How to celebrate Earth Day
April 22 marks the 51st anniversary of Earth Day. It’s a great opportunity to raise your voice and demand systemic change. We are still very far away from solving the issue of the climate crisis, plastic pollution or deforestation. Even though we need to address the problem collectively we should first start with our own actions. A good place to begin is to convince yourself that your small actions do matter. Choosing to buy environmentally friendly alternatives sends a signal to the industry that can drive positive change. If you are interested in learning about what can you do to live your life more sustainably, take a look at the tips listed below.
Drink tap water
It is very convenient to switch to drinking tap water from buying plastic bottles. It’s a great alternative that will save you both money and the trouble of carrying the heavy multipacks of water bottles. It sends a message to manufacturers that they should find alternatives to plastic bottles. The movement of using reusable water bottles or bringing your own cup to a cafe made few companies take a look at their products and reconsider the packaging. Some switched to glass bottles others to recyclable plastic. However, the best alternative is to just simply drink tap water. It saves you money and addresses the issue of plastic pollution at the same time. Universities strongly encourage their students to get reusable bottles by installing water fountains all around the campuses.
Buy local
We often associate the labels “organic", “zero-waste" or “environmentally friendly" with larger expenses. There is a grain of truth in this way of thinking. Some companies thought they outsmarted their environmentally conscious customers just by throwing the “eco" word on the packaging and increasing the prices. However, buying local which largely reduces the carbon footprint doesn’t have to involve high expenditures. Find your nearest farmers market, get your reusable bag and support the local community. Eating fresh fruits and veggies bought locally will give you loads of satisfaction and enable you to prep some amazing seasonal meals. If you’re more ambitious try growing your own vegetables at home or in a garden. For beginners, it’s highly recommended to start with sowing the herb seeds.
Save electricity
If you haven’t already, switch to LED bulbs. They consume much less power, last longer and are energy efficient. What’s more, make sure to switch off all the appliances such as TV, oven or microwave after using them. You don’t even realise how much energy it takes to display the small red dot on your TV or have a clock on your oven. Now think about this and multiply it by few billions. Last but not least, reduce your screen time. Spending hours online requires your devices to be charged more frequently which can highly affect the bills. Your wallet will be grateful for saving on electricity.
Get involved in COP Glasgow
The 2021 United Nations Climate Change Conference is taking place in Glasgow this year. It provides a perfect opportunity for students at UK universities to get involved. If you share a passion for climate change, apply for a volunteering position. It will give you a chance to work with like-minded people from all over the world and enable you to represent your city or country. It will be once in a lifetime experience so you definitely don’t want to miss it. If you are not able to volunteer check out their website to learn more on how to get involved.
