How did Kermit say it?
It’s not easy being Green?
Believe it or not (and many people don’t), we humans have wrecked the planet.
Rising global temperatures, melting polar ice caps, and shrinking glaciers are just the start of things. We don’t see those here in the Midwest. But what we have seen up close and personal are the more frequent extreme weather events such as tornadoes, hurricanes, droughts, floods, and heatwaves. These are all clear indicators of climate change caused by greenhouse gas emissions.
Shall I go on? There is the alarming rate of species extinction, habitat destruction, and loss of biodiversity. We have high amounts of pollution of air, water, and soil due to industrial activities, agricultural practices, and waste disposal. And what about the plastic pollution in everything we touch, and breathe, and eat?
I’m not sure we can stop it. But. We can slow it down. Despite the fact that so much of the harm being done is beyond our control.
Yet. That doesn’t mean there’s nothing we can do. Collectively, we can have a positive impact by making some pretty basic lifestyle changes.
And today, I’m offering five easy ways to help our planet.
• Cut meat from just one meal a week
Oh, my cheeseburgers. Yes, beefy meals are huge contributors to the climate crisis. Raising beef generates a large amount of methane, which is a powerful planet-warming gas. It also takes a lot of energy to grow food to feed animals.
But eating a plant-based diet can help rein in the climate crisis. You don’t have to do it all the time. Just try cutting meat (especially beef) one day a week. If you can’t stand the thought of giving up meat entirely, stick with poultry—it has the lowest climate impact.
• Practice eco-driving
Living car-free is one of the best things we can do to help rein in the climate crisis, but doing so is not possible for most people. Instead, we can all try to master the art of eco-driving. High speeds, hard acceleration, and hard braking waste fuel. Hard driving, like I do, can reduce your car’s fuel efficiency by up to 30%. The experts say that speeds around 55 miles per hour are great for fuel efficiency. Slow it down, little missy.
• Call your utility company to ask for a clean energy option
Call your electric utility and ask if you can pay for renewable energy such as solar or wind. Even if it doesn’t offer renewable energy, you’ve at least shown your utility company that you’re interested in it and that it’s something you’re willing to pay for.
• Take one less flight this year
This one is a no-brainer. Driving has a lower climate impact than flying, especially as cars become more fuel-efficient. Flying is bad for the environment. So is traveling a great deal. Believe me, I am making up for a lot of people on this one.
• Start a conversation
Doing what we can at home is necessary to help solve the climate crisis. But it’s not enough. We need legislation. Policymakers and industry leaders also need to make big strides as soon as possible. Let them know about it. Also, start conversations about the planet with friends, family, church members, other citizens, social media, etc. Get the word out. Again, and again.
So there they are. Five ways to help.
We humans have been like the pesky cousin who comes to stay out your house and tears everything up, like breaking your garbage disposal, or tracking mud on your cream colored carpet. Yes, we are a big group of annoying cousins who have outstayed our welcome as bad guests here on planet Earth. So now, we either have to start paying rent, or leave this place that we’ve taken over as our home.
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“We won’t have a society if we destroy the environment.” – Margaret Mead
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“We do not inherit the earth from our ancestors, we borrow it from our children.” – Native American Proverb
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“You cannot get through a single day without having an impact on the world around you. What you do makes a difference, and you have to decide what kind of difference you want to make.” – Jane Goodall
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Five things to make a difference
