Environmental problems and climate change is one of the biggest challenges that we are a community are facing. There are many ways we can tackle this challenge and help the environment; public transport. Excessive cars going to and from cities are executing harmful effects, which are damaging air quality and emitting harmful particles. Using public transport doesn't only provide help to the environment. Taking a walk to work will keep you fit and healthy and bus lanes mean you will actually reach your destination quicker. Here are some ways you can help the environmental problems and climate change.
Public transport to school
We have all been 17 and passed our driving tests, the first thing we want to do is drive to school and show everyone. However, if you was able to walk to school before having a driving license, why should that change? The shorter car journeys are actually the most polluting, especially the ones which are less than a mile journeys. Even if you are leaving your car at home for one or two days a week it will massively impact the emissions being put into the air. By doing this you will, miss traffic, avoid any parking anxiety, save on any-car related costs and reduce emissions. It is a good habit to get into, that is eco-friendly and also keeping you fit and healthy at the same time. Your wallet, fitness and planet will be thanking you for it.
From personal experience, I was so excited to be driving when I first got my drivers licence and wanted to show this at school. I noticed it was also expensive to keep up with fuel prices, as these short journeys do end up adding up. So not only, did walking once a week save me money, I knew I was helping the planet and keeping my fitness up. On days where walking wasn't an option, my friends and I decided that doing car shares was the best option for this. 4-5 of us being in one car, in comparison to 4-5 of us driving separately and producing more CO2.
Moving to online shopping
Weekly short car journeys to the supermarket is destroying the environment. Online shopping have mostly plastic free bags and delivery trucks doing longer journeys and multiple trips at once. With some of them even being hybrid vehicles which are better for the environment and produce less emissions. It also saves you the journey every week, and you can do your shop from the comfort of your own sofa, whilst watching your favourite programme.
However this is too much and you enjoy your weekly supermarket trips, the reduce your carbon footprint instead when approaching the mid week needs and wants, walking is the best option for this. It may add extra time onto your journey, however, but the fitness and calories burnt from this will allow that extra bar of chocolate you was stopping yourself from buying. If that it too much, taking the bus to the supermarket is also helping the environment. You aren't needing to worry about looking for a parking space and it also reduces congestion.
Hybrid and electric cars
Hybrid cars are more fuel-efficient than conventional cars. They are consuming less fuel and therefore releasing less harmful gasses into the atmosphere. With electric cars, they do not rely on fossil fuels for power, therefore, not emitting CO2 and helping the reduction of air pollution. Understandably, this isn't an option that is available to everyone, but should be a consideration when it comes to purchasing a new car.
Taking these small actions, even just once a week, will massively help environmental problems and climate change. Your small actions mean something. If everyone did something small once a week, it adds up. Many cities have reduced CO2 emissions successfully by 50%, just from the reductions and limiting private cars. This can increase in the future, if you continue to help. The CO2 is controlled and wants to be reduced by to levels of 28% by 2025 and a further reduction of 45% by 2030. With long term targets of zero emissions by 2050.
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