9 Ways To Reduce Your Environmental Footprint

Climate change or our environmental footprint and reduce our emissions. For it has become an urgent concern for human beings.  Especially when they realized they’d made this planet inhabitable for younger generations. The world can’t sustain our utilization of natural resources because of the massive amounts of GHG (greenhouse gas) emissions we’ve caused in previous decades. So we must reduce them now.

Several human activities or our environmental footprint is such as manufacturing emissions. Also power generation and transportation. For they cause harmful emissions and contribute to climate change. Is it possible for people to stop harming the world’s environment?

Yes, you may reduce your ecological footprint and protect the atmosphere from getting filled with poisonous chemicals. Your actions to save the environment can decrease pollution, thereby helping Earth sustain our children in the future.

Reducing your ecological footprint as an individual

Scientists claim we need four Earth-like planets now to sustain the energy spending of the people of the United States only. Many people deny that carbon emissions even pose a threat to humanity. Today, 20% of New Zealanders deny climate change, while merely 40% believe they can reduce their footprint significantly to leave a mark. However, every person’s contributions count when it comes to saving our planet and switching to an eco-friendly lifestyle. Your ecological footprint is measured by your activities that cause GHG emissions. These activities lead to climate change and global warming. So, taking some actions to reduce these harmful emissions makes you a smarter citizen. Here’s how you can do this:

Prefer renewable energy

Our traditional energy resources (oil, gas, and coal) are finite and pollute the planet. So, people are gradually switching to renewable energy resources that emit little to no GHGs. So, you can consider upgrading to solar energy to preserve the environment. Search for ‘solar panels NZ‘ on the internet to shortlist some ideal options. Installing these panels will help you lower your carbon footprint. Going solar leads to reduced power bills and makes your property more valuable. You may even install solar panels for your farm and office to achieve energy efficiency.

Reuse and recycle

It’s estimated that 6% of global GHG emissions come from wasted food items. We suggest reusing or recycling your natural waste.  Especially to reduce your ecological footprint. Don’t purchase unnecessary stuff. Think long and hard before you buy edibles. You should reuse non-perishable items and repair them if they’re broken instead of just throwing them away. Also, choose products with guaranteed longevity. Remember to follow our country’s guidelines while recycling stuff to limit your ecological footprint.

Simplify your fashion

Experts blame the fast fashion industry for contributing significantly to pollution on Earth. Our clothes are manufactured by employing processes.  Processes that are especially dangerous to the environment. So, I advise buying necessary clothes.  Also avoid overspending on useless things. You should also purchase second-hand garments or purchase them from green companies. Make sure you only support eco-conscious brands. That’s how your fashion choices can help save this planet.

Beware the plastic

It was reported that the government of New Zealand would ban single-use plastics by 2025. So, you must eliminate your reliance  All upon hard-to-recycle plastic products. Experts claim that every plastic object in existence will remain on Earth for “eternity”.  For I mean plastic bottles take 450 years to decompose. So, avoid using plastic bags, straws, or bottles to reduce your ecological footprint. Instead, replace them with reusable bags and straws.

Eat less meat

The farming industry contributes significantly to worldwide GHG emissions. In addition, cattle produce massive amounts of methane through manure.  Manure also has higher heat-trapping capabilities than CO2. We have observed how industry farmers caused 80% of tropical deforestation in Canada. So, it’s more eco-friendly to switch to a vegetarian lifestyle.  I mean by eating fewer meat-based products. Add more fruits and vegetables to your daily meal intake.

Use less water

Water’s precious, and you shouldn’t waste it. Remember that it’s a limited resource. Despite 70% of our planet being covered with water, freshwater constitutes 3%.  Yes folks, I mean just one-third of which we access (the other two-thirds are trapped in glaciers). So water is essential for the environment.  Therefore we must preserve it.  All in an effort to improve its quality. This practice reduces my ecological footprint. I mean by saving some H2O for your descendants. So, use water-saving techniques in your house.  Most importantly don’t waste it for fun.

Ditch your vehicles

How much pollution does your car cause? Reports show that an average vehicle produces 4.6 metric tons of carbon dioxide every year. The transport industry also serves as the largest supplier of carbon emissions globally. Hence, we suggest ditching your car temporarily. Also, you can go electric too.  So if your office’s nearby, prefer walking or cycling to work over driving. Choose to travel by public transport if it’s easy. Work from home or purchase an electric vehicle. That’s how you can stop contributing to burning fossil fuels for powering vehicles.

Reduce your waste

Experts have estimated that 75% of the waste people produce is recyclable. However, we don’t even recycle 30% of these waste materials. You can now reduce this wastage.  All by going paperless. Also, we suggest saving food and water too.  For all of it can be reduced or reused before being wasted. Reports specify that 157,000+ tons of food are discarded. For I mean in New Zealand each year. So, wasting fewer objects can help you decrease your harmful impact on society. Remember that wasting food means wasting the resources used to make it.

Buy local stuff

The local farmer’s market offers you a chance to reduce your carbon footprint. When you’re buying things from far-away places, traveling and shipping produce carbon emissions. Moreover, numerous companies dump their wastage in local rivers. Moreover and also pollute our water resources. However, local firms often create products in eco-friendly manners because they’re more conscious about the native climate. That’s why you must purchase local stuff and support the things made near you. 

Conclusion

Statistics indicate 80% of New Zealand’s electricity generation has become renewable and the primary source of this energy’s hydropower. Despite the government’s efforts, global warming and our environmental footprint remain a threat to the country’s atmosphere. Studies show 80% of our citizens are “personally worried” about their ecological footprint. So, how can one person contribute to saving Earth? We suggest cutting back on the usage of single-use plastic products. Also, switch to eco-friendly renewable energy sources that cause no pollution. Adopt a vegetarian lifestyle. Reduce your waste and remember to recycle responsibly.