8 things you can do today to help the environment

Did you know that…

1. Sea levels and global temperatures rise every year, making it difficult for humans and nature to adapt.
2. Extreme weather events are becoming more frequent.
3. Habitats from rainforests to wetlands are being damaged due to human expansion and deforestation.
4. Logging, overfishing, and the illegal wildlife trade are depleting populations of plants and animals, resulting in the extinction of around 1 million species.
5. And pollution continues to contaminate our air, land, and water.

Are you feeling as anxious as I am reading these facts?

Well, science shows that these issues are the result of our unsustainable use of the planet’s resources and the irresponsible disposal of our waste.

That’s why the World Environment Day was created by the United Nations and is celebrated every June 5^th, with the purpose of raising awareness of the importance of ensuring the sustainable protection of the planet and its natural resources.

The slogan for this year is #OnlyOneEarth, which was first used in 1972 and is still relevant 50 years later, as it emphasizes that this planet is our only home and it’s our responsibility to care for its precious resources.

Changing the world can be easier than you think

You may be asking yourself, “But what can I do to improve the environment?” Well, I’ve compiled a list of practical recommendations for you to use in your day-to-day life, so that with your small actions you can contribute to the sustainability of the planet:

1. Want to search for something on Google? Use an ecological search engine instead, like Ecosia, which donates 80% of its profits to the planting of trees in various countries.
2. When streaming movies or series, consider the device you use, as your video gaming console can use 30 to 45 times more electricity to stream.
3. Unsubscribe from those emails you never read. Around 62 billion spam messages are sent each year, which is equivalent to around 20 million tons of CO² per year.
4. Do more walking or cycling, not only will you get some exercise but you’ll also be reducing vehicle pollution and road congestion.
5. Buy secondhand clothes. Making 1 kg of fabric generates 23 kg of greenhouse gasses on average. So stay away from fast fashion that is mass-produced at the cost of the environment and labor standards in impoverished countries.
6. Go meatless one day a week (or more). Try to reduce foods that need more natural resources, like water (the production of meat uses more water than growing plants or legumes). Also, avoid consuming fruits and vegetables that aren’t in season or are imported over long distances
7. Ask constantly: Do I really need to buy that? Reduce the amount of stuff you buy. Choose items that are made to last and that can then be recycled or repurposed.
8. “You cannot love what you do not know, nor defend what you do not love.” Constantly inform yourself to be able to take daily actions to improve our environment. Here at MayanToons, we have a range of resources about flora and fauna to get you started on your learning journey.

And remember, in the universe, there are billions of galaxies, in our galaxy, there are billions of planets, but there is only one Earth. Let’s take care of it!

References:

World Environment Day (2022) #OnlyOneEarth: A Practical Guide to living sustainably in harmony with nature. Available online:
https://wedocs.unep.org/bitstream/handle/20.500.11822/40017/WED2022.pdf?sequence=3&isAllowed=y

Naciones Unidas (2022) Día Mundial del Medio Ambiente. Available online:
www.un.org/es/observances/environment-day

Baker, P. (2019) 11 Ways To Help The Environment That Are Easier Than Reading This List. Available online:
www.buzzfeed.com/patrickbaker/teeny-tiny-ways-you-can-help-the-environment