Amal Al-Sibai
Saudi Gazette
It was heartening to see some good news in the press for a change, to see governmental leaders coming together, celebrating a positive, monumental moment in history; which took place in Paris.
For the first time in history, 195 nations agreed to help curb climate change; they pledged to reduce emissions, strengthen resilience, and joined to take common climate action.
Ending his remarks at the December, 2015 UN Climate Change Conference in Paris, the UN chief, Ban Ki-moon, said that all Parties should be proud of the Paris Agreement and that “the work starts tomorrow.”
Yes, this is all very promising. Government leaders, businessmen and women, engineers, the automobile industry, and the marketing industry are committed to protecting our planet, but that is not enough. It all boils down to us as individuals, our choices, our awareness, and lifestyle habits. For us too, as Ban Ki-moon said, “The work starts tomorrow.”
The most important tool we have in our power is to control our own carbon footprints, as individuals and also as a household.
Carbon footprint refers to the greenhouse gases released into the atmosphere because of what we do or buy. Greenhouse gases include methane, carbon dioxide, and nitrous oxide. Carbon dioxide is the most dominant of the greenhouse gases we produce.
Human behavior has caused greenhouse gas concentrations to increase astronomically, and this increase has contributed to global warming, which in turn is creating havoc in our planet’s environment and climate.
How can we reduce our carbon footprint?
It’s all about making smarter, greener choices.
Food
Food production and consumption release a large amount of greenhouse gases. Generally speaking, locally grown foods are associated with fewer food miles, and so have a lower carbon footprint. What are food miles? Think of the tremendous amount of carbon emissions involved in transporting food over great distances, by planes, ships, and trucks, to get food from another continent to your kitchen. When you buy locally grown food from a local farmer’s market, far less energy and fuel was burned to store and transport the food to your table.
Another food choice to make is to eat less beef and dairy products. Cows produce large amounts of methane, one of the greenhouse gases. More importantly, entire forests are destroyed to clear grazing lands to raise cows, to satisfy people’s voracious appetite for steaks.
Reducing food waste is another effective way to decrease your carbon footprint. According to a study conducted in Canada, an estimated 40% of food is discarded after leaving the farm. When wasted food is dumped into landfills and just sits there, methane is emitted as the food decays. An easy way to stop this is to buy less at the grocery store, order smaller portions at the restaurant, and to eat any leftover food, rather than chucking it in the garbage.
Transportation
When it comes to transportation, air travel is the biggest contributor to the increase in greenhouse gases. The plane emits the highest amounts of greenhouse gases during take-off and landing. So, booking a direct flight with no stop-overs may be more expensive and perhaps boring, but it is definitely the greener choice.
Planning a trip? When comparing different modes of transportation, travel by train is the greenest option, followed by a public bus, then a car, then a plane.
For the winter holiday, plan a stay-cation rather than a vacation out of the country. Make a road trip with your family to beautiful places that you have not yet explored, right here in the Kingdom, such as Yanbu, Taif, Abha, Madain Saleh, Thuwal, Farasan Islands, or Jubail.
For getting around day to day, whether for work, college, socializing, or getting the kids to school, carpooling is a good way to save money and the planet. Team up with a co-worker to ride to work together. If your neighbor’s kids go to the same school as your kids, arrange to take turns driving both families’ kids to school. One car on the road leaves a lower carbon footprint than two cars.
If all you need is a gallon of milk and a loaf of bread, walk to the near-by mini-market rather than driving to the hyper-supermarket in the middle of town. For some employees, a problem at work can be taken care of through a Skype meeting or remote access to computers rather than driving to the workplace.
Did you know that getting stuck in traffic wastes gas and creates more carbon dioxide emissions? Download a traffic app on your phone and use it; pick an alternative, less congested route whenever possible. If not absolutely necessary, avoid going out during peak traffic times. Also, remove excess weight from your car; don’t use your car trunk as a storage place for junk.
When buying a new car, consider these options. Smaller cars, eco and hybrid versions of cars, and electric cars are available from almost every manufacturer. Do not buy a minivan or SUV, unless you have a big family and you really need a bigger car. Larger cars have a larger carbon footprint than smaller cars.
Home
Heating your home in the winter and cooling in the summer uses a lot of energy. Whenever we use electricity, we tap into the Earth’s limited natural resources. The less electricity our household consumes, the lower our carbon footprint.
To stay warm in the cold winter, wear a sweater at home and keep the heater’s thermostat at a moderate temperature, rather than keeping the heater working on a high temperature around the clock. Use extra blankets at night when sleeping, to rely less on heating.
A well-insulated home saves money and energy. Plug air leaks around windows and doors to prevent a draft and keep cold air out. Place area rugs on hard, cold floors to help you feel warmer.
Follow simple steps that conserve energy. Remember what your dad always used to tell you, “Turn off the lights when you leave the house! Money doesn’t grow on trees!”
