Fighting climate change, of course, requires decisive action on a global scale. But everyone can contribute their little bit to the common cause.
New Year is a time when many take stock and make a list of goals for the future. So why not include a more sustainable lifestyle on this list - especially since it does not require a lot of effort and expense? Here are five simple, affordable, and most importantly effective ways to take care of the environment.
Give up the car
Travel around the city not by private car, but by public transport or bicycle - at least one day a week.
Vehicle emissions account for a fifth of all CO2 emissions, with cars and buses being the most polluted.
According to the British Center for Energy Research (CREDS), the average level of emissions from a passenger car is 2.04 tons of carbon dioxide equivalent annually (this is a conventional unit for estimating greenhouse gas emissions - Ed.).
Eat less red meat
Another way to be environmentally friendly is to eat less red meat. It is recommended to replace this product with poultry, and even better - with vegetables. Food production accounts for about a quarter of all greenhouse gas emissions, which most coming from meat and dairy products.
A 2018 study found that producing a kilogram of beef produces 60 kg of greenhouse gases. For comparison: per kilogram of poultry, this figure is only six kg, and per kilogram of peas - one kg of harmful gases.
Produce less trash
According to the UN, about a third of the food produced worldwide ends up in the trash heap. Discarded food rots in landfills and emits methane gas, which accounts for up to 10 percent of all greenhouse gas emissions. Therefore, it is important to think carefully about your diet and buy only those foods that you will definitely eat.
Go gardening
You don't need a lot of space to grow plants - even if you don't have a summer cottage, a balcony is perfect for this. Another way to reduce the amount of methane released into the atmosphere is to compost food waste in a bin and use the resulting compost as fertilizer.
Buy fewer clothes
Buying fewer clothes in 2021 is another way to be more environmentally friendly. The textile industry produces more than a billion tonnes of CO2 annually - more than all international air travel and shipping. To this must be added the pollution of the oceans by microplastics from textile fibers and the use of toxic chemicals.
Recently, however, many fashion lovers have realized that sustainability is trending today. A variety of clothing rental services have appeared in different countries of the world, as well as online stores specializing in the sale of used items.
Source: DW
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