If you have been watching the news, you are aware that the world has been experiencing a record number of climate catastrophes. With heat waves, hurricanes, blizzards, floods, droughts, and famines, it feels like we are living in a chapter of the old testament. But what can we do to make it better?
In this article, we will go over some of the ways you can personally protect yourself against the continually worsening environment. But in order to protect yourself from the environment, you have to also protect the environment. Therefore, we’ll cover some of that too.
Limiting Exposure to Harmful Chemicals
In today’s world, we are exposed to a variety of harmful chemicals through the air we breathe, the food we eat, and the products we use. Most of them are synthetic, and many of them are harmful. According to the European Environment Agency, 6% of global diseases and 8% of deaths are caused by these chemicals. Therefore, it is important to take steps to reduce our exposure to these chemicals as much as possible.
One way to do this is by being mindful of the products you use in your home and on your body. Many household cleaning products and personal care items contain harmful chemicals that can long-term affect your health and the environment. By switching to natural, non-toxic alternatives, you can reduce your exposure to toxic chemicals and protect yourself and the environment.
Another way to reduce your exposure to harmful chemicals is by being mindful of your food. Choosing organic and locally sourced produce, as well as avoiding processed foods and meats, can help reduce your exposure to chemicals like pesticides, herbicides, and hormones.
Improving The Air Quality Around You
The air quality is considered poor whenever there is a high amount of pollutants in the air. And the price for this isn’t only difficulty breathing. According to the American Lung Association, long exposure to poor air quality can cause cancer, a number of heart diseases, developmental problems in children, and premature death. Therefore it is extremely important to improve the air quality around you as much as possible.
One way to do this is by using air purifiers and ensuring proper ventilation in your home or building. This helps remove pollutants, allergens, and other harmful substances from the air, making it safer to breathe. It’s also important to avoid indoor sources of pollution, such as tobacco smoke, chemicals, and household cleaning products, as these can contribute to poor air quality.
If you are worried about running up your utility bills by using an air purifier, know that there are ways to moderate the use. You can check the air quality at Tomorrow.io, a hyper-local weather monitoring app that can inform you about the air quality in your neighborhood in specific, and you can turn on the machine only when it is truly bad.
Minimizing Waste & Promoting Sustainability
Waste and pollution seriously impact the environment, affecting air and water quality, wildlife habitats, and our health. To protect against these impacts, it’s important to minimize waste and promote sustainability in our daily lives.
A common mantra people follow is to reduce, reuse, and recycle. By reducing the amount of waste we generate through single-use products, we can help conserve resources and reduce our impact on the planet. Additionally, by reusing items and recycling whenever possible, we can reduce the amount of waste that ends up in landfills, helping to protect the environment and preserve natural habitats.
Another way to minimize waste and promote sustainability is by being mindful of the products we buy and use. Choosing products made from environmentally-friendly materials, such as recycled or biodegradable materials, can help reduce our impact on the environment and promote sustainability.
Making Eco-Friendly Choices Daily
Every day, we make choices that impact the environment, whether it’s the food we eat, the products we use, or the energy we consume. To protect against the negative impacts of our actions, it’s important to make eco-friendly choices in our daily lives.
One way to do this is by being mindful of the food we eat. McGill University says that since locally produced food doesn’t have to travel a long distance to reach your plate, it has a significantly lower environmental impact in terms of greenhouse gas emissions. It also helps support local businesses, strengthening the economy.
You can also make eco-friendly choices by reducing energy consumption. By using energy-efficient appliances, reducing water usage, and conserving energy as much as possible, we can reduce our carbon footprint and help protect the environment. Additionally, reducing the use of single-use plastic products, such as water bottles, straws, and shopping bags, can also help minimize waste and promote sustainability.
Engaging in Environmental Advocacy
When push comes to shove, it is important to face facts. We are seeing increased levels of environmental disasters year after year, and we know that the main reason behind it is greenhouse gas emissions by mankind. But the Environmental Protection Agency notes that a combined 76% of greenhouse gases come from industry, transportation, and electricity production, whereas only 13% comes from residential and commercial use.
Therefore, no matter how much we change our individual habits, it is difficult to make a significant dent in greenhouse gas production unless we can get large companies to change their practices. That is why it is important to be a part of environmental advocacy groups and efforts so you can help push the environment higher up in the list of political and economic agendas.
You can stay informed by following reputable news sources, organizations, and experts in the field of environmental protection. Then you can use this information by participating in community events and campaigns, signing petitions, and writing to elected officials to voice our concerns and support for environmental protection measures.
The earth is humanity’s final frontier. People often pretend that we can trash the planet all we want and then set up shop on Mars or some other planet when things get out of control. Based on the science we have now, that is not happening any time soon. Therefore, it is important that we live our lives in an eco-friendly manner to keep both us and the environment safe.
