With climate change such a looming threat, how do you work environmentalism into your daily life?
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Personal, science-based choices we make every single day will help save our planet.
As dreamers and builders of the future, we have a responsibility to protect and enhance the world around us. Gone are the days where the term environmentalist is synonymous with ‘tree-hugger’ and ‘liberal.’ If you care about life-giving resources such as land and water, you are an environmentalist. As energy costs continue to rise and natural resource supply levels remain uncertain, we must embrace modern environmentalism. Personal, science-based choices we make every single day will help save our planet.
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Environmental Activism Doesn’t Emerge Automatically
Over the years, economic growth and the expanding population have dramatically increased carbon emissions across the US. To offset the impact, we should be promoting and increasing environmentalism at the same scale as economic growth.
In addition to organic agriculture, running a complete organic household takes planning, forethought and constant learning.
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Solutions to these problems do not just emerge automatically as the economy grows. Instead, it takes a significant, broad and strong environmental movement—from households to businesses and government groups—to improve the US environmental scorecard. According to a new study, on a state-level scale, greenhouse gas emissions that drive global warming are down in states that provide a strong green voice and promote environmental activism. If we can all take steps in our own homes as well as back state-level initiatives that work toward a greener environment, we can help decrease harmful emissions.
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New Research Promotes Organic Agriculture
Now more than ever people are responsibly considering their roles in the world. The word ‘organic’ is presented to us almost daily. From the food we put in our bodies to the brands we trust, considerable achievements have been made in the race for a sustainable planet. While the topic of organic agriculture has long been debated, according to a recent Washington State University study, researchers have concluded that feeding a global population with sustainability goals in mind is actually possible. The study, which analyzes more than 40 years of science against four areas of sustainability, provides evidence that organic farming can produce sufficient yields, be profitable for farmers, protect and improve the environment and be safer for farm workers. While completely switching from conventional food products to organic ones is a gradual process, we should all strive to stand behind the organic movement and its far-reaching benefits.
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A New Model: The Organic Household
In addition to organic agriculture, running a complete organic household takes planning, forethought and constant learning. Using less energy and thereby being a less source of pollution are easy steps we can all take in living a holistic, organic lifestyle. Other great initiatives we should all research include:
- Choose low-ingredient, organic products for cosmetics and toiletries;
- Plant your own edible garden to get fresh, organic produce;
- Use eco-friendly, organic home cleaners or make your own;
- Throw out chemical air fresheners and open your windows;
- Add organic, unbleached clothing to your lifestyle;
- Reuse and recycle boxes, glass, containers and bags;
- Use glass instead of paper and plastic, reducing production and disposal of each;
- Become consciously aware of the quantity of products you use on a daily basis;
- Make the switch to paperless bills;
- Find and use used products from a yard sale, it’s 100 percent resource-free;
- Carry reusable water bottles;
- Winterize and summarize your house;
- Look into a home solar power system;
- Diversify your yard with different species of plants;
- Garden with native plants to reduce watering, pesticides and fertilizers.
These are just a few of the many steps you can take toward operating a completely organic household.
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Tech-trends Offer Far Reaching Implications for Humanity
From self-driving vehicles to home automation, emerging clean-energy ideas and innovations are transforming the way we live. A Jetson-like future has arrived and the new tech era is dedicated to saving energy and providing cleaner alternatives. Trends such as Google’s driverless car, will change not only how we get from place to place, but also our entire mobility ecosystem. According to Inc., the nature of distribution and logistics will likely dramatically transform with this these emerging advancements.
We can all take small steps, regardless of our industry or occupation, to promote environmentalism.
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Wearable electronics including the Apple watch and Amazon’s Echo, a Siri-like personal assistant, can make homes smarter and more versatile by controlling connected home devices. While these groundbreaking gadgets are enhancing our environment, behavioral changes we all make at home can help reduce energy usage by 20 percent. For example, remembering to turn off the light switch when you leave your house is not a technology challenge—it’s a behavioral change we should all be making.
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Support Environmentally Sustainable Nonprofit Organizations
Water scarcity is one of our planet’s leading problems. According to The Water Project, for 1 billion people, safe water is scarce. Dirty water causes needless suffering and its effects rob entire communities of their futures. Contributing to nonprofits that are founded upon the importance of a cleaner planet is invaluable. The largest and fastest-growing nonprofit solely focused on clean water, the Waterkeeper Alliance, works to unite a vision for clear water and strong communities. A global network of grassroots leaders, the Waterkeeper Alliance helps Waterkeeper organizations protect 2.3 million square miles. A few of their significant and current campaigns include:
Clean and Safe Energy: focusing on the shift from our reliance on dirty fossil fuels, such as coal, gas and oil, towards environmentally sustainable resources;
Clean Water Defense: leading the global fight for strong regulations and vigilant enforcement of environmental laws;
Pure Farms, Pure Water: calling attention to the destructive pollution practices of industrialized meat production and supporting the traditional family farms that industrial practices endanger.
Supporting new levels of greener thinking and donating to non-profits that share our sustainable visions and concerns can impact millions of people worldwide.
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Why Are Sustainable Business Practices Important?
As we recognize how natural resources, climate change and alternative energy can drive innovation we can inspire and shape new business models. Businesses have the creativity, the power and the scale to make big things happen and consumers who care about a company’s carbon footprint are now solely supporting those that align with their values. Companies that are not embracing sustainability will not be able to afford it much longer. From recycling and green-friendly cleaning products to substituting electronically mediated meetings for face-to-face ones, many businesses are moving towards an environmentally friendly future.
Companies that embrace new breakthroughs, despite the upfront investment, will continue to stay competitive in today’s market. The American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy released a report stating energy efficiency is the cheapest method of providing Americans with electricity. Energy efficiency programs can increase profits by minimizing overhead and increasing a company’s bottom line. Sustainable business practices are extremely important to help save our planet and those who underinvest in these programs will eventually be less efficient. We can all take small steps, regardless of our industry or occupation, to promote environmentalism.
Understanding the consequences of our daily decisions and how they affect the environment around us is a movement we all need to research and get behind. We can no longer afford to ignore the far-reaching repercussions of rejecting environmentalism. If we choose to deny these changes instead of embracing them, the future of generations to come will be questionable.
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This post is republished on Medium.
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