We should all worry about the carbon footprint we are leaving.The impact of each of us on the environment is felt by the planet, and in a great way. For this reason, we want to give you five simple tips to reduce and offset your carbon mark on the ecosystem.
CO₂ and its impact on sustainability
The amount of greenhouse gases that humans have emitted over the years is exorbitant. For example, in 2017 there were approximately fifty billion tons of carbon dioxide, and this figure is constantly increasing.
This means that, proportionally, we would be emitting about six tons of carbon dioxide per person. However, this would be an unfair distribution, as some countries produce more than others. For example, in nations such as Uruguay, Venezuela or Bolivia, people produce between 8 and 11 tons annually, while, in Costa Rica, Peru and Colombia, the per capita contribution is between 3.5 and 3.8 tons.
However, it is still necessary to continue to lower these figures. In fact, the commitment in the Paris Agreement was to reduce the effects of global warming and pollution by 1.5°C. Otherwise, the consequences will be irreversible.
What measures need to be taken?
Here are some steps we can take to protect our environment.
1. Transport
Combustion engines are an enemy. You can reduce between 0.6 and 5.4 tons of carbon dioxide using alternative or electric transport. But, be careful, the origin of the energy that powers your means of transport also matters.If you use an electric vehicle and recharge it with energy that comes from fossil fuels, you do not compensate or reduce the environmental impact.
It is best to use transport that uses clean energy, however, public transport is also a good option. Some alternatives such as hybrid or electric vehicles depend on the energy source that powers them. If you understand where the energy that transports you comes from, you can improve the way you do it for the environment.
2. The diet
We cannot forget that the fact of allocating spaces to the elaboration of food implies to stop using them to produce neutral carbon, for example, planting trees. Therefore, knowing how a food impacts the environment can help us compensate, alternate or reduce its consumption.
Vegans and vegetarians have an advantage in terms of decreasing their environmental footprint. However, it is not essential to abandon meat consumption altogether. Following a healthy diet, producing some of your food or starting to worry about the production processes of your food are all positive actions that will allow you to reduce your impact on the environment.
3. Home
Owning efficient appliances or even having technology that allows us to consume clean energy is ideal. However, more energy-efficient tools are expensive and the initial investment of, for example, solar energy with photovoltaic cells is high.
The advantage is that you can reduce your carbon footprint by up to 4.8 tons of CO₂. In the more tropical climate you can hopefully deal with the heat by consuming a little more energy; In the more temperate heating can help.Again, as with transportation, knowing the source of energy will allow you to make a conscious decision about how to use it.
4. Generate carbon neutral
Making urban environments sustainable is not an easy task. Indoor plants, readaptation of green spaces in cities…All are ways to contribute to the reduction of carbon dioxide.The planting of trees reinforces this work, so consider it, since it is one of the best alternatives to reduce and compensate for the environmental impact.
If you are not very convinced, think about this: having plants indoors can help improve the air in spaces. Among other benefits, it contributes to relaxation and eliminates moisture and toxins.Dare to take a first step and soon you will embark on the road to more forceful actions.
5. Conscious consumption
This is the last method we recommend here, but perhaps the most difficult to implement. Conscious consumption in sustainability we have told you little by little (transport, diet, etc.). All alternatives are the direct result of responsible consumption. Concrete actions aimed at improving environmental impact are as necessary as passive ones.For this reason, consuming sensibly reduces the mark we leave.
There are many more measures to reduce the carbon footprint. For example, alcohol consumption, travel or pets are factors that directly influence your carbon dioxide production. Our favorite alternative to reduce the environmental cost of our existence is to plant trees to generate neutral carbon and contribute to the sustainability of urban spaces.
