As the impact of anthropogenic climate change and pollution are rendered self-evident by worsening natural catastrophes and rising global temperatures, individuals are increasingly becoming aware of the duty they owe to the health of the planet. Many people are motivated to implement changes in their own lives to leave a greener footprint. Others are pressured by policymakers or their community to adopt sustainable practices. In either case, improving compliance with green initiatives can present challenges that disrupt traditional lifestyles, while producing marginal benefit to the environment. This essay will first address several key challenges that prevent the widescale adoption of sustainable methods by individuals, and illustrate actions that could provide a roadmap to reduce humanity’s environmental impact.
Agriculture is a signficant contritor to environmental degradation, pollution, and climate change, and it is also an area where individual consumer’s choices can have a serious positive effect. Meat production generates a significant portion of greenhouse gas emissions, as cows and other animals produce natural methane in unmanageable quantities. Reducing our meat intake is therefore an essential step that individuals must take to reduce society’s overall methane emissions. The number of people willing to convert to veganism, or even vegetarianism, is limited because people may be reluctant to abandon food that they love or that constitutes a significant component of their diet. Instead, reducing contributions to greenhouse gases by limiting regular consumption of meat, through approaches like ‘meatless mondays’, can help make a significant dent in pollution from livestock.
Beyond agriculture, transport presents another serious challenge for the environmentally-conscious consumer. The greenhouse gases produced by cars, and the industrial process to build them, is also a serious contributor to climate change. Consumers might find it difficult to limit their driving time, but certain strategies can help people make genuine improvements. Walking or using public transport, when available, are necessary steps. Carpooling, or using ridesharing apps with a carpool option, not only saves money but can also help save the environment. Buying an electric car, though by no means a perfect solution, can significantly reduce certain types of airborne waste. It must be acknowledged that purchasing an electric vehicle might be more expensive than buying a petrol-guzzling traditional vehicle, and that riding bicycles or using public transport might not be the fastest modes of transport. However, a combination of efforts is by far the most effective way to address traffic pollution while still getting to one’s final destination. Some major metropolises, like Mexico city or Shanghai China, have implemented systems to encourage consumers to buy electric vehicles or ban them from driving non-electric cars on certain days of the week. This carrot-and-stick approach is the most effective way to drive major behavior changes across the general population.
Finally, the use of electricity in households can cause major harm to the environment. The extraction of fossil fuels can scar ecosystems, as methods like fracking or strip-clearing decimate natural habitats. The production of energy in coal-fired power plants or oil refineries further pollutes the atmosphere. Households can reduce their carbon footprint by purchasing energy from green energy suppliers where possible, or investing in solar panels. While such measures have significant up-front costs that might deter some consumers, the ultimate benefit to the environment coupled with savings on electricity over years attract many sustainably-minded homeowners. Government initiatives to subsidize part of green-energy supply contracts or partially fund solar panel installations can help encourage even more people to reduce their home’s reliance on fossil fuels.
Across the board, traditional daily acts, from turning on the light switch to eating an avocado on toast with a side of bacon, can have a serious adverse impact on the environment. The extent to which every action might have a negative effect on our natural world discourages many from even considering to begin reducing their contributions to climate change. However, by taking gradual steps to reflect on our own personal carbon emissions, with the guidance of government initiatives, we as individuals can significantly improve our sustainability and leave behind a greener legacy.