Reduce CO2

Every country in the world produces CO2. However, since the Industrial Revolution, the amount of carbon emissions entered into the atmosphere have risen dramatically, shifting the balance of carbon absorption that naturally occurs. Mother Earth can no longer keep pace with absorbing the amount of CO2 we humans discharge into the atmosphere. As a result, our planet continues to insulate itself with these greenhouse gases. As the earth continues to warm and our climates alter, a cascade of other problems such as ocean acidification, occur. Each of us as individuals need to take proper steps to make a positive impact as a collective whole. No one can do everything, but everyone can do something. Below are a few ways to get started.

• Walk, bike, or use public transportation.

• Eat fresh, locally produced food. Each step towards importing foods to our location, for example, shipping, airfreight, rail, or trucks use fossil fuels. 

• Make our homes energy efficient. Insulate your home and use compact fluorescent light bulbs to reduce the amount of energy needed to run your home.

• Turn electronic devices off when you aren't using them. Standby mode on your computer and other “vampires” still use power.

• Be aware of products’ packaging. Avoid products packed and wrapped in an unnecessary amount of plastic and other materials. One way to raise awareness about the problem of over-packaging is by asking the vendor if you can leave the packaging in the store.

• Take your own reusable bags when shopping. A single plastic bag can take up to 1,000 years to degrade and often ends up in our oceans before that occurs.