Our environment produces elements essential to human activity and to our very survival, from food and shelter to medicines’ active ingredients. Our dependence on our environment to thrive, if not survive, is therefore not to be doubted. The implicit contribution of our environment in our economies are also far-reaching: its role can be seen as “service” provided free of charge by nature – nature truly “works” for us. It is therefore our responsibility to protect our environment.
Protecting the environment is a major step towards protecting the wellbeing of people and all living creatures. If not properly cared for, our environment can have adverse effect on humans, the society at large and even businesses that depend on them. These adverse effects include, climate change, depletion of natural resources, CO2 emission, biodiversity loss and so on. Climate change is severely compounding the destruction of ecosystems all around the world; pressures related to drought, ocean acidification, more intense natural catastrophes, heat waves etc. are also on the increase.
We may not know, but the level of waste we discharge into the atmosphere is what spirals to cause the unbearable heat we are currently experiencing. We must therefore play our parts in ensuring we reduce the amount of waste we release into the atmosphere.
We have curated some simple ways by which you can help to protect our environment and make the world a more sustainable place to live in.
- Reduce, reuse, and recycle: Cut down on what you throw away. Follow the three “R’s”- Reduce, Reuse and Recycle, to conserve natural resources and landfill space. Rather than throw away worn out clothes for instance, why not convert them into rags for your use in your bathrooms and kitchens?
- Choose a more sustainable energy supply: Instead of using generators, ever considered using more sustainable energy sources such as solar power or inverters. They may appear more cost intensive at the start but in the long run are economic and environmental-friendly compared to fuel-based generators.
- Conserve water: The less water you use, the less runoff and wastewater that eventually end up in the ocean. There are loads of ways to save on water usage. When you brush your teeth, only turn the water on when you need to rinse rather than let it run the whole time you are brushing.
- Take strolls rather than drive: Save energy consumption by taking strolls to short-distanced destinations such as a nearby grocery stores, the pharmacy, your friend’s home close by yours.
- Shop wisely: Buy less plastic and bring a reusable shopping bag.
- Use long-lasting light bulbs: Energy efficient light bulbs reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Also flip the light switch off when not in use. In doing this, you are reducing the amount of energy being wasted. You can do this for other appliances you have in your homes such as your TV, ACs, water heaters and so on.
- Plant a tree: Trees provide food and oxygen. They help save energy, clean the air, and help combat climate change. Have you thought of having a garden at your home. You could even use the opportunity to plant edibles such as tomatoes, plantain or fruits.
- Reduce litter: Make a conscious effort to throw all waste in a trash can rather than litter the streets. Also, on your next walk with your kids, you can set a great example for them. Take along a refuse bag and pick up any litter that you see along your walk. It’s our collective responsibility to manage our impact on the environment by reducing resource use and promoting climate change awareness throughout the world.
- Volunteer: Volunteer for clean-ups in your area. There are associations you can join within your locality that help you contribute your quota in making the environment a better place.
- Educate: When you further your own education, you can help others understand the importance and value of our natural resources. There are tonnes of videos and tutorials out them that can explain the science behind climate change and our role in reducing the effect. Take some time out your busy schedule to upgrade your knowledge in this area.
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