5 Ways You Can Help Your Environment Right Now

5 Ways You Can Help Your Environment Right Now
“Climate change is no longer some far off problem. It is happening here, it is happening now,” said Barrack Obama.  Scientists agree we are now experiencing the sixth mass extinction the Earth has seen– although the first to be caused by humans.  We are a species with an incredible ability to both create and destroy.  Integrating small, easy changes into our everyday lives can produce an enormous difference.  There is so much we can do as an individual to make a real impact on our Mother Earth.


Sail across the Pacific Ocean and you may encounter an island of garbage spanning 1.6 million km2 .  That’s almost as large as the entire country of Mexico.   Record breaking temperatures are felt around the world.  There is no scientific debate about climate change, only those who take action versus others who would rather stick their head in the sand (which there will be a lot more of due to desertification).  Luckily, our situation is not hopeless, because there are people like you who care to take personal responsibility and aid our ailing planet.


By taking care of your body, you give yourself permission to take care of others and your environment.  Eating a plant based diet, exercising, communing with nature and staying informed on the current issues at hand are all excellent beginnings. 


Here are five things you can do right now to help your environment.


1.  Try Going Meat Free

Eating vegan is now seen as the “single biggest way” to reduce our carbon footprint.  By now, most of us have heard of the countless health benefits of a vegan diet - including reduced risk of Alzheimers, diabetes, heart disease, stroke, and obesity.  But it actually goes even deeper.  By choosing plant based meat free options, you’re voting with your dollar to save rainforests, animals, and fossil fuels.
A comprehensive meta-analysis by the University of Oxford found that cutting meat and dairy products from diet reduces your carbon footprint by up to 73%.  Published in the journal Science, it is the most extensive analysis to date on the impact of animal agricultural farming by comprising data of 40,000 farms in 119 countries.  The farming stage of food production for the livestock we consume accounts for 61% of greenhouse gas emissions (81% including deforestation).  This is amazing news for those looking for more reasons to go vegan, or transition to meat free nourishment!  
Note: When switching to a vegan, vegetarian, or plant based diet, supplementation, monitoring macro and micronutrients, and blood levels are all  key!  It’s easy to encounter nutrient deficiencies when switching to a plant based diet, but the app Cronometer is an excellent food tracker that monitor your food intake beyond just calories. It is essential to be informed and consult a nutritionist on how to create a thriving, balanced life and maintain vitality when transitioning what you eat.  

2.  Reduce Your Consumption of Single Use Plastics

Virtually every piece of plastic ever made still exists in some shape or form, and 91% of plastic waste isn’t recycled.  We now have an island of garbage and plastic, called the ‘Great Pacific Garbage Patch’, that has grown to over 617,000 square miles (that’s over 298 million football fields) between Hawai’i and California.  Sea turtles, fish, birds, whales and other creatures die or are seriously maimed due to plastic waste that ends up in our oceans.  But what are we to do, when seemingly all of our “essential” items are made from plastic, wrapped in plastic, and bagged in… you guessed it!  Plastic.

• Say no to straws.  500 million straws are used per day.  Let your waiter or bartender know you’d prefer no straw in your next beverage, and purchase stainless steel straws like these.
• Buy reusable shopping bags.  500 billion bags are produced annually.  Reusable fabric bags are around $1, and let the cute guy/gal in line know you give a crap about our planet.
• Replace water bottles with a Hydroflask.  Rather than single use plastic bottles, invest in a trendy Hydroflask for on the go hydration.  You can also buy 5 gallon glass jugs, and fill them with fresh spring water at your local water store.
• Boycott snacks and foods with plastic packaging.  You vote with your dollar.  Avoid items wrapped in plastic.  Find a health foods store near you that uses minimum plastics.
• Swap your plastic toothbrush for a bamboo version.  Get a four pack on Amazon for under $11.

  Overall, there are almost unlimited ways to avoid single use plastics and reshape your life to be kinder to our extraordinary planet.  If you notice something you’re using is plastic, you can be guaranteed there’s an eco-friendly alternative.

3. Contact Your Local Government Officials / Join An Activist Group in Your Area!

Amazing, seemingly impossible accomplishments can happen when we come together for a common goal.  In August 2017, the Trump administration reversed its decision to delay Obama-set regulations on the ozone national standard from 75 parts per billion to 70 parts per billion.  This is a success due to 16 Democratic state attorneys, who sued Scott Pruitt of the EPA.  Your vote, and voice, matters.  Here are some ways you can make a difference on a local and national level.

• Volunteer or Advocate for the Citizens’ Climate Lobby.  This nonpartisan advocacy organization trains and supports volunteers to build relationships with elected officials, the media, and community to take real climate action.  Sign up here to join your local branch.
• Join the Sierra Club.  This grassroots environmental organization touts over 3 million members and has some formidable accomplishments under their belt including: helping pass the Clean Air Act, Clean Water Act, and Endangered Species Act.  There are tons of ways to get involved on their website.
• Become a Tree Ambassador for One Tree Planted.  “One dollar, one tree.”  For every dollar donated, One Tree Planted plants a tree.  Becoming a tree ambassador is easy– organize a local meetup in your area and meet some cool like-minded people along the way, or attend one of their local events!
• Volunteer to Clean a Beach, Lake or Park.  Skip the indulgent Netflix binge session this weekend and invite your significant other on a romantic date cleaning our environment.  Google is your ally– search local cleanup groups in your area, while breathing fresh air and soaking up sunshine at the same time.
• Take a College Course to Educate Yourself.  Always been interested in environmental sustainability, plant science, nutrition or activism?  There’s a course for that!  Talk to admissions at your community college and inquire as to what you can study.  You don’t have to get a degree– however, knowledge is power.  This action will also buff up the ‘skills’ section of your resume!

These are just some of the many ways to impact and transform the earth.  Feel empowered knowing that there are thousands of people in your city and region just like you, who wake up every morning wanting to make a difference.  All you have to do is reach out a helping hand.


4.  Recycle EVERYTHING.

There are a variety of raw materials that can be recycled, including: paper, plastic, electronics, aluminum, glass and more.  How to recycle these products can be tricky, and differ within regions.  Take into consideration the resources you already have, like whether your house/apartment readily recycles, have access to a car, or get creative with reusing.  All these listed are factors when it comes to recycling, which can be solved and overcome.  Here are some helpful resources:

• If you live in the US, check out berecycled.org.  On their website, you can enter your zip code to find the nearest recycling centers, as well as up to date information on the recycling laws in your area.
• For those in the UK, this website will lead you as to where and how to recycle.
• Take plastic and glass bottles to your local recycling center, as they can add up to some real cash!  Save your beverage containers, and bring them with you on your way to the grocery store or running errands to get some money back.
• If you live in an apartment building that doesn’t recycle, find a local recycling center near you, and convert some drawers in your home as dedicated waste storage in between loads.  
• Save your cans, and bring them to your local grocery store, some of which have buy back programs.

“Reduce, reuse, recycle” is a mantra we should all keep in the forefront of our thoughts.  Recycling is one aspect of saving the planet, but don’t forget to reduce consumption of plastics, aluminum, and other raw materials when possible, and get creative to reuse.

5. Reduce Carbon Emissions from Driving

When possible, walking, bicycling, or public transportation is a healthy and green alternative to driving.  The average vehicle emits 4.6 metric tons of carbon dioxide per year.  To put that in perspective, humans breathe out approximately .328 metric tons of carbon dioxide per year.  Pre industrial era, there was a tremendous amount less carbon dioxide being released into the air due to transportation.  Below are some ways you can make a shift in returning our planet to the state it was given to us.

• Walk or ride a bicycle when possible.
• Carpool to work, school and other activities.  This will also create closer relationships, an important factor, considering the UK just appointed a Minister for Loneliness in 2018.
• Trade in your gas guzzler for a fuel efficient, low carbon vehicle.  There are many government incentives for fully electric cars like the Nissan Leaf or Kia Soul EV.  You can also save heaps of money on gas by switching to a hybrid car.
• Instead of buying an SUV, get a high-mounted cargo rack.  Racks can only put you back a couple hundred bucks.  Between the money you’ll save in gas and cost of the car, it will be well worth it.
• Don’t forget to check your tire inflation!  Improve your gas mileage by around 3% by keeping your tires full of air.

There are plenty of ways to impact our environment, and even more reasons to do so.  Climate change is here, it’s real, and it’s not going away, unless we take personal responsibility and mobilize our efforts.  Whether it is political, through nutrition, volunteering, recycling, or (hopefully) all of the above, feel empowered knowing we have so many options to affect our environment positively.  And every time you take a deep inhale, remember, you have our spectacular Mother Earth to give thanks.