The debate on climate change and human’s impact on the environment has become a global issue in the past decade. With all of the talk about what humans are doing wrong, it’s easy to feel pessimistic. In fact, 40% of Americans feel helpless against climate change, while 29% feel hopeless.
Despite (or because of) this feeling of helplessness, people are still looking for ways to help. A Pew Research Center report said that 80% of people are willing to make changes in their lives to combat climate change and help their environment; they just don’t know where to start.
Many practices that help the environment also increase physical activity, lower stress, and save money. Check out these tips on what you can do to help the environment:
Compost. Food in landfills contributes to the release of methane into the air. Having a small compost pile in your backyard helps reduce greenhouse gas emissions by trapping carbon dioxide in the soil. The best way to avoid food waste, however, is to eat the food that you buy. See how to start your own compost pile here.
Grow your own food. Put your compost to good use by starting a garden in nutrient-filled soil! Not only does growing your own food give you security in where your food comes from, but it can also encourage you to eat more vegetables and less meat and dairy, which can reduce your environmental footprint. Growing food puts you in control of what goes into your food, effectively reducing the number of harmful chemicals that pollute waterways and the environment.
Live more sustainably. Sustainable living not only benefits the environment but also your wallet. Investing in things that are built to last will save you money in the long run and keep you from adding to landfill waste. Find out more on how to live sustainably.
Save energy at home. Excessive energy usage contributes to your carbon footprint and energy bill. By making a few, small changes to your home habits, you can cut down on both. Turn off lights and appliances you aren’t using, or switch to LED lights to reduce energy consumption. Try to remember to unplug devices that are fully charged or rarely used. If you are able, turn your heating down a couple of degrees.
Take public transportation or walk. Transportation is the largest contributor to carbon emissions in America. If your location allows, public transit can be an environmentally-friendly swap to cars, as they add to air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions. Ditching public and private transportation for biking or walking is another option that increases physical activity and well-being.
Take care of your car. Sometimes people don’t have the option to ride public transportation, so if you still want to be environmentally conscious while driving your car, take care of it. Americans could save 1.2 billion gallons of gas each year if everyone kept their tires properly inflated. Regular tune-ups can boost miles per gallon anywhere from 4% to 40%, with a new air filter increasing your mileage by 10%.
Raise awareness and take action. The single best way to make a change is to tell people about it! Talk to your family, friends, and coworkers about little things they can do to fight climate change. You can also contact local representatives and elected officials and encourage them to make changes that help the environment instead of hurting it.
Wellzesta
Environmental wellness is one of Wellzesta’s eight dimensions of wellness. Wellzesta aids in reducing paper waste by centralizing data and communication onto one platform.
Wellzesta Life’s daily wellness content also offers resources that educate users on environmental changes and actions they can take to effectively fight climate change and better their environment.
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