For the past few decades, we have been hearing about global climate change all over the media: how it is affecting our mother earth, and how the possible repercussions of climate change could be absolutely devastating. We hear about our polar ice caps melting, causing our sea levels to rise. There have been increased amounts of superstores, etc. The list could go on. One thing I know for certain is that there is not enough focus on this topic and what people can do to combat it. I am here to give you 10 small yet significant tips to help you help the world fight against climate change!

1. If you’re looking to buy yourself a new car, consider looking at vehicles with a higher gas mileage: not only will it save you gas money, but it will conserve oil. Visit http://www.edmunds.com/calculators/gas-guzzler.html to find how much money you could save in your area!

2. Turn off or unplug any devices you are not using! Doing these two simple things will save you money and energy!

3. Carpool wherever you can: it’s always more fun to ride with someone else, and this way you can double-up on errands while emitting less exhaust into the earth’s atmosphere!

4. Reduce, reuse, and recycle! The three “Rs” are some of the most important terms to remember when you’re thinking about saving the earth!

5. Turn off your water when you’re not directly using it. Never let the water run while brushing your teeth, washing the dishes, etc.

6. Whenever you can, walk to your destination instead of driving there. Not only is it good for your body, but it also saves the environment from harmful exhaust.

7. Look at your own carbon footprint with the carbon footprint calculators online (link). The results may shock you! Visit http://www.nature.org/greenliving/carboncalculator/ to see yours!

8. Change incandescent light bulbs to energy-efficient compact fluorescent lightbulbs. It will increase energy use by two-thirds!

9. Eat less meat: I don’t mean cut it out completely, but cutting your consumption in half is good for you! Animal meats, especially red meat, is one of the largest sources of saturated fats in our diet and if consumed too much, could actually lead to cancer. Adding a serving of produce to your diet each day (say, ½ cup of melon or broccoli) may lower your risk of heart disease by 4 percent and your risk of stroke by 6 percent!

10. Try to shop locally when possible because not only will it decrease the energy expenditure caused by shipping goods, but it will keep your local economy booming!

These may seem like very small steps to take, but if we can come together and practice these little changes, it could change the future of the world’s climate for the better! Stay green!