Climate change is real! Sure, you’ve heard of this time and again. Sure, you’ve given it a thought. And yes, you’ve also forgotten about it until you read another article that says, “Climate change is real!”. It is easy to forget about things that do not directly impact you. You don’t face floods, nor do you have a dearth of water. You don’t see the pollution affecting your breathing capacity and you do not see how bursting a few firecrackers impacts your oxygen supply.
Have you been wearing a sweater during the wrong months? Do you get to enjoy the rain a little too often now? Have you been paying higher water bills? Have you recently installed an RO water purifier? Have you had issues with the milk you drink? Do you have to switch on the AC a lot more during the year?
If your answer to even one of these questions is yes, you’ve been witnessing climate change and you didn’t even know it. It is in these small, yet continuous changes around you that shows you that THINGS ARE CHANGING. Stop looking for the big red flag, the minor ones are giving you a message, every single day.
Now, how do you help tackle climate change? Do you have these sudden urges to have 6 pack abs? You know it requires patience, resilience, and continuity by making small changes to your diet and activity levels. That is exactly how you can make an impact in this war against climate change. Take small steps every day and do it with patience and resilience.
Start Talking about it
When talks about climate change first came in, PR agencies paid by multi-national conglomerates did an excellent job at mocking the whole campaign. The same PR agencies are now jumping on the bandwagon to be “environmentally friendly.” The moral of all of this is, that they do not care as long as they get the monies. These agencies are doing an exceptional job of slyly putting the blame on you, an individual, and passing the responsibility of saving the earth onto you as well. So, speak up against these companies who hide behind the veil of CSR activities to “do good” for the community while actively leaving a large carbon footprint. Speak to your families, friends, and acquaintances about how they can take the smallest of steps to do their bit. If you manage to convince at least one other person to make a small difference in their daily habits, you’ve done a good job! Speak up in the companies you work for and challenge them to do better; create small movements everywhere you can.
Plant more trees
When Covid-19 first hit us, and we went into lockdown, do you remember all the plants you bought to keep you company? It’s time to revive them, feed them with nutrients, and water those babies. In this day and age, it has become difficult to find a piece of land where you can plant a tree. So, take the easy way out and just plant as many house plants as you can fathom, and make sure they stay alive. Not only do they help with adding oxygen levels to your surroundings, but they also make your space look beautiful, is a good a topic of conversation, help with your mental health, and just might help you with your instagrammable picture corner. It’s a win-win-win! Start small with the easy ones, like lucky bamboo, a snake plant, or a money plant. They’re the easiest to maintain and not-kill.
Build homes the right way
This one is for the people who plan on building their own little homes. Look for architects who can help build a sustainable home for you. If you live in colder regions, insulating your homes using the right building plan and materials, might help you rely on room-heaters a little less. If you live in regions where the sun turns you into toast (almost), find architects who can help you make your home cooler. Clay tile roofs are amazing. They keep your home cool and add an extra oomph to your aesthetics while reducing your reliance on the AC substantially. The most important point being sustainable housing is the “in-thing” today. If this doesn’t convince you, I do not know what will. wink wink
Power your home with renewable energy
Add this point to the one made above, and you’re doing a brilliant job at this climate change thing! If you currently do not plan on rebuilding your whole house just because I’m asking you to, well, you can take the step to ensure that the electricity you use to power your home comes from a renewable source, i.e., the sun or wind. Solar panels especially have been very rampant in the Indian market in recent times. Investing in solar panels may burn a hole in your pocket, however, along with making yourself a climate savior, you also end up paying little to none for your electricity usage. You make back all the money in the span of a few years! If you live in apartments and communities, start discussing with your association to bring in solar panels to power society. They can start small by powering only the lights being used in common areas, and then add more to the portfolio.
Be energy efficient
If you are looking to replace your old ACs, refrigerators, or light bulbs, look for appliances that have a good star rating in terms of energy efficiency. You may have to shell out a little more, but it will be worth the investment when you pay much lesser in electricity bills. Remind yourself to switch off the charger once your phone is done charging, switch off the TV at the source instead of with the remote, and switch off any appliances when not in use. It sure is easier to let them stay on when not in use, but the extra effort you take to switch them on and then off will help you burn those extra calories, for sure. Again, there’s no losing being a climate change warrior!
Reduce waste
Only order or cook as much food as you can eat or save the remaining for a later meal. UN’s Food and Agricultural Organization says global food loss and waste generates emissions which is equivalent to global road transport emissions. Cooking the right amount or saving the extra for a later meal also helps you reduce that food budget that has been haunting you in your sleep. If your credit card bill was not a reason enough to get yourself to stop shopping every other week, here’s another reason, fast fashion impacts the environment. It takes a lot of effort and strength to not succumb to the culture of fast fashion with thousands of influencers encouraging you to buy more clothes than you need. Business Insider says fashion production comprises 10% of total global carbon emissions. Even after using up water resources to create these textiles, 85% of all textiles go to landfills each year.
Reduce water waste
Remember those little drops of water than keep escaping the tap even after you’ve tightened it? Do they not annoy you and borderline traumatize you when you are trying hard to concentrate on that task? Well, these droplets are telling you that it is time to call a plumber! The easy task of ensuring that your tap does not leak saves one litre of water per hour. Covid-19 has taught all of us to wash our hands for 20 seconds, but did you know that you do not need to leave the tap running when you’re washing your hand? Yes, you got that right! You only need water before and after the 20-second rule, not during. The RO water purifier that you recently installed, wastes about 3–4 litres of water for every litre of drinkable water it produces. You are not being asked to stop using the RO, but you can find a way to save the wasted water to be used to wash your utensils or do your laundry. Harvard University says, if you reduce your well-deserved 30-minute-long warm water showers by just 5 minutes, you’re saving about 45 litres of water each time and saving on your electricity bill.
Invest responsibly
Yes, the most important rule when you have money is to make more money from it. However, you can make the conscious choice to only invest in companies that are actively making efforts to reduce their carbon footprint, rather than using it just as a PR gimmick. Invest in companies that are looking into growing the renewable sources segment. Do not let these conglomerates use your money to fund their emissions.
Reduce, Reuse, Recycle
Surely, you’ve heard of this line far more than you’re willing to accept. Reduce the usage of plastic as much as possible. Carry that cute little tote bag you bought last week when you go grocery shopping. Use the steel straw that comes in the fancy pouch. Carry your sustainable water bottle everywhere you go and don’t forget to keep yourself hydrated. There’s no shame in wearing the same pair of jeans for 5 years, it just shows that you know how to do your laundry. Do not let the world shame you into thinking that reusing your clothes is uncool. Throwing away money unnecessarily is what is uncool. Remember the days when your t-shirt suddenly became the house mop after a few years? Good old days! Bring back those “oh-so-middle-class” days when your parents taught you to recycle your old clothes and to reuse all the plastic covers that ever entered your home.
Transform the way you move
Transportation accounts for a quarter of all the greenhouse gas emissions across the world, as per the United Nations. Do you need to take the car, or will your scooter do the deed? Do you need to ride to the store which is only a kilometre away? How many calories would you burn if you walk/cycle to the store instead? Ask yourself these simple questions every time you step out of your house. Taking the environmentally friendly choice may help you finally start your fitness regimen without having to go to the gym. Or buying an electric vehicle instead will again help you add to your savings just a little more.
In this fight against Climate Change, you have the power to change the narrative. Haven’t you heard of the phrase, “It starts at home”? You as an individual do not need to make a 180-degree turn in the way you do things in life to make an impact. One thing at a time, one step at a time, that’s all we ask of you.
Making the right choice does not need to be difficult, it is as easy as you make it to be.