Late last week, Donald Trump withdrew from the Paris Climate Accord. This agreement acknowledges the irreversible threat of climate change. Almost all countries in the world have agreed to this agreement and are committed to reducing emissions from greenhouse gases. The whole reason Trump withdrew from the agreement is because he doesn’t want leaders and other countries laughing at us anymore. Well, if other countries weren’t laughing at us before, they definitely are now.
Although our current president believes climate change isn’t real, I personally think that it is very real and that we really need to do something to protect our home. There is no other planet we can inhabit (for now) and Earth is a truly beautiful planet. We should all come together to save our planet and ensure that global warming doesn’t threaten our livelihoods. Here are some things we can do to help take care of our planet:
1. Recycle!!
You might not think recycling is important, however it certainly helps to reduce pollution caused by waste. Every bottle, plastic items, and paper counts towards helping our planet!
2. Save Water
When you're not using the tap, turn it off! When you're standing in the shower putting shampoo or conditioner in your hair, there is no need to have the water running. Drink tap water instead of using plastic water bottles. Or use a reusable water bottle.
3. Walk/Ride Your Bike
Especially if you live in the city, there is no need to drive your car when you can walk everywhere. Maybe even use public transportation. This could easily reduce the amount of greenhouse gases emitted into the atmosphere. Walking or riding your bike can also burn some calories so it’s a win-win. And if you absolutely must drive to places, make sure you finish all your errands in one go. This will not only save you time, but also help save the planet.
4. Turn Off Electricity When it’s Not in Use
Whenever you exit a room, make sure to turn off the light. Open up your blinds in the morning and let the natural light in instead of living in a vampire’s lair all day (I do this all the time and I should probably save some energy and open up my blinds). Unplug electronics when you’re not using them, such as your laptop or the plug for the lamps.
5. Instead of Turning on the Air Conditioning, Open a Window
Why waste electricity when you can let the natural outside breeze flow into your humble abode? You could also just turn on a fan to keep cool. The breeze also feels better than the AC. It's so nice to have the wind blowing in your face sometimes, especially in a car.
6. Plant Some Trees/Greenery
Plants take in carbon dioxide and send out oxygen. Planting more plants can really help reduce carbon dioxide emission into the air. Trees also make everything look better. Driving down a scenic route makes me so much happier than passing by buildings. Also, instead of wasting trips to the farmer’s market or grocery store, maybe plant some vegetables in your garden. This way, you’ll have fresh vegetables for free and be helping the planet! My parents in fact have a small tomato plant as well as several other spices that we use in our cooking every day!
7. Be Active in Your Community
Help with community service. Volunteer to clean up areas in your local neighborhood. Stay active. Join clubs at your university or public school that helps clean up the environment. In my high school, we had an environmental club that used to go out and plant trees in the neighborhood and clean up the riverbanks. Clean up the beaches. Not only is the beach going to look better, but several animals that die because of waste will be saved.
8. Educate Others Around You
Educating other people about protecting our planet and how they can help is very important. It will get more people involved who are interesting in helping out the climate.
