Can You Do Anything About Climate Change? Yes, You Can!

Climate change is a big concept. Almost too big.

The more we think about it, the more we can feel intimidated or even discouraged by the limited impact our individual carbon footprint has on the world.

But there’s good news. You can do a lot about climate change. In fact, there are so many things you can do that you might be surprised at how the little decisions we make every day can have an impact on the environment. If you want to change your impact, consider making these changes to your life.

Reduce Your Carbon Footprint

According to one expert, the world needs to lower its CO2 emissions by 45% in the next decade. That can start right at home. Consider doing the following to keep your carbon footprint in check:

• Look at the energy you use in your home. Keeping the air conditioning on all day, or keeping lights on all night—these eat up unnecessary energy, which can increase demand for fossil fuels, which in turn increases your carbon footprint. Consider installing automatic thermostats, for example, to automate the process of saving on energy.
• Use public transportation more often. A bus’s carbon footprint is fixed whether you’re on it or not, so if you’re on it, it means you’re not sitting in a car and polluting that much more. It can also be a safe and effective way to get around in general.
• Drive efficiently. If you do get around in a car, don’t constantly use brakes and gas, brakes and gas. This hurts your fuel efficiency, giving you fewer miles for the carbon expended. If you can’t totally eliminate the carbon you use, you can at least optimize how much you use.
• Check your tire pressure. Low tire pressure can hurt your gas mileage, which means that even if you’re doing the things outlined above, you might still be negatively affecting the environment.

Build a More Sustainable Home

There are extreme versions of sustainable homes in which people require no outside resources to add to their impact on the earth. But that doesn’t mean you have to go from zero-to-sixty yourself. You can start having a positive impact by looking at how you can reduce waste.

• Plant a garden. Growing your own fruits and vegetables is not only a rewarding activity, but means you rely less on the produce that requires shipping via fossil fuels.
• Use sunlight. Rather than connect outdoor bulbs, consider investing in solar lights so you can have light at night without any of the guilt or excessive costs. Installing solar panels can also have a major effect on how much electricity you require from the grid.
• Downsize your fridge. Did you know that the chemicals associated with refrigeration and air conditioning can have some of the most potent effects on emissions? If you have a refrigerator in the garage, for example, that’s constantly eating up electricity, consider downsizing to something more reasonable.

Additionally, one survey found that people found that walking was the number-one activity people could undertake to change their impact on the environment. When you’re walking, you’re not using up gasoline, and you’re getting outside and enjoying the fresh air.

Want a little bit more? You should also look at the impact of sustainable produce. One way you can act more sustainably with your purchasing is to consider superfruits, such as Camu Camu and Buriti, from the Amazon. At AMARUMAYU, we use sustainable harvesting practices that support indigenous people to ensure we always have a positive impact on the environment—all without sacrificing enjoyment and flavor.

Want to learn more about Climate Change? Watch our Youtube video on The Earth’s Current Climate Emergency!