Simple and effective ways to reduce your carbon footprint to help the ocean
Simple and effective ways to reduce your carbon footprint to help the ocean
- by Kylie West, contributor
It’s easy to think of climate change as an abstract concept, since the day-to-day effects are not always visible to the human eye. We can acknowledge the reality of a changing atmosphere, but because we don’t necessarily notice the effects, it’s easy to ignore. With our modern love of immediate gratification, it can be more rewarding to help the earth by picking up a piece of trash on the beach than paying for carbon offsets or taking one less flight per year than you typically would. In today’s world, however, we are finally seeing the effects of climate change and will continue to see them unless we as a society take action.
The increase of carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere has led to excessive ocean acidification. Marine animals such as shellfish are dying due to their shells dissipating, making it easier for predators to eat them and thus affecting entire marine food chains and ecosystems. Coral reefs, too, are experiencing the negative effects. According to the EPA, coral cover in Hawaii is projected to decline from its current level of 38% (relative to prior baseline coverage) to approximately 5% by 2050 if we don’t take significant global action on climate change.
Another visible example of climate change’s effects on the ocean is that of rising sea levels. Rising water can cause erosion, harming the habitats of marine birds and other living creatures. This can also reduce the ability of plants to perform photosynthesis. Coastal mangrove ecosystems act as nurseries to a diverse range or species and are currently being destroyed by humans at an alarming rate. As per the Commonwealth Marine Economies Programme in the UK, 24% of mangroves in Caribbean have disappeared in the last 25 years as a result of human development, activities and exploitation. (see study here).
Marine life is suffering, and it’s time to take action to protect some of the most pristine places on the planet before climate change causes more harm and millions of species go extinct. You can use a carbon footprint calculator to get an idea of how much you contribute to carbon pollution (example: Ocean Foundation carbon calculator). Below are some simple and effective ways to reduce your carbon footprint.
Personal Changes you can make
1. Fly less
Flying between continents can add thousands of pounds of carbon into the air for each passenger. Flying is a very carbon intensive mode of travel. Reducing international travel, vacationing closer to home, flying less frequently will help reduce your carbon footprint. If you do fly, click here for a list of how to reduce your footprint as you travel.
2. Be smart with your car
Vehicles are America’s biggest air quality compromisers, producing about one-third of all U.S. air pollution (National Geographic). If you live in a walkable city, walk if you can, or ride a bike! Not only is this better for the environment but also for your physical health.
If you have a car, how you use it makes a difference. If you’re planning on purchasing a car, consider going electric, as electric vehicles don’t burn fossil fuels to run. If you can, take public transportation rather than driving your own car.
3. Eat less meat
The beef industry is one of the largest contributors to climate change through greenhouse gas emissions.
4. Recycle
Recycling rules change depending on location, so research your city’s recycling rules
5. Make your home more eco-friendly*
Wear warmer clothing and heat you home less.
Turn your lights off when you are not in a particular room.
Turn down the setting on your water heater if you go on vacation.
Insulate your walls and attic.
Consider solar panels
Replace windows with dual-glazed windows if you have not yet done so.
6. Ask your utility company if you can buy electricity that is generated from 100% renewable sources.
In some locations you can sign up for 100% renewable electricity rather than electricity sourced via coal fired power plants. By paying a small monthly premium, you can buy 100% renewable electricity supplied through your utility company by third party suppliers.
7. Work from home or commute in an environmentally friendly way
8. Walk, ride a bike, take an electric scooter or take public transportation
9. Carbon offsets
One strategy to reduce your environmental footprint is by purchasing carbon offsets for travel and other environmental impacts you might make. These credits enable you to donate your money to projects that aim to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. If you choose to purchase a carbon offset, note the importance of checking for Gold Standard VER (Verified Emission Reduction) certification to ensure validity.
There is a debate among the environmental community as to how effective carbon offsets really are. It’s worth questioning if it’s really a “get out of jail free” card. According to a UN Environment Programme article, “If we are serious about averting catastrophic planetary changes, we need to reduce emissions by 45 percent by 2030. Trees planted today can’t grow fast enough to achieve this goal. And carbon offset projects will never be able to curb the emissions growth, while reducing overall emissions, if coal power stations continue to be built and petrol cars continue to be bought, and our growing global population continues to consume as it does today.” While planting trees helps, the process is too slow to keep up with the rate at which we’re polluting the atmosphere. There are also significant questions about whether the projects endure long enough to deliver environmental benefits first projected.
Short List of Political Efforts you can get involved in
Vote. Contribute. Get involved. Volunteer.
Join or volunteer in organizations that promote environmental standards.
Fight at local, state, national and international levels for greenhouse gas reductions.
Contribute to and vote for campaigns, projects and organizations that promote National and International Agreements such as the Paris Climate Agreement and other standards for combating climate change and developing energy policies that reduce greenhouse gases.
Send letters to your elected officials.
Make sure your representatives promote Fuel Efficiency Standards (Cafe fuel standards in the US for example).
Conclusion
There are many simple ways to reduce your carbon footprint. While they may seem trivial, when 330 million Americans or 7.8 billion people on earth all make small improvements, the changes add up. We need to make radical changes now. We cannot be comfortable with business as usual, but we can make the immediate and easy changes to mitigate the very worst outcomes that are fast approaching. We can make these small easy changed, while we fight for more dramatic comprehensive changes.
If you start today, making small changes (the easy ones) and improve your performance and involvement yearly, that’s a good start! You can improve from there.
Kylie West is an ocean conservationist, a freelance writer, photographer and videographer.
You can learn more about Kylie at kyliewestcreative.com and kylieconservation.com