Your attitude matters - 5 individual actions to protect the climate and the environment
Every day rainforests disappear from the surface of our planet cut down for agricultural crops and pastures for farm animals. We are running out of fossil fuels. We pollute water by using poisonous chemicals to make clothes. We litter the planet with plastic. The seas and oceans are overfished and the environment is being systematically degraded. We also often think that our individual actions lack any driving force. And that's not true! The truth is that even little daily choices matter and can make a difference! How can you care for the environment effortlessly? Let's start with 5 simple actions that help protect the climate.
1. Sort your waste.
An average Pole produces about 350 kg of waste a year! Therefore, waste sorting is one of the steps on the way to effective environmental protection.
Make some space at home for containers used to collect plastics and metals, paper, glass, bio and mixed waste. When segregating waste, remember to stick to the rules. This is especially important for proper recycling. One greasy paper towel is enough to spoil the entire batch of paper. Throw only jars and bottles into the glass container. Broken plates, glasses, cups and even candle containers should be put among mixed waste. Do not put leftover meat in the bio container - even if it has been cooked. There are many rules and they may differ depending on the commune, but they are quite simple to adopt. You can find the details on the website of the waste sorting campaign “High Five for the Segregation”: https://naszesmieci.mos.gov.pl. Once we learn the rules, the separation will become much easier, and eventually we will do the correct sorting automatically.
2. Buy responsibly
Excessive consumerism has been ruining the environment for years. We buy thoughtlessly. But we can change it. How?
Before going shopping, make a list of the things you need and avoid numerous promotions. Buying excess food often means wasting it. It is estimated that the average Polish family throws away food worth up to PLN 3,000 each year! Before you buy anything, think carefully if you really need it. Choose seasonal vegetables and fruits. Try buying used things, exchanging them, giving them a second life, instead of spending money on new ones. Look up for products of brands that consciously manage their impact on the natural environment. They are usually labelled with certificates such as EMAS (organizations that do more than the minimum and continuously improve the results of their environmental activity), FSC (proves that the wood is harvested without affecting the biological resources and the structure of forests) or MSC (means that fish come from sustainable fisheries).
Do you want to buy responsibly? Check out this website: https://naszesmieci.mos.gov.pl/start/kupuje-odpowiedzialnie.
3. Save water
Freshwater make up just about 3% of the world's resources, and most of it forms the Antarctic snow and glaciers. According to the data possessed by the United Nations Information Centre in Warsaw, more than 2.6 billion people in the world do not have access to basic sanitation, and over a billion people use water that is not suitable for drinking. Water resources are running out. It's high time to start saving it.
When brushing your teeth, turn off the tap or use the water poured into the cup. Instead of taking a bath, choose a quick shower. In this way, one person can save up to 10 litres per day. Do not pour out the water after washing vegetables or cooking pasta. It can be used to prepare food by steaming, and with the water remaining after boiling the eggs you can water the flowers.
Instead of cleaning your car with a garden hose, use a car wash that recycles the water. Run a washing machine or a dishwasher only when it is fully loaded. Switching on appliances that are not fully loaded increases the water and electricity consumption.
4. Eat more plants
You may not believe it but our daily food choices are crucial to saving the planet. The meat production chain, especially in the case of red meat, generates almost twice as much carbon dioxide as producing the same amount of plant food. But that’s not all. The food of industrially farmed animals often consists of ingredients that can also be consumed by humans. It is estimated that up to 30% of the world's agricultural crops are used as fodder for animals. To produce just 2 kilograms of beef, you need 25 kilograms of grain and almost 30,000 litres of water! This can be changed by consuming fewer animal products and shifting to plant-based foods. At the beginning, try to replace just one meat meal with a cereal and vegetable meal or introduce veggie Mondays in your weekly nutrition routine. Also, you will probably feel much better and in the long run you will notice improvement of your health.
5. Make others aware
Dedicated climate and environment protection activists are appreciated by the Ministry of Climate and Environment. In 2021 the first edition of the competition "Climate Person of the Year" took place in which creativity, innovativeness, as well as the effectiveness of undertaken measures were evaluated. People involved in social and educational activities favouring the climate protection, adjustment to climate change and minimizing its effects, were selected and awarded. The competition aimed at people who inspire others to change their lifestyle and to become more "eco-oriented". Small-scale actions and initiatives undertaken regularly by individual people may constitute the first step of a change for the better. It is them who, by inspiring their immediate and further surroundings, as well as local communities, can really influence our daily habits and encourage us to change our lifestyle to become more environmentally friendly. The film presenting the activities of the winners of the "Climate Man of the Year" competition is available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AgPx-wMzaEU.
Young people - they are the creators and explorers, full of empathy and a new perspective on various matters, including those related to climate and environmental protection. They become the driving force behind many changes and assume the role of leaders of local communities.
Earth is our common good and our home. The success of the actions taken in the field of climate and environmental protection depends on how many people consciously commit to saving the planet. So educate your family and friends. Disseminate this knowledge, because the environmental attitude is "contagious"!
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