Environmentalism has been a frequent topic of conversation for the last few decades, and the need to discuss this topic has only grown in that time. While there are many changes that need to be made on a larger scale, there are still some things that the individual can do to minimize their impact on the environment. Here are a few ways that you can live sustainably.

Renewable Energy

Renewable energy is a major way that you can mitigate your impact on the planet. One of the reasons for this is simply that eliminating non renewable resources presents a clear negative. Fuel sources like coal and fossil fuels take thousands of years of natural processes to be created, making them non renewable, at least in terms of human civilization. Burning through these resources faster than they can be replenished is an inevitability at this rate, and at that point, we will need an alternative fuel source. It’s also worth noting that these fuel sources can have other uses that will also be eliminated when the resource, itself, is gone. The use of solar panels is increasing in popularity, and solar energy is thought to be the best candidate to replace our current fuel sources. Not only is solar energy renewable, but it is also a clean energy source.

Clean Energy

Clean energy refers to energy sources like solar and wind energy that don’t produce pollutants. Coal and fossil fuels, on the other hand, produce heavy emissions of carbon dioxide. Carbon dioxide is the most often cited contributor to climate change and one of a few greenhouse gases so named because they are trapped in the Earth’s atmosphere, causing the warming effect that we call global warming. Solar and wind energy are clean because they aren’t produced through the burning of a fuel, but, rather, taking advantage of energy that just kind of happens to present itself via natural processes. 

Eat Less Beef

While carbon dioxide is the greenhouse gas most closely associated with climate change, the methane produced by cows rivals the pollution produced by cars. Therefore, one way to reduce your impact on the planet is to contribute less to the currently vast production of meat, as well as dairy products, in order to reduce the amount of methane being produced by cattle. “Vote with your wallet,” as they say, by simply buying and consuming less, if not none, of the products associated with these animals. While there is already a major push for more people to adopt vegetarianism or veganism, there are other options. One such option is that of eating insects as a form of protein, a practice that is already popular in some parts of the world and is thought to eventually become widespread. 

Grow Your Own Produce

On the subject of food, food waste is another problem with the current model of food production in the developed world. Grocery stores offer convenience, but in order to keep stores stocked, food items are produced to an increased degree. This means that a lot of the food items that are produced end up going to waste, and that means that the industrial processes by which food is grown and distributed is contributing to pollution without feeding hungry people. Therefore, one way another way that you can combat excessive emissions is to buy less and grow more. Planting a vegetable garden can allow you to provide some of the vegetables you need, if not all of them, without rewarding the current, flawed system. An alternative is supporting smaller local farming operations via farmer’s markets.

Sustainable living is becoming increasingly necessary, but there are still ways that private citizens like you can combat environmental change while you wait for policy to change. With these tips at your disposal, you’re better prepared to reduce your impact on the Earth moving forward. Change like this can also take root within communities, which can only help even more.