Yes, I can make a difference !!!

In this post, I will discuss some of the individual/household behaviour which are related to some critical environmental problems. Then, discuss practical ways of changing behaviour that can be a #actonclimatechange and contribute mitigation. The reason behind choosing I is because I is the smallest unit from where anthropogenic action (both positive and negative) starts and circulates on whole societal system. Mentioning You might be a shift of responsibility to others. This is indeed an appeal to myself and whole world toward sensible action as human being. Unless I doesn't change, success on #actonclimatechange is far away.  Thus, realizing myself and acting on it is indeed the best way of acting on climate change..

Reusing plastic bag:

Plastic bag is menace. It pollutes marine and terrestrial ecosystems. Around a trillion of plastic bag is used, globally. Gupta (2011) studied the effect of various intervention on use of plastic bag in New Delhi and found that awareness campaign, cash-back scheme etc. helps reducing the use of new plastic bag. Other studies around various cities of world found that charging levy on plastic bag reduces the use of new bag, the extent of which varies across cities. A study on Chinese policy of charge on plastic bag reduced 49% of use of new bag (He, 2012). This suggest, plastic bag can be reduced with government interventions. These days many cities are either enforcing ban or charging levy in plastic bag for example London, Kathmandu etc. Ban enforcement is not easy, and requires huge cost and efforts. Plastic bag ban in some cities has resulted in blatant violation like in New Delhi. On top of this, plastic bag ban is also a issue of debate. It is said to enhance cost to customer and increase weight of bag used.
However I suggest a very simple and straight forward idea. Reusing the bag. If each of us reuse a bag once only, 7 billion of us can save a lot. Reusing a bag is absolutely free whereas using new bag is only seemingly free, actually it add cost. Is not this a big contribution? 

Solid Waste Management at home: 

Innovation and development has made our life quite easy. With development, solid waste production has also raised up. The below figure details how global waste generation is expected to increase. 

Solid waste management is a burning issue in both developed and developing country. Solid waste collection, transportation, management and dumping needs huge amount of energy, fossil fuel. Some solid waste persist very long in landfill sites, degrading land and water sources. More than 70% of municipal waste in Nepal is organic, which can simply be segregated and converted into compost fertilizer by household (ADB,2012).
There are many ways by which we can reduce solid waste at home. Segregating solid waste at home is one of the best way by which a significant amount of waste can be reduced and fertilizer for this organic waste can be used in gardens. Reusable waste can be reused and recyclable can be sold out or deposited to recycler. After doing these, the very small amount of solid waste should go to municipal container for dumping them in well managed landfill sites. By doing so, your are not only reducing huge amount of solid waste, but also reducing your bills. Because the cost associated with reduced solid waste collection time, cost of segregation etc. will be reduced from your charges. And on top of all, by doing so, you are contributing to climate change mitigation.

Reducing food waste:  

Love Food hate waste mentions that in UK alone, 7 million ton of food is wasted, among which 50% could have eaten, if wisely managed. This figure simply reminds us the amount of food we are wasting globally. Whoever wastes, they are actually wasting resources and polluting environment. Each of us should look the a video prepared by FAO. It describes what food wasting means and how it can be reduced.  

Isn't it interesting?, It makes us realize how wasting of food leads to environment degradation and finally to climate change. The takeaway lesson is simple, "Reducing food waste is contributing to climate change mitigation and reducing the cost of living.

Reducing unnecessary usage of paper, chemicals etc.  

Check how much ton of paper is being used: Tons of paper produced in the world, this year !!!

The world counts describes 42% of wood harvest is used in making paper and a kilogram of paper requires 324 litre of water. As paper uses huge amount of energy and water in processing, we can  save huge amount of resources and reduce pollutant by our careful behaviour. Printing wisely alone might help a lot. Similarly use of detergent, chemicals and other goods also helps preventing harmful chemical and pollutant entering into the environment. Beside individual institution, business and industries should also change. 

Go green:
Green product are environment friendly goods and behaviour. Using recycled good is one of the way. Huge product mark their carbon footprint these days and there are many certificate on green processing. As a consumer, if we choose the green products then producer are forced to have green production mechanism. Thus, a way to make green system is choosing green product.

The figure just above shows various areas of making our livelihood green and contributing to mitigate climate change and reducing the rate of global warming.

Although for an individual a paper, a plastic bag and small amount of food  seems minor, But think what would be the volume when billions of us around the world do so !!!

   

 Change should not for the sake of change.  It should come from the heart and mind of us. Finally "I", every individual are responsible for increased climate change; thus I am the real change agent. Lets change ourselves and proves "Yes; I can make a difference !!!"

NB: The next post will attempt to review a few paper on pertinent climate change issues. Keep following !!!.