There is so much talk of climate change and global warming in the media and how we need to be more eco-friendly and conserve the wilderness, but how can we as individuals actively help the environment in our daily lives?
Recycle
Every year the UK throws away an estimated 9 billion tonnes of excess packaging from both exotic foods and consumer products, using wood, paper, glass, plastic and metals. These are all materials created from natural resources and are not replaced meaning the environment is starting to suffer. By recycling some materials and reusing others we are able to stop the process from getting out of hand but with only small lifestyle changes needed. This can be done by reusing plastic carrier bags (or not using them at all), recycling glass, paper and plastics in the recycling centres found in most towns (so putting these things in a different bin) and trying to avoid products that package their items excessively.
Learn
Sadly, one of the main reasons that many people are doing so little to help our environment is down to lack of knowledge, the side effects of global warming affect the lives of very few in the western world and so people dont realise what is happening. Learning about particular endangered species like the orangutans, tigers, polar bears, panda bears, Amur leopards, Asian elephants and Sumatran rhinos will shed some light on the changes endured in the habitats of these species. By taking an interest in the well being of these critically endangered species, will hopefully increase the human understanding of why we must protect our world.
Think
Most of the damage that has been done to the Earth's atmosphere has been caused from the burning of fossil fuels (like wood, oil and natural gas) which produce bi-products that are harmful to the environment. We all waste so much water, electricity and fuel and dont seem to realise that these resources are running out and do not exist on a never-ending scale, but they are essential in our modern households. By simply unplugging appliances when you are not using them, turning off lights when you leave a room, and washing up rather than using the dishwasher will not only do an enormous amount for the recovery of our planet but will also save you a lot of money! This also applies with food. Due to the expansion of large supermarket chains, the rise in the amount of food that is bought has risen substantially, as has the variation. Many people buy more food than they need and often throw out more than 1/4 of the weekly shop in waste, yet more than half of the world's population is in severe poverty. We need to realise that our eyes are bigger than our stomachs and that we are only a very, very small part of the food chain on this enormously populated planet.
