Pollution, rising temperatures, loss of biodiversity, ever-deteriorating air quality, all circumstances that we would like to avoid.
Citizens’ voice is making louder and louder to try and change things up, to ask for more attention at environmental policies.
But before waiting for the solutions to be proposed by others, we should be the first agents of change. When it comes to improving the environmental quality around us, abandoning bad habits to adopt new ones, the most common doubt concerns the ineffectiveness of the small actions that we, as individuals, can take.
Why should we be engaged in more sustainable lifestyles when there are millions of people and businesses out there who are polluting regardless of the consequences?
Considering that every year we produce 6.5 tons of CO2 each per year, the answer is quite obvious: if we don’t start reducing these quantities ourselves, no one will do it.
That’s why this article at Seeders Capital’s Media needs to make some light over this topic.
There are many methods to reduce enormous quantities of CO2, you just need to have some more attention in your everyday lifestyle.
Waste
Waste is a gigantic problem worldwide, we can solve it by making an equally important contribution. The first step is to pay more attention to where we throw our waste. Separate collection is now mandatory in almost every city, but if individual citizens do not carry it out correctly, it is a useless system.
We only have to spend an extra minute to divide paper, plastic, glass and wet waste when we clear the table, we will reduce our ecological footprint by a few tons only in a just two months, thus promoting waste separation processes, also improving recycling and the reuse of materials.
It is estimated that in Europe, by reusing the goods that are now thrown away, almost 6 million tons of greenhouse gas emissions and 44 million cubic meters of water would be saved every year.
Even when we are on vacation or just taking a walk, we can avoid throwing rubbish on the ground, be it cigarettes, chewing gum or food.
A very important factor is also dictated by the purchases we make, if we persist in buying plastic or disposable items, we will only contribute to the advancement of environmental degradation.
We can prefer recycled or recyclable items, trying to use them as much as possible before throwing them in the correct container. We can also choose products with registered quality brands, which certify attention to environmental sustainability during the production process.
Mobility
The way we move also has a great impact on pollution, if we decide to use our car even for small trips, we contribute a lot to the increase of fine particles in our own city. In addition to producing CO2 and other harmful substances, a study published in Atmospheric Environment attributes almost 50% of the atmospheric pollution due to road traffic to the state of the vehicle, with particular reference to brake wear, but also to the wear of the vehicle. road surface and particles raised by the road as vehicles pass.
It can be more efficient, rewarding and with a lower environmental impact, choosing to move around by bicycle, by public transport or, when we have to make short distances, even on foot.
Water
Waste of water is also a problem that we can solve. This is an increasingly precious asset nowadays, we must and can preserve what is left of us with simple everyday gestures. Turn off the tap when we are not using it, avoid too long showers, all actions that will help us to reduce the famous 6.5 tons that weigh us every year.
But how do we know if our actions can truly make a difference? We just have to think about it for a moment, by acting in a more sustainable way we will not only have an effect on the environment on an individual level, but we will also be able to positively influence the people around us. The people who live at home with us will in turn be more encouraged to act in the same way (also because, in most cases, reusing and reducing waste is worth the money). Friends, family members, will be able to have an example from which to start to reduce their ecological footprint.
Each of us can therefore reduce the environmental impact of at least 2 or 3 people.
These actions, like many others that we have proposed along our Media Section, are key to increase global sustainability consciousness!
