hot), take a shower instead of a bath when you can, install a thermostat, and change the light bulbs to LEDs in your house.

Walk when you can

    Cars have long been known as contributors to climate change. They require a lot of energy to build, maintain, use, and fuel. While it is hard or even impossible for many to give up their vehicles, you can choose to walk places when it is an option. Transportation departments keep track of road usage and transit trips, Forbes says, and once they see there are more pedestrians and fewer cars, they might improve public transportation and make streets safer. Also, try to reduce the amount of air travel you take – it leaves a huge carbon print on the planet.

Reduce and reuse waste

    Reduce the amount of waste you produce, as it ultimately contributes to the production of greenhouse gases. Try to cut down on using plastic and reuse what you cannot give up. Let the manufacturers of the products you consume know that you would very much like eco-friendly packaging. Recycle when you can, but remember that even though it is definitely better than just piling waste in landfills, recycling is still a carbon intensive procedure when it comes to transporting and processing. In the end, just try to be more mindful and take one fewer plastic bag during your next Walmart run.