COP26 has made massive strides towards achieving a low-carbon world by the middle of the 21st century. Governments at the conference promised to slash heavy industry output, switch to solar and wind energy generation, and get rid of gas-guzzling vehicles.
After so many wild promises, though, the average person is left with a burning question: “what can I do personally to combat climate change and protect the environment?”
Glad you asked. It turns out that there are all sorts of things that individuals can do to protect the planet. Take a look at these ideas:
Recycle your waste
Recycling is one of the most pro-environmentally friendly things that you can do. Not only does it save energy, but it also reduces land exploitation and pollution. For instance, aluminium recycling is 92 per cent more efficient than regular production that sources it from the ground, according to the Aluminium Association.
To recycle your waste post-COP26, get a bin divider and separate metals, glass, cardboard, plastic, and food waste. Recycle anything your local authority will take.
Switch your dog food
The food that we feed our pets, particularly our dogs, can have a high environmental cost. As with human food, disposable packaging and land usage are both issues.
Eco friendly dog products, however, offer a solution. These are similar to conventional sustainable foods for human consumption. However, they require less land, water and energy to produce use while still offering pets a delicious meal.
Don’t use single-use plastic bags
Single-use plastic bags are going out of fashion, fast. Practically everyone is now using reusable varieties when they go shopping. You can try doing the same in your life (if you’re not already).
If you have single-use plastic bags in your home, use them as many times as you can until they wear out. Then send them for recycling. Better yet, use cotton or paper bags, as these tend to have the lowest environmental impact.
Only buy things that you need
Many of us have a nasty habit of buying things that we don’t actually need or use. For example, you might have a pasta maker or rice cookers in your kitchen cupboards that rarely see the light of day.
To do your bit in the post-COP26 world, only buy things that you know you are going to use. Don’t purchase anything that you will use once or twice and then throw it away.
Buy second hand
In the same vein, buy things second-hand if you can. When you buy stuff used, you’re avoiding adding to the burden on the Earth’s resources. Instead, you’re reusing products that are already there. Reusing products can slash their carbon footprint by a third or even a half, depending on how much life they have left.
