Climate Change – Ten Easy Ways To Make A Difference

We can all make a difference for the better when it comes to our treatment of the environment. Ideally we should stop using fossil fuel. Not only would that prevent emissions but it would cut down our consumption of things quite drastically. The global warming crisis would then end in about thirty years and global temperatures would be at safe levels. That would be good but…
if I urged that we give up fossil fuel (and give up wood burning while we are being environmentally friendly) no one would listen. It is behaviour that runs counter intuitive to our expectations. Today every nation, every politician, every news media pundit is talking about economic growth as a panacea to our economic woes. Stop using fossil fuel and you would reverse economic growth, the mantra goes. Telling people that we should reverse economic growth in order to provide somewhere to live for our descendants is a tale to which no one will listen, whether the tale is true or not.
So if we cannot solve the problem of global warming quickly because we do not want to solve that problem and regard other problems as more pressing, then I must suggest some ways to make a difference which do not affect lifestyles, do not threatened to worry people with fears of economic Armageddon. The easy ways to make a difference will not reverse global warming but would slow it down.
I am not expressing these as New Year’s resolutions; they are more important that that.
1. Drive moderately, avoiding heavy braking and acceleration
2. Lower the thermostat in your home by three or four degrees. You will soon get used to it and feel more comfortable when you do. If you are very old and need to keep warm for medical reasons ignore this advice.
3. Plant a tree a month. Plant a tree that is native to where you live. If you have nowhere to plant a tree, subscribe to a tree planting scheme that plants local trees.
4. Buy a washing line and some wooden pegs. Stop using the tumble dryer. Drying your clothes outside is free and you will soon recover the cost of the washing line and pegs.
5. I know it is a pain, but recycle assiduously.
6. Instead of throwing them in the bin, give your old serviceable stuff to charity shops or Goodwill.
7. Walk around town for short journeys. It is often quicker. If you can, use the cycle schemes that are in many cities.
8. Buy locally produced food wherever you can. As a rule of thumb, the closer it was produced to the shop in which you bought it, the fewer emissions have been created.
9. Buy less stuff. When you do buy stuff buy quality which will last instead of cheap stuff that will soon fall apart.
10. Turn off the lights when you walk out of a room.
Now, these things will not “save the planet” but they do not involve any sacrifice and will make a difference and help juts a little in the fight against climate change..

Source: http://robertkyriakides.wordpress.com/2012/01/02/climate-change-ten-easy-ways-to-make-a-difference/