Climate Change: 5 Simple Ways You Can Fight It

Let’s be honest with ourselves: climate change is real and happening. There is no denying it at this point. The latest reports on climate change and global warming are chilling. Some studies state that we only have till 2040 to stop the irreversible effects of climate change. That is only in 22 years. We are closer to the year 2040 than we are to the year 1995. Let that sink in for a moment.

You might be thinking, “I’m only one person, what can I do about this?” You might be surprised at the amount of waste one person like you and I produced yearly. I’m not asking you to adopt a completely vegan diet or stop using anything made of plastic. There are many little steps you can take to prevent climate change. Here are a few ways you can help the environment.

1. Turn off your lights. This is simple and easy to follow. Think of the number of times you leave your home with the lights on. How much energy could you have saved if you had turned off your desk lamp or unplugged the string lights above your bed? You can also switch to energy-efficient light bulbs. They are a great way to save some energy. Plus, it will lower your monthly electric bill!

2. Recycle. Recycle. Recycle. I cannot emphasize this enough. Most of us are college students living on or near campus. Almost every room at Temple University contains a recycling bin. Utilize it. Temple even hosts a free paper shredding event! The next one is held on Friday, October 26 from 9:00 am to 12:00 pm on 12th street, right across the TECH Center Entrance. Help spread the word and take advantage of this!

3. Invest in wooden toothbrushes. Believe it or not, toothbrushes are one of the biggest waste products in our oceans right now. Buying wooden bamboo toothbrushes reduces waste significantly. Toothbrushes take a lot of time to decompose. Natural bamboo toothbrushes are a great investment. Plus, they are very aesthetically pleasing.

4. Reduce water waste. Think of how much water you waste when your brush your teeth. Try turning the faucet off when you brush your teeth. Or, try taking shorter showers. Using less water reduces carbon pollution, too.

5. Invest in reusable grocery bags. I bet all of us have taken a hike to Fresh Grocer at least once while being on Temple’s campus. Wouldn’t your trip be a lot easier if you had a grocery bag that didn’t rip all the time? Fresh Grocer and most grocery stores sell reusable grocery bags. They’re usually only a dollar or less. Think of all the plastic bags you can save in just one of your trips! Reusable grocery bags are eco-friendly and help reduce some much unnecessary plastic waste. Be sure to pick up a reusable bag on your next trip to Fresh Grocer!

These are just some of the simple ways you can help. Climate change is a serious and real issue. As good citizens let’s make sure we are taking care of our environment. There is no plan B. Earth is the only home we have. Let’s take care of it.

This blog post was written by Freya Christian, Treasurer