In my view, climate change is the issue of our time. It underpins all other issues—from political instability to financial distress.
Hurricanes, floods, fires and droughts have wreaked destruction on the planet. Global greenhouse gas emissions have reached record highs. And, it’s only a taste of what is to come. We have until 2040 to avoid catastrophic climate change, according to multiple scientific reports.
A lot of change for the worse is already locked into place. But, we have some choice in how screwed we are.
Vote!
For starters, head to the polls and demand more of your officials. Personal decisions alone won’t stop global warming. That’ll take policy changes by governments on a worldwide scale. Hundreds of scientists compiled research and figured out exactly how we can mitigate, and even reverse, global warming by using only methods currently in use with proven results: onshore wind turbines, solar farms, reduced food waste, plant-rich diets, health and education, to name the top five.
Officials will derive their courage from the conduct of citizens. Whether you choose to brave NYC summers without an AC or choose the environment over convenience in everyday ways, here’s how I’ve started to clean up my act between elections.
Rethink.
Start by considering and questioning your consumption habits. Take a look at your pantry, closet and trash and estimate your carbon footprint.
Refuse.
A plastic bag is used for ~12 minutes on average before being discarded. It’ll last another 1,000 years leaching toxins as it slowly decomposes.
Say no to single-use plastics—whether it’s takeout or your beauty routine. Start your kit of reusables at Plastic Free Shop.
Reduce.
Buy fewer and better, and wash with care. Eat mostly plants. Seek out bulk bins and avoid single-serving sizes or products with excessive packaging. In order of most to least eco-friendly:
No container or BYO
Reusable glass or metal container
Compostable #7 PLA container, only if given 60-90 days in an industrial composting facility
Recyclable aluminum container
Recyclable post-consumer-recycled plastic container
Recyclable glass, metal or paper container
Clear or white, recyclable #1, #2, or clean, rigid plastic container
Clear or white, recyclable #4 or #5 container
Clear or white, recyclable yet less safe #3, #6 or #7 plastic container
Colored, recyclable plastic container
Non-recyclable containers made of more than one material, like snack bags, or dyed black
Styrofoam containers that can’t be recycled and will leach toxins as it deteriorates
Reuse.
Expand the life cycle of products you already have, like a glass jar. Repair worn or broken items. Donate items outgrown.
Recycle.
Only 9% of the world’s plastic has ever been recycled. In the US, about 25% of items recycled are considered “contaminated” and sent to the landfill—that’s double the rate a decade ago.
The rise of single-stream recycling, which takes the responsibility of sorting off the individual, has paved the way for “aspirational recycling.” Worst case a non-recyclable item will contaminate an entire bale of recyclables. Best case it’ll get picked out at the sorting facility and landfilled. Instead, send clean, recyclable products, check out Terracycle for hard-to-recycle materials and, when in doubt, throw it out. Common contaminants include:
Plastic bags
Bubble wrap mailers
Food-contaminated paper
Loose shredded-paper
Frozen food boxes
Batteries and electronics
Rot.
About ⅓ of what is buried in landfills could have been composted. When food waste is trapped in a huge pile of garbage deprived of oxygen, it releases methane—a greenhouse gas 30 times more potent than carbon dioxide.
Store food scraps in the freezer in between compost drop offs. It’ll stave off any odor and aids cell breakdown. But, do not compost pet waste.
Replace.
Shop second hand or support brands investing in sustainable production and consumption patterns. Offset the footprint of fashion and flights with climate credits.