As it stands, Australia is responsible for about 5% of the world’s emissions.
On an individual level, Australians have the highest total emissions per capita, alongside the U.S and Canada, at 17 tonnes.
As the government strategizes on solutions towards sustainability and countering climate change, you should also challenge yourself and those around you to make an effort towards protecting the environment.
Overwhelming as it sounds, small inconsistent efforts can make all the difference. Here are some simple little things you can do to support sustainability.
1. Adopt Minimalism
Start by only consuming what you utterly need in your life, not what the media dictates you need or must-have.
If you consider yourself a shopaholic, you can be sure that you’re leaving a larger ecological footprint in your trail.
In the developed world, consumerism is a top contributor to environmental degradation. Goods that are today marked ‘green’ are indeed not green-just less polluting.
Every time you need to change your car, appliances, clothes, and so on, ask yourself if whatever you’re shopping for is indispensable.
2. Use Public Transportation
Australia’s public transport system offers train service, bus shuttles, light rail and ferry services and ranks highly when placed alongside cities such as New York and San Francisco.
While heavy buses pollute more than your small family car, they ferry more people at a time, reducing individual emissions.
Smaller cars also contribute to traffic congestion. Congestion then leads to the need to expand infrastructure, and with this comes the need to blast mountains for building rocks and cut down trees for wood.
Think about your transportation needs and how you can reduce your emissions. If your lifestyle absolutely does not allow you to use the public system, look at other options.
These include carpooling, buying a hybrid car, vacationing closer to home, and so on.
3. Think Recycling
Recycling gives new life to an already used item, hence reducing the amount of waste your household sends to landfills.
Before making purchases, it’s prudent to ask yourself whether that product will be recyclable. This will help you identify and stick with brands that produce biodegradable goods.
Ecosa, for example, not only sells top quality, mattresses, but also supports mattress recycling in Canberra.
Always look at the bigger picture and align yourself with manufacturers that think green and that support sustainability efforts.
4. Grow Trees
While trees are a renewable resource, forests are increasingly being overexploited thanks to industrialization and urbanization.
Australia has also recently lost 5.8 million hectares of forest.
Without replenishing forests, the next turn is concrete, which sees the destruction of mountains.
Granted, most people in big cities might not have the space to grow trees or shrubbery. You can, however, partner with activist groups, government, and non-governmental organization campaigns towards this cause.
Similarly, you can look into growing some indoor and balcony plants to absorb carbon dioxide. If you reside in a big city, this can help you breathe in cleaner air.
5. Reduce Your Electricity Use
Generating electricity is highly destructive. Hydroelectric power plants generate carbon dioxide gas and restrict the movement of fish.
Nuclear plants emit radiation pollutants, and thermal plants release high quantities of smoke into the air.
As you think about switching to solar power, strive to reduce your consumption.
You can do this by buying energy-efficient appliances, switching your HVAC off when not home, and even having shorter showers.
Get Started Today!
The best day to get started is today.
These are straightforward tips that are unlikely to inconvenience you to implement. Begin with these as you evaluate other ways to live more sustainably.
Every little effort counts.