The world is getting warmer and this is having catastrophic affects. Sea levels are rising, biodiversity is decreasing and people are dying. But why? Everything we do has an effect on the world, from driving to school to buying new clothes.
However there are people in power who have a greater responsibility to reduce climate change. Recently there has been a meeting in Glasgow called COP 26. This was a conference that brought together world leaders to address and arrive at targets to reduce carbon dioxide emissions for their country (also known as their carbon footprint).
Our carbon footprint is a measure of how much carbon dioxide is released in the atmosphere as a result of our decisions.
So what are some things we can do to reduce it?
Shop second hand and be mindful where you are buying from. If you check where your clothes are from most of them will say ‘made in China’ and if not they probably won’t say Britain anyway. When we buy clothes they have to be transported from a different county to ours which affects our carbon footprint. To combat this try and shop second hand. There are loads of charity shops dotted around Cardiff that offer really good quality items. Apps such as Depop or Vinted are becoming popular and encourage buying second hand. If you want to buy new, try and buy from a company based in Britain to reduce the distance it has to travel.
- Eat less meat. Having one meat free day a week or even a month will make a difference. At the moment a lot of deforestation is a result of making more space available for farms. Cutting down trees releases carbon dioxide it absorbed back into the environment. This destroys ‘carbon sinks’.
- Use less single use plastic. Get refillable bottles and reusable straws. Rather than relying on Tesco meal deals, try and cook a meal. Bring a carrier bag from home rather buying a plastic one from the supermarket. These small decisions can have a big consequence on the world by improving marine life as well as human health.
- Learn about the problem (like you are doing now).
Written by Young Creator Hana
Tags: Environment, Young Creators, climate change