Easy Tips on Living More Sustainably

by Margaret DeStefano

The average American’s personal carbon footprint is 16 tons. That’s four times greater than most other individuals across the globe. To align with the goals of the Paris Agreement, each of us needs to reduce our carbon footprint to four tons by 2030, and two tons by 2050. By pulling a few key levers in our lives, we can easily meet those goals.

Three impact categories make up between 70 and 75 percent of our personal carbon emissions today. Those include travel and transportation (what mode we use to complete our daily activities), what type of energy we source, and what kind and how much food we eat. By focusing on these three categories and making meaningful changes within them, we can reduce our carbon footprints to four tons annually, significantly earlier than 2030. Here are a few easy energy saving tips: Walk. If you have errands to do that are possible within walking distance, try ditching your car completely. Walk (or take public transportation) whenever possible to reduce carbon emissions, and get healthier. You have the added benefit of saving money as well. Weatherize. 25 to 30 percent of household heating and cooling is lost through your windows. By air sealing your home doors and windows, you will reduce carbon emissions, stay more comfortable and save money on your heating and cooling bills. Transition. Greenhouse gas emissions of plant-based meals are, on average, 63 percent lower than the emissions of animal-based meals. The most carbon-intensive foods are beef, lamb and dairy. Try a non-dairy alternative and reduce meat consumption to shrink your carbon footprint, lessen land and water resources and pollution, and gain health benefits. Limit Food waste. Don’t be an average American who throws-away $1500 in uneaten food annually. Be the exception and become an exceptional leftover lover! Learn how to best store your food to keep it fresh longer

and make sure it is visible in your refrigerator. Buy Local. Community supported agriculture is a tangible way for individuals to see the value rural communities provide to urban dwellers. Without our farmers, city residents would suffer pretty quickly in the event of an extreme weather event that disrupts their food supply chains. Eating what is grown locally, supporting farmers is a way to nourish the soil, the earth, and the humans that eat the food that is grown.

Countries, industries, and companies are increasingly declaring commitments to reduce their carbon emissions in-line with the goals of the Paris Climate Accord – zero carbon by 2050 and halving emissions by 2030. As individuals, we too can work toward these same goals with small actions we take in our everyday lives.