ByAs we navigate the complex landscape of environmental challenges, the year 2020 served as a stark reminder of the immediate impact human behavior can have on our planet.
The enforced lockdowns during the initial wave of the Coronavirus in England not only led to a 50% reduction in seismic noise and air pollution in London but also saw a substantial decrease in global greenhouse gas emissions.
The pause in international air travel and a substantial reduction in global road traffic demonstrated the potential positive outcomes of dedicated efforts towards environmental improvement. However, as we step into 2024, the United States faces its own set of environmental challenges that demand our attention and commitment.
While it is undeniable that major corporations contribute significantly to global emissions, the events of 2020 highlighted the power of individual actions in shaping our environment. The United States grapples with issues ranging from air and water pollution to habitat destruction and the loss of biodiversity.
The urgency to address these challenges requires a collective shift in personal responsibility and a commitment to adopting sustainable practices in our daily lives.
Environmental objectives for 2024
Learn About Your Impact
Because climate calamity is so immensely difficult, at times, it seems to be the best course of action to ignore it. However, the better informed we are about a topic, the easier it is to make decisions that have a positive outcome.
Simplify your approach if you need clarification on what you’ve read or are overloaded with information. Choose the most important topics to you and focus on learning about them first.
When we have a greater grasp of specific environmental concerns, we are better equipped to make future choices that are more ecologically responsible.
Examine low-waste alternatives
Reducing our rubbish could be tough, unattainable, or just plain boring. However, it’s not required to be.
Simply doing nothing is one of the simple answers. Adopting a low-waste lifestyle begins with making tiny, incremental changes to your everyday routine to decrease waste.
Commit to one sustainable monthly change that will improve your lifestyle, reduce garbage, or prevent you from consuming plastic. Some lifestyle changes, like quitting fast fashion or eating just vegetables, are harder to keep up with than others.
Just remember that perfection is not necessary. Read our off-grid beginner’s guide to get started.
Promote Change
You may encourage change through various strategies, all of which are useful, but some are more successful than others.
You may encourage people to live a simpler, more sustainable lifestyle by sharing your eco-friendly habits, plastic-free alternatives, and favorite low-waste goods.
You are where self-advocacy for change starts, and it grows from there. Through your social media profiles and frequent chats, share your knowledge, perspectives, and thoughts.
You may inform people about the effects of their choices by becoming an activist.
Reduce waste
Nearly 50% of the waste generated globally is made up of food. In the US, 80 million tonnes of food and beverage waste per year might be avoided in 38% of cases. A few easy steps might help reduce personal food waste while composting helps manage the residual food waste. Buying fewer things, thrifting more, and utilizing what you already have all contribute to lessening other waste. Create a capsule wardrobe, buy used before new, and, if at all possible, avoid disposables. Visit the archives for more information on waste minimization.
Take better care of nature
If you want a resolution that makes you feel good and has both short-term and long-term consequences, start assisting your neighborhood animals more.
Thousands of animal and plant species are becoming extinct in the US due to agricultural development and climate change.
In addition to moving to a plant-based diet, which is the most effective way to decrease your impact on the environment, providing local wildlife with food and shelter, whether in your yard, on your balcony, or from your windowsill, may have a direct positive benefit.
Plant flowers to attract pollinators, construct nesting boxes for birds or hedgehogs and feed other animals. Another easy way to help the animals in your community is by picking up trash when you see it.
Conclusion
As we embark on the journey of 2024, the need for individual commitment to environmental stewardship is more pressing than ever.
Recognizing the immediate and long-term consequences of our actions, adopting sustainable practices, and actively participating in the protection of nature are essential steps toward creating a healthier and more resilient planet for future generations.
By collectively embracing these objectives, we can pave the way for a more sustainable and harmonious coexistence with our environment.
