As is becoming more painfully apparent each day, humans have spent the last few centuries damaging natural environments and are now chugging along at a pace that has triggered the emergency warning system. Many effects of climate change are already unalterable and unless action is taken, it is only going to get worse. The world is changing incredibly fast, and climate change is being spurred on by a handful of powerful people who seem unconcerned with the responsibility they now have to keep the planet in a habitable state for the future.
As an individual, I feel grief for everything that we've lost and an intense helplessness for the future. Fixing these problems is woefully out of my hands, but that doesn't mean there isn't anything I can do, and it doesn't mean I can give up. There are always things people can do to improve the future of the wilderness and every small thing helps, even if it only helps a few local birds and your own peace of mind for a short time. That's worth something, and it's the first step to demanding a better future. So what are small things that every person can try to do to become a more ecological person?
Reduce Plastic!
By now the scale of the plastic problem may have reached you. Our oceans and wild spaces are literally choking on the plastic waste that has accumulated over the last century. Being conscious of that can affect what you buy. Use plastic bags to bag fruit at the store and then immediately throw it away once you're home? Those bags end up in the environment and don't break down for centuries. Why not crochet or buy a net bag instead? you can bring your own net bags for fruit to the supermarket and reduce the amount of plastic bags you throw away. Or just put your produce in the cart and wash it at home.
Don't buy foods that employ single-use plastic. Don't use single serve items that pile small pieces of plastic in landfills, like keurigs. Instead, why not use a pour-over or french press for coffee? Use tea leaves and a tea ball or one of these instead of bags that are covered in wrappers. Use a refillable water bottle, and put groceries in a reusable bag. You can use beeswax cloth instead of plastic wrap for leftovers. Using bar shampoo and conditioner saves thousands of plastic bottles a year and is cheaper and longer-lasting. Just take a moment to be conscious of the things you buy and how much plastic and wrapping you throw away after a second of use. Is there a way you can replace that with something more sustainable?
Minimalism!
General minimalism also can reduce the impact of climate change. Renting or buying a home? How much room do you actually need? Huge empty rooms just need to be heated and filled with unnecessary things, try only owning the space you need instead.
Buy clothes secondhand, many of them are made using plastic and shed microplastics into the environment when they're washed or thrown away. Instead of physical presents, give experiences! Movie tickets, massage coupons, having a tree planted in someone's name... There are lots of options for more environmentally friendly gifts. Minimalism can definitely be a cheaper way to live too. Think about all the energy, carbon emissions, and transport that went into creating possessions you don't need or use.
Be responsible with your pets!
Cats unchecked in ecosystems can have disastrous long term effects. To be a responsible cat owner, cats should not be unsupervised outside. Cats are the number 1 cause of human influenced bird death and are credited with causing some known 33 extinctions globally. Outdoor cats kill about 2 small animals a week and with 86 million cats in the United States alone, it has been calculated that cats in the U.S. kill some 2.4 billion birds and 12.3 billion small mammals every year. These small birds and mammals are vital connecting points in ecosystems whose losses are building over time. To stop the destruction of local ecosystems, cats must be kept indoors and supervised outside when necessary to reduce bird and rodent death. This can of course be difficult. Some shelter cats have unknown histories and it can be cruel to switch an outdoor cat to indoors cold turkey and situations can be assessed by case. However in general, it is best for the ecosystem if cats are kept inside and monitored outside.
Rethink your lawn!
We have some strong opinions on this: lawns are stupid. Especially if you care about being ecological and environmentally-friendly. Our previous article (Being Part of the Solution: Gardens as Habitat) describes this in more detail but the lovely green perfectly cut lawns across most of America compact the soil, and are chemically treated ecological deserts that rarely have so much as a bug or worm underneath them. Not to mention they are massive waste of good water, an issue that's becoming increasingly urgent.
Can you imagine if all of these uniform green expanses had their soil turned, If pesticides were restricted, and native grasses and flowers and trees were planted? It would certainly look more eclectic and alive, and the insects would return, the birds would nest, and it would become a living space again for pollinators and birds instead of a useless chemical green desert that wastes water. Alternatively, that space could be used for vegetable gardens. Growing your own food can be incredibly rewarding, and it's a fun hobby that yields results and saves on shipping costs to supermarkets, another source of emissions. In arid regions, rock gardens make another attractive alternative.
If you're worried about curb appeal or resale, we advise talking to a local land trust or Audubon group about native plants. There are countless beautiful species that are well adapted to your region, wherever you are.
Your food comes from somewhere...Be aware.
Diet is also a driver of climate change. The growing, production, and transportation of food causes huge emissions with the livestock industry alone contributing more than cars, planes, trains, and ships combined. In general, buying locally produced food negates transportation costs and supports local businesses. Choosing pork and poultry over beef and lamb reduces emissions, and decreasing your own food waste as much as possible helps. Eating less meat in general is always a good idea when it comes to climate change. I opt to eat vegetarian most of the time with some meat and fish opportunistically. Going vegetarian or vegan is also an option that can be easier than it seems, and is usually healthier if done correctly. So support your local farmer's market! Cut out at least red meat from your schedule and maybe put that garden plot to good use? Doesn't get more local than that.
Avery's vegan cooking in New Zealand
Think about impacts on wildlife!
Every organism serves an ecological purpose and many may be more important than you think. When you're outside in natural spaces, be aware that how you interact with those spaces makes a difference. See a small bird running around on the ground? Fledglings often have stubby wings and tails and in late summer can be seen running about like they have fallen out of the nest and need help. Leave them alone, their parents are very likely supervising them. While they are vulnerable on the ground, it is a necessary step for them to learn to fly and your interference will rob them of important lessons their parents have. It is best to leave them be unless they are clearly injured.
In this thread, leaving wildlife in general alone is a good call. If you turn over rocks on the beach, put them back, they are probably sheltering a variety of species. Don't walk off paths in parks and recreational outdoors, it tramples native plants. Do not try to touch wildlife, pet turtles or deer, or harass animals in an attempt to have a cool experience or get a picture. All wild animals deserve respect and distance. You have no idea how your interaction is causing them stress, or desensitizing them to humans and leaving them vulnerable in the future. Animals do not "know that you mean them no harm". Your first assumption should be that the animals are wary or afraid of you, and for a good reason.
Also do not feed waterfowl bread in lakes or ponds. It may seem like you are helping them by giving them food, but bread lacks any nutrients and all it does is make them feel full so they don't eat what is actually good for them. Eventually this can interfere with proper wing growth and leave them unable to fly, thus vulnerable to predation and exposure. Absolutely want to feed the ducks? Opt for lettuce or cucumber.
The most important thing...Try.
The world we live in seems daunting sometimes, how can we all possibly make moral and ecological decisions all the time? Plastic bags physically pollute the environment, but the production of cotton tote bags causes more emissions. Nuclear plants have almost no carbon emissions but plutonium mining and potential disasters also offer huge risks. Electric cars save oil use, but what is the net result of the production of their batteries? Every decision that can seem better has downsides and there is never a clear direction that doesn't hurt anyone or anything. But there is always something you can do.
The best that we can do is try, try our best to work in the direction of a better future through our choices. I buy vegetables wrapped in plastic sometimes and use air travel more than average, and I feel guilty, but I also use bar shampoo, try to eat less meat, haven't used a plastic grocery bag for almost 2 years, and vote for people who support science and regulation to mitigate climate change.
It is okay to "slip up" and use unnecessary plastic, leave your lights on all day, or eat a hamburger. Just like in everyday life you need to forgive yourself for being a fallible person and strive to do better next time or if you know you can't change something, do something else to try to balance it out. Not driving isn't an option for you (hello America)? Maybe donate to a natural reserve or pick up that soda can you see on the street, teach a child to appreciate nature, or educate others. Can't afford to not buy inexpensive foods wrapped in plastic or need cheap meat to make it through the day? Tear up some invasive plants in your local park, leave out a plate of sugar water for migrating hummingbirds, vote in your local election for new laws on supermarkets wasting food or eliminating Styrofoam and single use plastics. In fact, are there politicians denying the realities of climate change or not accepting scientific results in general? Don't vote for them! Give the power of regulation and change to people who actually care about the future and are willing to do the work to achieve it. Voting can have the largest impact.
The world is not built in a way that it is easy or convenient to be ecologically aware and not everyone is perfect. People on individual levels can't stop climate change, but everything helps and even small victories are still victories. Always trying to do little things to help the wilderness around you can add up over time to cause positive changes, and everyone is capable of that.
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