The Earth is in a very delicate state right now, climate change is a serious threat to our home and this isn’t going away anytime soon. With the COVID-19 health crisis at an all-time high, the Earth is getting a small break from pollution. This has shown us how damaging humans really are to the environment and also that we can make a difference if we try. There are so many ways to incorporate changes to your lifestyle to combat climate change and it’s much easier than you may think to incorporate eco-friendly habits into your daily life. While these actions may seem minor, the truth is that they can lead up to big consequences. To help make a positive step in the right direction, we’ve put together a list of 10 simple steps anyone can take to help save our planet.
1. Turn off Electronics
This seems like an obvious one but it really does help. When we leave things plugged in like an iPhone charger for example; it is constantly using energy. The energy amount may not be significant, but times that amount by billions of people and you get a lot of wasted energy consumption! Try unplugging any electronics when they are not in use and you will be doing the Earth a favor. If unplugging electronics can be a bit of a hassle, try using a power cord that has an easy off/on switch.
2. Go Meatless
Meat is one of the largest contributing factors toward climate change. Most people would be surprised to know just how big the impact of eating meat is. If everyone cut back their meat consumption by just half, CO2, methane emissions, fertilizer, and water usage would decrease. These factors make up a huge percentage of global warming. To go even further; after beef production, cattle milk is responsible for the most emissions (20%) on a commodity basis. The two major greenhouse gases that are being emitted due to animal agriculture are methane and nitrous oxide, because of manure storage and the use of fertilizers, respectively.
If you aren’t ready to give up meat completely just yet, trying having a “Meatless Monday” one day a week. There are so many reasons to become vegan, vegetarian, or even just to cut back on eating meat. With so many great meat alternatives available, it is easier than ever.
If you would like more information click here: https://nakedfoodmagazine.com/10-tips-to-eating-less-meat-and-dairy-and-sticking-with-it/
3. Cut down on Plastics
Plastic is horrible for the environment, there is no way around that fact. 8 million tons of plastics pollute our oceans and Earth, posing a threat to both wildlife and human health. Some plastic items take up to 1000 years to decompose. Which is insane given the amount that is thrown out on a daily basis. Luckily there are a few easy ways to cut back on plastic use! Try bringing your own bags to the grocery store, supporting businesses that use sustainable materials, use your own water bottle and straw, and many more!
Here are some more ways to cut down your plastic use: https://www.healthista.com/12-simple-ways-cut-back-plastic-free-july-will-mccallum-greenpeace/
4. Vacation Green
Everyone loves to go on vacation and explore new places but there is an eco-friendly way to do so. Unfortunately, certain tourism can be very damaging to an ecosystem and exploit the natural beauty of a destination. But there are lots of easy ways to vacation smarter and greener. Choose hotels with eco-friendly practices, support local vendors, say no to exploitative animal tourism, and most importantly choose ethical destinations. There is no reason travel has to be threatening to the Earth. Travel can educate us and can be used to help the environment rather than damage it.
Costa Rica is one of the top places in the world when it comes to sustainable tourism, to find out more click here: https://www.therealdealtours.com/blog/blog/sustainable-tourism-in-costa-rica/
5. Reduce Food Waste
Food waste is a worldwide epidemic, and it’s well past time we started fighting back. Did you know that more than one-third of all food produced globally is wasted? North Americans throw away up to 40% of the food they buy. This is just not okay. We can do better than that and it is our responsibility to our Planet Earth to do better. Only grocery shop when necessary, choose organic, don’t over-serve your portions, and actually eat those leftovers, and donate to food banks whenever possible. Donating to food banks is especially important right now when there are a lot of people out of work.
These are a few easy steps you can take, if you are looking for more suggestions, click here: https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/reduce-food-waste#section2
6. Recycle Fashion
The fashion industry is the second highest pollutant of freshwater on the planet. It has such a huge environmental impact. Sustainable fashion is clothing that does not harm our environment and is made out of green materials. Many people do not realize the negative environmental impact that fabric and excessive clothing purchases make.
A few ways to practice sustainable fashion are; only buy things you will wear often, shop and donate to second-hand stores, host a clothing swap with friends, repair clothing when possible, and lastly choose labels that practice sustainable practices. Best of all, when traveling, be sure to check out the local craft markets. There is no better way to get a one of a kind fashion piece to wear to your next social gathering, and you will be supporting a local designer too!
7. Give Back
Giving back is a great way to help the environment and to show our planet and each other a little love. There are so many wonderful programs that exist to protect, clean, and repair our home planet. Check out your local organizations for how to get involved. Or you can take matters into your own hands by planting trees, cleaning the beaches, and doing your part to recycle. Giving back to each other is just as beneficial since kindness makes the world a little bit brighter. Try volunteering at your local food bank or animal shelter, no matter where you live there are usually wonderful programs in place that you can get involved in.
When you travel, you can give back too. Before traveling to a destination, do a little research on the community you are visiting. Find what they need and save some room in your suitcase. Simple things we take for granted such as school supplies can mean the world to those who cannot easily purchase them. Your time is just as valuable. Plan to spend a day visiting children in an orphanage, or even better, visit elderly homes. You will get so much more out of your vacation by giving, we promise.
Need more inspiration? Click here: https://www.wisebread.com/make-the-world-better-with-these-17-free-ways-to-give-back
8. Walk or Bike
It goes without saying that cars and fossil fuels are hands down the worst contributors to climate change. With gas prices dropping into the negative numbers recently, the time for renewable energy sources is now. With that being said, this takes time, and progress can be slow. The most direct way you can help the planet is to cut back on your carbon footprint. Make small changes to your daily routine, walk or bike when possible, take the bus, share a ride, or if you can afford it; switch to an eco-friendly car. Not only will mother earth appreciate it, but your body also will too. Physical health is a nice bonus for making eco-friendly transportation choices.
9. Help our Friends
Helping animals is such an amazing way to make our planet a little bit better. Animals need all the help they can get right now, shelter pets are looking for permanent homes while wildlife struggles with huge amounts of trash littering their natural habitats. Try going on a hike in a local wildlife area and picking up any trash along the way. Cut back on meat and animal by-products. Volunteer at your local animal or wildlife shelter to see how you can make a difference.
Lastly, choose eco-friendly vacation spots that don’t exploit animals for tourism such as Costa Rica https://www.therealdealtours.com/blog/blog/costa-ricas-gift-to-planet-earth/?doing_wp_cron=1587496986.2184290885925292968750
10. Spend time in Nature
Spending time in nature is good for the soul, it helps us appreciate all the beauty this world has to offer while connecting with our roots. This place we call home is truly magical and sometimes it’s easy to lose sight of that. Spending time in nature helps us to relax, increases happiness levels, and highlights the importance of preserving our planet. In fact, the health benefits are incredible. Check out all the benefits a walk in Costa Rica’s rainforests & cloud forests has to offer. So, make it a habit to spend more time in nature: exercise outside instead of going to the gym; have lunch outdoors; and enjoy this beautiful place we call home.
We are fortunate to have such a beautiful planet that takes such good care of us. So, let’s make a conscious effort to give back daily and take better care of her. Let’s not wait for the entire world to shut down to give the earth the break it deserves. Let’s celebrate earth day every day by practicing and building sustainable habits.
Happy Earth Day From The Real Deal Tours Team!