Are you looking for ways to fight climate change?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
There are a lot of ways to take action to save the climate. We could all drive Teslas, vote for the right politicians, and spend a weekend cleaning up a national park. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
However, many climate change solutions involve lots of money, time, and hard work. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
For the majority of us on a day-to-day basis, we need simple changes in our lives that are still powerful and effective and won\u2019t break the bank.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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![\"download](\"https:\/\/www.goodwall.io\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/cta-blog-download-app-v3.png\")
<\/figure>Looking for Climate Change Solutions, Partners, or Ideas? <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Sign up to Goodwall!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
- Meet others interested in saving the planet<\/li>
- Share your Earth-friendly ideas to get helpful feedback<\/li>
- Find top environmental jobs & internships<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n
Download the app now to get started for FREE!<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n
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\n\n\n\nHere are seven easy ideas for how to fight climate change:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
1. Take 5 Minute Showers<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n
\n![\"taking](\"https:\/\/www.goodwall.io\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/ways-to-fight-climate-change-1-600x314.png\")
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\nConserving water<\/a> is important, because it\u2019s not as infinite as you might think. Though 71% of the Earth is covered by water, 96.5% of this is salt water<\/a>. But, out of the remaining fresh water, 2% is unreachable<\/a>, as it\u2019s in ice form, far beneath the ground, or too polluted to use.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
So, we have less than 1% of all the water on Earth available for our use.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In 2011, Unilever published a survey<\/a> which found that the average shower time was 8 minutes. Since the average shower pumps out water at about 2.5 gallons (9.5 liters) per minute, we use roughly 20 gallons (76 liters) of water per shower!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Cutting that 8-minute shower saves a lot of water while still giving you plenty of time to get all the suds off. Need help timing a 5-minute shower? Harvard has a short blog post with 5 ways to time your shower<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Related Read<\/strong>: 25 Small Acts You Can Do to Have a Great Impact<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
2. Bring Your Own Bag<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n
\n![\"bring](\"https:\/\/www.goodwall.io\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/ways-to-fight-climate-change-2-600x314.png\")
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\nThis is an easy and well-known solution to saving our environment, but one of the ways to beat climate change that many of us still struggle with. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
First, let\u2019s look at a few scary stats about single-use plastic bags, according to SPREP<\/a>:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
- Though they look flimsy, store-given plastic bags take up to 1,000 years to decompose<\/strong>;<\/li>
- 500 billion plastic bags are used every year\u2014which is about 1 million bags each minute<\/strong>;<\/li>
- The amount of petroleum needed to make one plastic bag could power a car for 377 ft (115 meters)<\/strong>;<\/li>
- Plastic bags which end up in the oceans are responsible for the deaths of more than 100,000 marine animals<\/strong>, including sea turtles and fish which mistake them for food.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n
All it takes to do your part is to bring your own bag.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Avoid reusing a single-use plastic bag, because, although you\u2019re helping a bit, it won\u2019t last too long. Get yourself something sturdy, a reusable bag which is also foldable. Then, simply remember to take it with you each time you go shopping, or just keep it on your person or in your purse each day. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Related Read<\/strong>: 15 Earth Day Tips to Support the Environment & Stop Climate Change<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
3. Go Meat Free<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n
\n![\"Going](\"https:\/\/www.goodwall.io\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/ways-to-fight-climate-change-3-600x314.png\")
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\nThere are many ways how a vegetarian or vegan diet is better for the environment than one which includes meat. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
First, there are the greenhouse gas emissions that pollute our atmosphere. According to a study<\/a> by the European Parliament, for every 1 kg of beef or mutton consumed, anywhere from 7\u201337 kg of CO2 is produced<\/strong> in the animal\u2019s lifetime. In fact, the average omnivorous eater is responsible for double the GHG emissions<\/strong> that vegetarian eaters are.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Aside from reducing carbon emissions, according to the World Wide Fund UK<\/a>, a meat-inclusive diet requires 2.5 times the amount of land required for farming compared to a veggie diet. With the world population bordering on 10 billion<\/a> by 2050, additional farmland will become more and more necessary, which will lead to deforestation to create the extra acreage. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Furthermore, a vegetarian diet uses less water, and we just discussed how important that is. The Vegetarian Society calculates<\/a> that just 1 small 8oz chicken breast, enough for a single dinner, takes more than 143 gallons (542 liters) of water to produce. That\u2019s enough to take almost 12 5-minute showers!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Related Read<\/strong>: 35+ Inspiring Quotes About Volunteering & the Joy of Serving Others<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
4. Unplug<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n
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<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\nNot actively charging your phone?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Sure, you can unplug the phone from the charger. But, you should also unplug that charger from the outlet to reduce your carbon footprint and fight against climate change. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Believe it or not, plugged in cables, devices, and appliances still consume power. Known variously as \u201cghost load,\u201d \u201cphantom power,\u201d or \u201cvampire energy,\u201d this seemingly tiny discharge adds up over time. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
According to the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), the typical US household spends about an extra $165 per year<\/a> because of not unplugging items when not in use. As the New York Times relates this to climate impact, Americans alone add 44 million tons of CO2<\/a> just for keeping dormant devices plugged in. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Related Read<\/strong>: 55+ Best Climate Change Quotes to Inspire Action for the Environment<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
5. Refill And Reuse<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n
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<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\nWe humans make a lot of trash.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Most of the time, however, we live in ignorant bliss, far removed from the funky, unsightly mountainous peaks of the landfill. At the same time, we are ignorant of our own massive carbon footprint and the negative impact we’re having on our planet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We talked about bags earlier, and yes, most of these single-use shopping bags end up at the dump after just one grocery outing. However, there\u2019s way more than just plastic bags to refill or reuse.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Bought a bottle of water for refreshment? Save that bottle to refill later on. Has your liquid soap just run out? Reuse that dispenser rather than throwing it away after one go. Enjoyed a microwaveable TV dinner? Rinse out the plastic tray and use it again for a future snack.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Also, be creative. A strategically cut cola bottle can become a funnel. A plastic plate could be reused as a plant saucer. Disposable straws can be used for unclogging ketchup bottles or keeping necklaces tangle-free<\/a>. The only limit is your imagination!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
And, if you\u2019re so inclined, that extra cash can be used to\u2026 <\/p>\n\n\n\n
6. Plant A Tree<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n
\n![\"planting](\"https:\/\/www.goodwall.io\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/ways-to-fight-climate-change-6-600x314.png\")
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\nTrees are awesome\u2014they help reduce erosion, provide shade, offer privacy, and give us the oxygen we need to survive. When combined with runaway cats, they give firefighters in suburban neighborhoods around the world job security. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
However, planting new trees can also help us reduce climate change. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
It\u2019s hard to calculate how much carbon dioxide trees remove from the air, but estimates range from 40\u2013100 lbs (18\u201345 kg) per year per average tree. Plant-for-the-Planet<\/a> estimates that planting 1 trillion additional trees would remove up to 25% of human-produced CO2 emissions<\/strong> per year. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Researchers from the ETH Z\u00fcrich university in Switzerland, led by Professor Tom Crowther, have found<\/a> that there are about 3.04 trillion trees on the planet today. While that may seem like a lot, it\u2019s about half as many (46%) as there were when human civilization first began. On top of that, 15 billion trees are chopped down every year from logging and deforestation, which is not to mention all the trees lost from increasing forest fires around the world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Related Read<\/strong>: 10 Ways to Support the Sustainable Development Goals With Little Money<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
7. Pitch Your Idea<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n
\n![\"sharing](\"https:\/\/www.goodwall.io\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/ways-to-fight-climate-change-7-600x314.png\")
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\nIdeas\u2014we all have them. But, what do you do with them? If you keep them to yourself, they\u2019re useless, soon to be forgotten. However, when shared, they have the potential to change the world. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Shared ideas have a great chance at becoming solutions, especially when pitched to the right people. Do you have an idea which could help reduce greenhouse gas emissions, lower non-biodegradable waste, improve access to clean energy, or how to prevent climate change from getting worse?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If so, pitch it on Goodwall!<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Related Read<\/strong>: How to Save the Planet by Sharing Ideas on Climate Action<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
As a community of over 1.5 million members in 150+ countries<\/a>, ideas shared on Goodwall get the traction and visibility they deserve. On top of that, they get proper support from a diverse group of individuals from all walks of life. With that kind of audience, even a small climate action or global warming idea could change the world and make a big difference.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ready to participate? Log on to Goodwall\u2019s app from your mobile device (iOS<\/a> and Android<\/a>). Then, hit the \u201c+\u201d icon in the bottom menu and share a \u201cpost\u201d or \u201cidea\u201d on climate action! For more information, here\u2019s a guide on how to pitch an idea on Goodwall<\/a> and why you should share ideas on Goodwall<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Related Read<\/strong>: How Does Recycling Help the Environment? (& 10+ Materials to Recycle)<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"