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9 things You Can Do to Help the EnvironmentOn the one hand, we see ourselves as nature-loving and environmentally conscious people. We have progressive climate legislation and are one of the nations with an ambitious goal of putting in place a fossil-free transport system by 2030 and breaking fossil fuel dependence by 2045. At the same time, we are among the top five countries that fly the most and have the highest ecological footprint. Forest fires, heat registers, and drop in harvest output. This year's summer has put the climate and sustainability in focus. All of that has made us realize one simple thing: there is nothing that happens in the periphery or in the future — it’s all about here and now. In this article, I'll be taking a look at what we as individuals can do to help the environment. Of course, it is great that we minimize food waste, lower indoor temperature, recycle, switch to LED lamps, use fabric bags, and carbon offset our flights. But all these measures are not enough to save our planet. A single flight can "erase" 20 years of sorting and recycling. A single air trip to Thailand emits an equivalent of 2.2 tonnes of carbon dioxide. That's about half of the CO2 a typical car emits in a year! We need to cut down CO2 emissions to about 1 tonne per year per person to achieve a tangible climate change. But what can you do? Actually, quite a lot. It may seem like you’re going to have to make some sacrifices, but if many people can do it, why cannot you? Here are nine tips for living a more sustainable lifestyle. 1. Fly LessOne of the most important things you can do is change your flight habits. Book online meetings instead of gathering with people physically and choose vacation destinations closer to your home. Let air travel be something really special and luxurious. Just like it was 20 years ago. Of course, the best thing would be to avoid using planes completely. There are lots of beautiful places to discover without booking a flight. 2. Use Your Car LessIt is not about which fuel you use but which car you have. We cannot buy environmentally-friendly vehicles hoping that we will be able to consume more energy and not have a dramatic conscience. You should treat your car as a luxury and choose more environmentally friendly options, such as trains, buses, and bikes, as frequently as you can. Maybe you can work from home one day a week because it is better for the environment (and your stress level)? Perhaps, you and your wife can take turns walking with your children to school? 3. Eat More Plant FoodCattle release large amounts of methane, a greenhouse gas that is even worse than carbon dioxide. Meat production requires a lot of water and artificial fertilizers, and it is an inefficient way to feed a large population. But you can eat plant food and some fish instead. Treat yourself to some beef on festive occasions, and only if you have to. 4. Buy Renewable EnergyBy purchasing renewable energy, you reduce your impact on the environment. How so? Because you don't add any carbon dioxide to the atmosphere. You may not be particularly thrilled at the prospects of having to change your electricity provider, but today you can do it easily by going online and googling all available options. We all work really hard to buy clothes and gadgets. But then, we find it increasingly difficult to get rid of the things that consume our time, money, and energy. And the sad thing is that we don’t get any happier in the end. To prevent that from happening, you should identify your real needs and stop buying things you don’t want. 5. Purchase Second-Hand ClothesBuy clothes other people don't need or grew tired of. Change, donate, or sell things you don't use. Buying second hand may require some patience, but it will save your money and help you reduce the environmental impact you make. By extending the life of your garments, you save energy, chemicals, and water. 6. Stress LessTo relieve stress, we take the path of least resistance. We use our car instead of walking or riding a bike. We cook ready-made meals because we don't have enough time to cook a vegetarian dinner. Or we book a flight and travel to a faraway location where we can relax and unwind. Stress is not good for anyone who wants a sustainable lifestyle. Nor is it good for the climate. 7. Be More ContentIn today's society, we are tempted to get more and better things. Consume more, travel more, do anything more. Seeing on social media what others have may create dissatisfaction with what you do. You can always have more and better things. But it is possible to be satisfied with what you have. Long-term happiness is something we create within ourselves and not with external attributes or experiences. If you become more satisfied with what you have, your climate impact will most likely be reduced. 8. Inspire OthersHaving to change one’s lifestyle seems like a scary prospect for many people. Therefore, we need more inspirers and role models at the individual level, someone who’ll tell us what we can do and what they’ve already done. Also, politicians must understand that we are prepared to make the necessary changes so our children and grandchildren could live safely and happily. For that to happen, we should implement structural changes in society. 9. Have Fewer ChildrenAccording to a Lund University study, not having children is the single biggest sacrifice you can make for the climate. It is even bigger than quitting air travel, cars, or meat. When something as fundamental as reproduction is regarded as a climate hazard, then it is a serious signal of how unsustainable our lifestyle is. Certainly, having many children makes us all extremely happy, but who says that having more children may lead to greater happiness? We can simply refrain from having more children and be more content. So, where do you start then? Just like with going on a diet, you should have some commitment and motivation. If you like cooking, you may find eating vegetarian and organic food a lot of fun. If you have just become a parent, you may be able to buy more second-hand clothes, eat more organic food, and stress less. If you need to look after your health, you may want to leave your car in the garage more frequently. Of course, it also depends on where you are on the sustainability ladder today, both practically and mentally. Another approach is to test yourself for a month. A vegetarian month. A car-free month. A no-shopping month. Maybe you’ll be able to start new habits and realize that it wasn't that difficult.
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