People can do really simple easy things. Buy some potted plants, this can mean bees, butterflies, ladybirds/ladybugs and other insects have a food source. This mean that farming foods will be easier as the pollinators are supported and can be increase back to the numbers they once were before they started dying off.
Buy and plant some small (or big) trees, this means that photosynthesis can take place. The demand from plants, means that CO2 can be taken out of the atmosphere. This reduces the effects of global warming and climate change. I know it seems like you can't do anything, but every small thing you do, adds up. You can inspire those you know, to take action by your side, acting together makes your actions and theirs stronger and more impact-full.
Buy house plants and products that are better for the environment. For example buy products from brands that have a reduced or neutral carbon footprint. (I will have a section on what companies are better to use and which are worse.)
*Bamboo coffee mug, this means no more plastic take away cups, straws or lids.
*Recyclable/recycled reusable material shopping bags
*Second guess the façade of popular companies and less popular ones too. Are they lying about their investments even a few minutes of research can unearth something that turns you away from them.
*Take news with a pinch of salt. Be cynical about what you read it may not be true and always do your research.
*Reduce your meat consumption you'll find it healthier for you. Note I didn't say cut it out reducing your meat if it's all you're willing to do can help a lot! If you want to change to vegetarian that's your choice I won't say do it and I won't say don't.
*Buy seeds and grow your own fruit and vegetables- this reduces emissions from transport and reduces plastic use
*Change to a renewable energy supplier
*Check if your bank is investing in oil or any other unethical things and switch to a more ethical bank
*Sign petitions and share information with others about improving the way we live to save the environment.
*Email MPs and the PM (if you're in the UK, they might have different names in other countries) so essentially email those in power including supermarket chain owners and pressure them into reducing plastic, deciding on laws that reduce emissions and force companies to change to help the environment
*Shop locally instead of in supermarkets when possible
*Solar power
*Carry a water bottle around with you (preferably metal) to reduce buying single use plastic bottles
*Buy second hand or wear 100% organic cotton clothes or buy clothes from Bam, they are bamboo, super soft, good for the environment, suitable for sensitive skin, antibacterial, thermos controlling and UV protective but beware they use a lot of water.
*Don't leave light on when you aren't in the room, simple I know, but many people forget
*Put a jumper on don't turn the heating up
*Don't buy things you don't need
*Don't support companies that are bad for the environment, stop buying from them, stop watching them if it's a TV show.
*Avoid buying things with plastic packaging, for example buying loose vegetables and fruit
*Reusable sanitary towels, you wash them in the washing machine, they are actually so much more comfortable than plastic ones, and they are cheaper long term too. They may look expensive short term, but they are worth it, trust me I use them.
*Show not tell. This is something I learnt in my English lessons when I was at school but it applies here too in a different meaning. Don't tell people to be better and nag, inform them and show them that it's possible
*Believe in yourself and your impact. Never say well it's just me doing it so it doesn't matter, it always does.
What can companies do?
Companies have a lot of power in our consumerist and capitalist society. Social media has given companies the power over a lot of people. They have the opportunity to help people become aware.
Use renewable sources of energy, in Scotland off shore they use wind turbines.
Companies, good or bad?
Bad companies/products
Energy company number one for bad for the environment: Chevron 3.25% of the world's emissions, fined $9.5 million for dumping waste in rivers, $2 million dollars for oil spills and another $19.3 million for another oil spill in 2011 which caused 15,000 people to get medical treatment for respiratory problems.
Plastic production wise on clean ups these companies' products have been commonly discovered: PepsiCo, Coca-Cola and Nestlé.
Good companies/products
IKEA: this company is invested in sustainability, they want to be completely renewable and are trying to be for 2020, they plan to start selling solar panels in the UK and have over 700,000 solar panels powering their stores.
Adobe: they have reduced their water usage by 60% since 2000, they have ambitious goals like getting to net zero energy consumption and they are reducing packaging.
Tesla: they have been named as one of the top green businesses in the world in the first Carbon Clean 200 list published in 2016 according to The Guardian. Their cars are vital in reducing carbon emissions and burning of fossil fuels.
Capita: they use 100% clean energy and the snowboards are 'hand-crafted' here is a piece form their website "[Capita]was awarded the Energy Globe Award for the Carinthia region in 2017. Known as Nature's Nobel Prize, with 178 participating countries, the Energy Globe is today's most prestigious environmental award. It is presented annually to projects focusing on renewable energies and the conservation of resources."
Plastics, why are they bad?
Plastics were originally thought to be very good. This is because they are light weight, strong easily moulded (formed into a certain shape) and there are different stiffness' of plastic. Plastics were an incredibly amazing and useful invention. For carrier bags and flexible packaging as well as rigid and stiff packaging like trays, children's cutlery and bottles.
However, as research has come to light and as the mass production and use of plastics has become overwhelming the painful consequences of it have been discovered. Plastic takes up to 1000 years to decompose in landfill. Plastic straws or bags can be eaten by turtles or mistaken for jellyfish. If you have no empathy or humanity and think oh well this doesn't affect me, sorry mate, you're wrong. Plastic has effects on human hormones as well.
Plastic when decomposed is called micro plastics, this is just really small plastic. Fish eat these micro plastics. If you eat fish, you are essentially eating plastic. So yeah, this affects you, the ecosystem, the economy, towns and cities and wildlife everywhere. The micro plastics from landfill will enter the water, the water is then used for farming. These plants are fed to humans like vegetarians or vegans and all other animals, that carnivores/omnivores eat.
Essentially, it doesn't matter who you are, where you live or what you eat it will eventually effect you.
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Climate Change- My Personal Opinions and Tips
Non-FictionThis is a story that is not written to educate those who don't understand climate change, it's an attempt to, but I can't guarantee I know my stuff well enough, this is more about encouraging you to research deeper into these things yourself with so...
