Climate Crisis

Climate change. Global warming. Climate conspiracy. They are hot topics. There are passionate supporters and there are vehement deniers. Whatever the opinions are, research and science point in one direction. Climate change is real and its impact is closer than we think. Let’s look at recent data that show us a path of doom and gloom unless we reduce our carbon footprint.

This past decade (2011-2020) was the warmest decade on record with 2016, 2019, and 2020 being among the hottest years. In fact, each successive decade since the 1980s has been warmer than the previous decade. If this record continues and if countries don’t meet the Paris Agreement goals, the average temperature could be 2.9°C higher in 2100. By 2050, major cities could see temperatures soaring by as much as 8°C, while the average temperature could rise by 4°-5°C. According to a British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) analysis, London could be as hot as Barcelona by 2050.

So how do CO2 emissions compare when we adjust for trade? Here is a useful visual.

There is an urgent need to take action… on the international, national, community, and individual levels to stop climate change. We can start today at home by reducing our carbon footprint.

6 Ways to Reduce Your Carbon Footprint

Use green transport

E-bikes. Electric cars. Electric trucks. Electric buses. Electric trains. Anything electric or anything that doesn’t use oil or gas as fuel is green transport. According to EPA, a typical gasoline vehicle emits almost 9 kg CO2/gallon. The amount is just over 10 kg CO2/gallon for diesel vehicles. In fact, a passenger vehicle releases about 4.6 metric tons of CO2 every year. On the contrary, electric vehicles reduce carbon emissions by 43%. With the electric vehicle revolution well underway, this is the perfect time for us to transition to green transport and reduce our carbon footprint.

Change our diet

Meat lovers emit twice the amount of CO2 per person than vegans do. Thus, changing our diet from omnivorous to vegan could reduce our carbon footprint by 73%. If going full vegan is inconceivable, cutting meat consumption is a viable option, for health and environmental reasons.

Reduce energy usage

That means upgrading your electrical appliances. Thanks to technology, we have access to more efficient devices. Therefore, we can do our part by upgrading our airconditioners, heaters, lights, and anything old and inefficient. Installing solar panels, programmable thermostats, and turning homes into smart homes are other ways to reduce energy usage and be more energy-efficient, and thus, reduce carbon footprint. Also, when buying new electrical appliances, be sure to check the energy rating and get the most efficient ones. This ensures that you are going easy on the environment and on your monthly bills.

Avoid fast fashion trend

Fast fashion renders our clothes to be cheaper, but it comes with a humongous price tag in the long-term. In fast fashion, clothes come cheap and fast and go to the landfill even faster. In fact, United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) reports that every second, we waste about one garbage truck’s worth of textiles. They predict that if things remain the same, the fashion industry will gobble up one-quarter of the world’s carbon budget by 2050. To save the environment, boycotting fast fashion and transitioning to sustainable textiles is the least we can do. Because if we don’t have a home (Earth) to live in, what’s the use of all the clothes we buy and throw?

Recycle less products, less often

That’s the mantra of every environmentally-conscious person. Are you one of them? We hope so. Recycling can be as simple as avoiding the use of disposable items, using reusable bags, donating, or selling old furniture and clothes instead of throwing them as well as going online to save paper. What’s your recycling idea? Send us your recycling idea and we will feature it and spread it to our subscribers across various channels.

Contribute towards a better planet

We all share one planet. One home. It is our duty to save the planet. Hence, the best way that we can help reduce carbon footprint is by contributing and raising awareness. Join a local cause, volunteer in your local climate action group, raise your voice, make the issue known, share this post and let’s do our part to save our planet.

Conclusion

If saving the planet was a bucket, we are the droplets of water. Individually, we are inconsequential. But combined, we have the power to fill that bucket to save the planet. With our combined action, we can reduce our carbon footprint, support sustainable businesses, and reject eco-destructive businesses.

At THRIVE, we give you the tools to measure the social and environmental impacts of businesses and measure their sustainability. Join the THRIVE movement today and help raise awareness for a better future.

What are you doing to reduce your carbon footprint? Answer us in the comments below.

References

The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) Newsbeat, 2019. BBC Newsbeat.
Available at: https://www.bbc.com/news/newsbeat-48947573

United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), 2018. UNEP.
Available at: https://www.unep.org/news-and-stories/story/putting-brakes-fast-fashion

Vegconomist, 2019. Vegconomist.
Available at: https://vegconomist.com/society/new-study-vegan-diet-reduces-carbon-footprint-by-73/

Wilson, L., n.d. Shrink that Footprint.
Available at: http://shrinkthatfootprint.com/food-carbon-footprint-diet

World Meteorological Organisation, 2021. World Meteorological Organisation. Available at: https://public.wmo.int/en/media/press-release/2020-was-one-of-three-warmest-years-record