How To Live A Low Carbon Life (infographic) — Terra Movement

Switching to a low carbon lifestyle doesn’t have to be difficult or expensive. New technology is always being made but that doesn’t mean a single piece of technology will miraculously appear and save us. It can make homes more efficient and cars more environmentally friendly but that’s not enough.

We need to reduce our demand altogether.

The problem lies in our society and how we live. Our lifestyles have become very unsustainable so it doesn’t matter if we invent the smartest piece of technology. If we don’t change our habits, it will not make much of a difference.

What is a low carbon life?

Low carbon living is when you as an individual, have a small carbon footprint. This means that you are adding only a small amount of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. These emissions can come from transport like driving but most times, it is hidden. For example, you increase your carbon footprint every time you buy something new because energy is needed to make new items.

A Guide to a Low Carbon Life

If everyone implements these into their lives (and more), there would be fewer greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, we will use less natural finite resources, and everyone will save a whole lot of money. These are just to get you started:

These break down into 4 main categories: Transport, diet, home, and lifestyle. If you can make small changes in these areas of your life then you will be able to greatly reduce your environmental impact.

Transport

Land transport contributes to climate change more than any other mode of transport. This is why people need to drive less. Especially if it is short distances, walk or bike to reduce carbon dioxide emissions. If possible, use public transport to go to school or work.

You could even consider getting a more efficient car; one that produces less greenhouse gases.

Flying is another big issue. The aviation industry continues to grow and is becoming more accessible to everyone due to the low prices. If you are traveling to a nearby country, explore other ways in which you could travel there. There are alternatives to planes.

Diet

Reducing your meat intake is probably the easiest way to reduce your carbon footprint and reduce your impact on the environment. Switching to a plant-based diet also has health benefits for you. Not everyone has to go completely vegan or vegetarian, but reducing your meat intake will go a long way.

Related: Plant-Based Diet: EVERYTHING You Need To Know

Lifestyle

The way you live your life can also have an effect on the planet. Think about how many clothes and other products you buy every month. Are they really necessary? It might not seem obvious but in most cases, they have a huge carbon footprint. These items need to be manufactured, stored, and transported across the world. Is buying a new top worth all that?

Also buying packaged food all the time has many negative effects. The plastic that is used to store products needs energy and resources to be made. Also, its lifecycle does not end when you put it in the bin. They need to be transported to landfills or recycling centers. Consider composting your own food to reduce these CO2 emissions.

So think about how you live. These tiny sacrifices will help you reach a low carbon goals much faster.

Home

An energy-efficient home lets minimal energy escape. It’s important to make your house as efficient as possible in order to use less electricity and heating and therefore less fossil fuels. There are various ways to make your home more energy-efficient.

In addition to these simple steps, you could take it one step further and install solar panels on your roof. It’s an investment worth the money.

Why should you switch to a low carbon lifestyle?

The main reason you should consider it is because you will be helping the planet. You will reduce the negative impact you are having on it. People never think about the big picture. They always say: ‘My actions won’t make a difference’. But if you change the way you live, you might inspire someone else to do the same thing.

Don’t be selfish and think about the planet and the future generations. They won’t have a planet to live on, if we continue like this.

The reason all these things are so hard to stop is not because they are physically hard to do. It’s because they have become part of our culture. First, we need to change how we think and change our society, and then it will become a whole lot easier to protect the planet.

Originally published at https://www.terramovement.com on August 9, 2020.