Day 198 of 365 - Does Climate Change Matter to Me?
Maybe until recent years, many of us have been able to ignore the warnings of climate change, because it just didn't seem to affect our day to day life a whole lot. That is now rapidly changing.
With Earth Day almost upon us, I turned to one of my magazines which devoted a whole issue to discussions and strategies related to climate change. It was a very good reminder of the increasing urgency, along with practical strategies.
Many people are still not quite sure what to believe, but climate scientists have more and more evidence than ever before that climate change is definite and that we humans are causing it. Scientists have understood it for more than 100 years. Burning coal, gas and oil has created a warming blanket around the earth. In the past 20 years, hot temperature records have been broken almost three times as often as cold ones. Catastrophic weather is on the rise, as are floods and forest fires. Rising temperatures bring an increase in health problems like respiratory issues, heat stroke and disease carrying insects.
Still, some of us may not yet directly feel the impact, so we continue to live as though resources are unlimited. Perhaps it helps to know for example that, if you are a skier, the snow pack is shrinking each year. Or, if you are a birder, migration patterns are changing. Climate change is already affecting growing seasons and food supply and will only worsen.
So, what can we do? Personally, we can make more of a habit practices we already know about, but are not consistent with. Reduce fuel consumption by walking, biking, using public transit, car pooling or more thoughtfully planning car use to reduce multiple trips. Waste less, especially food, by planning for meals and attending to what's in the fridge. Use environmentally friendly options like reusable containers and bags or biodegradable packaging. Generally speaking, consume and shop less and recycle more.
There are even several eco-apps available to help with reminders and data tracking for all these things, for those who are so inclined.
For myself, there are certainly more steps I could be taking regarding eco-friendly practices. We own a lot of reusable shopping bags and we definitely use them, but not 100 percent of the time. More than once I have vowed to not bring home any more plastic shopping bags, yet there is still a stash below the kitchen cupboard. I assuage my guilt by filling them with items that I donate to Goodwill.
I've increased our supply of reusable containers for food storage but still have way more plastic ones than glass. I have yet to take containers with me when I shop for food but am much less often using those produce bags in the grocery store. I really need to get some reusable ones.
We are quite good about recycling but still create more waste than we should, primarily with paper products, plastic wrapping and trimmings from cut up produce.
The articles I read however, did have some stats to show that the changes individuals make, like using less heating and cooling in our homes, recycling, driving less, and eating less meat do make a difference. If we all do what we can and aim to be more environmentally conscious, we'll all help maintain our Earth as our home for ourselves and future generations.
With Earth Day almost upon us, I turned to one of my magazines which devoted a whole issue to discussions and strategies related to climate change. It was a very good reminder of the increasing urgency, along with practical strategies.
Many people are still not quite sure what to believe, but climate scientists have more and more evidence than ever before that climate change is definite and that we humans are causing it. Scientists have understood it for more than 100 years. Burning coal, gas and oil has created a warming blanket around the earth. In the past 20 years, hot temperature records have been broken almost three times as often as cold ones. Catastrophic weather is on the rise, as are floods and forest fires. Rising temperatures bring an increase in health problems like respiratory issues, heat stroke and disease carrying insects.
Still, some of us may not yet directly feel the impact, so we continue to live as though resources are unlimited. Perhaps it helps to know for example that, if you are a skier, the snow pack is shrinking each year. Or, if you are a birder, migration patterns are changing. Climate change is already affecting growing seasons and food supply and will only worsen.
So, what can we do? Personally, we can make more of a habit practices we already know about, but are not consistent with. Reduce fuel consumption by walking, biking, using public transit, car pooling or more thoughtfully planning car use to reduce multiple trips. Waste less, especially food, by planning for meals and attending to what's in the fridge. Use environmentally friendly options like reusable containers and bags or biodegradable packaging. Generally speaking, consume and shop less and recycle more.
There are even several eco-apps available to help with reminders and data tracking for all these things, for those who are so inclined.
For myself, there are certainly more steps I could be taking regarding eco-friendly practices. We own a lot of reusable shopping bags and we definitely use them, but not 100 percent of the time. More than once I have vowed to not bring home any more plastic shopping bags, yet there is still a stash below the kitchen cupboard. I assuage my guilt by filling them with items that I donate to Goodwill.
I've increased our supply of reusable containers for food storage but still have way more plastic ones than glass. I have yet to take containers with me when I shop for food but am much less often using those produce bags in the grocery store. I really need to get some reusable ones.
We are quite good about recycling but still create more waste than we should, primarily with paper products, plastic wrapping and trimmings from cut up produce.
The articles I read however, did have some stats to show that the changes individuals make, like using less heating and cooling in our homes, recycling, driving less, and eating less meat do make a difference. If we all do what we can and aim to be more environmentally conscious, we'll all help maintain our Earth as our home for ourselves and future generations.
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