Are we still in time?

In the last article we talked about the climate crisis we are currently experiencing and the urgency to change our behavior. The facts and figures speak for themselves - many species are already extinct, countless ecosystems such as glaciers or corals have ceased to exist, the Earth's temperature is higher than it should be. All of these are direct consequences of human behavior that are harmful to the planet, such as the emission of greenhouse gases.

 

Faced with this reality, a pertinent question arises… Do we still have time to “save” our planet?

            The answer is controversial. On the one hand, we can no longer recover what we lost and all the harmful gases emitted or forests felled. According to the conclusions of the study by researchers from the University of Aarhus, Denmark, and Gothenburg, Nature would need 3 to 5 million years to recover the biodiversity that is expected to be lost in the next 50 years.

 

However, we still have time to avoid the great catastrophes that will happen if we don't change our lifestyle. If you want to become a more alert person to sustainability issues and do everything possible to make the Earth a greener planet and a place where future generations can live, here are some tips on things that you can do:

 

1 - Decrease water consumption. This means not taking immersion baths, turning off the tap while brushing your teeth and hair and not letting them drip and even opting for a double flush toilet.

 

2 - Reduce energy consumption - turn off the lights in rooms where you are not, change the normal light bulbs for a more economical version, unplug electronic devices from the socket when they are not in use.

 

3 - The 3 Rs: Recycle, Reuse and Reduce. Before getting to recycling, try to reuse as much as possible. Extends the useful life of the object and avoids the disposal of a material and the purchase of a new product. Therefore, this practice reduces the amount of raw material, water and energy needed to manufacture new consumer goods and reduces pollution. Recycle garbage correctly, separating not only plastic and paper, but also glass, electronic waste, and batteries.

 

4 - Don't use the car so much - Cars are responsible for emitting a large amount of polluting gases into the atmosphere. Choose public transport, walking or cycling and, if you don't need a car, carsharing.

 

5 - Sustainable diet. When shopping, give preference to organic and organic products, which are grown in a way that promotes ecological farming practices and has a positive impact on the ecosystem. Try to reduce the amount of meat (especially red) you eat - to raise cattle, you have to deforest a huge territory, waste large amounts of water and, finally, cattle emit greenhouse gases in abundance, being quite polluting on a large scale .

 

6 - Supports causes and companies with sustainable values. The most effective way to promote change is to opt for more ecological entities. Whenever possible, choose products with a seal of sustainability and brands that you identify with the most. You can also donate to organizations and NGOs that work with environmental causes.

 

 

Maria do Mar Sousa, 09/11/2021