A Millennial’s baby steps for the planet
“……Seattle experienced the worst smoke, wild fires curbed hundreds of acres in California, New Delhi recorded an air quality above 440ppm, Bengaluru’s polluted lake started frothing and caught fire, my home in a tiny town in Assam has started feeling like a furnace during summer with extremely high temperatures……”
I expected an apocalypse and dreamt multiple variations — Aliens bomb us, a meteor hits earth exactly where I live, a nuclear weapon from North Korea lands in Seattle, and the sun starts spiraling towards the earth. My fears predicted that the extinction of humans will always be caused by something beyond human control. Inversely, humanity is on the verge of a climatic apocalypse.
I grew up in a serene environment with abundant fauna. One of the backyards I lived in, was routinely visited by wild elephants and it was a daily job to clean up the weeds. As a kid, I took the abundance of a balanced ecosystem for granted. Fast forward, I have moved to an urban setting, and the IPCC has released its climate change report for 2018. The climate clock has just accelerated in the past few years. A balanced ecosystem is under threat and we are on a countdown to the global climate change disruption.
I am not an environmentally conscious person, but I want to be one. I want to be an ‘Environmental Conservative’ using the least water, energy and any resources. I don’t know what the future may be — we all dead with the climactic apocalypse or maybe our efforts to save the planet starts showing its results.
As I sit down on my computer, I think I don’t want to go down in history as a millennial who never tried to stop the ticking climate clock.
Post Earth Day, sharing some ideas and some of my bits with the hope of having a chance at the planet—
A millennia’s baby steps for the planet
- Consumer Mindset- Make sure when you consume your paycheck you feel you bring value to yourself and the world. We work hard to deserve our paychecks. While the consumer-centric society will give you millions of options to buy. Buying lesser things helps the planet’s strain on natural resources. Before every purchase think what value it brings to your life and if it makes you happy[Mary Kondoing?].
- Don’t buy cheap clothes- Don’t buy cheap fashion, the cost adds up and hurts the planet. Buy clothes that will last you for a couple of years. One thing I have realized is that I can never match up my wardrobe to fit all the Instagram trends. Renting clothes is a new alternative. But with my super sensitivity to sharing outfits, I have opted into — No Cheap Fashion.
The future can’t bear the cost of revamping a wardrobe every sale season.
- Packages- It is the age of delivery; you will mostly shop online and get them delivered at rocket speed. Try to buy in bulk instead of shopping now and then. I also like stores that shop stuff from various retailers like macys.com, nordstrom.com, and dsw.com. They have multiple brands, and you can let them ship all your style needs in one package. Contrary to it if you go to the specific brand from where you might be ordering just one style. I believe it cuts down the cost on your small contexts.
- Eating out- Everything in the menu is extensive with the world becoming a culinary lab. Order what you need and ask for reusables or compostables only if need be.
- Eat less meat- Turn vegetarian, but I love meat. The best I am doing is to reduce the number of times I opt-in for meat options. And if you can’t live without meat- Try reducing your meat portions! There is data that we can directly fight climate change with this option (Check this).
- Carry a bottle- We have the luxury of cheap commercialized water. Try not to be the lazy kind and refill your water bottle.
- Transport- I recently sold my car after months of debate. I was arguing I will not be independent and will lose my freedom. But if a vehicle represents my freedom and independence, I am on the wrong track in life ;). Try to use public transport. If you use ride shares, try using the carpool options. Walk to distances under 0.4 miles (or your benchmark?) and maybe make lesser trips to the grocery store.
- Travel- This is the most challenging point. I want to travel, but I also want to reduce my carbon footprint. I have to take a flight because God didn’t give me wings. Avoid unnecessary work trips. My goal is always how to reduce the footprint in the local economy. Try to take public transport in the local communities, support organic farmers and don’t buy a crappy souvenir.
- Recycle- Donating to the thrift store is not recycling. You know even they trash stuff. Make sure you use your stuff for its full lifespan and then recycle. My friends share airbeds for their guests, cars for pooling to work. That said I understand if you have a one-time Halloween costume
- Learn the Trash game- Maybe your memorized Beyonce’s lemonade but make sure to be a pro at the garbage bin game. It’s pretty straightforward- Garbage/Recycle/Compost.
- Educate- When you get a chance to educate — Pick on the person who misses recycling for compost, pick on that colleague who uses multiple plastic mugs. It’s rude to bully someone’s preferences and habits, but unfortunately, kindness has not worked for the community. Set examples and if you can, write up a blog.
You rich?- I recently came to know about divestinvest.com and signed up an individual pledge. Take steps to invest in a sustainable future. Don’t invest in companies that invest in fossil fuels; invest in sustainable companies. If you have a bank account, open an account in an organization that believes and supports a sustainable environment and make it your critical criteria in preferences.
Donate- Some leaders have skills and the time to commit and bring severe changes to the world. Support them in whatever ways you can to make their plans turn to actions.
And finally,
Dear corporates,
Please stop being greedy. As I am to blame humanity for the degradation of our planet, I want to blame a specific elite section that runs those big corporations and take some environmentally degrading efforts to support their marketing initiatives. Please stop making us feel like we need to upgrade our phones every year; please stop making us believe that we have to update our wardrobes every year, have all the ten flavors of chocolate and all 16 of the seasonal favorites.
Conclusion
For me what drives me every day is I say it loud that I aim to be an ‘Environmental Conservative.’ If I see some good habits around, I am the first to adopt it. Millennia’s live on YOLO and FOMO but let’s think if we can make it a sustainable YOLO and a sustainable FOMO.
Please Note:
1. I have shared my personal ideals, but have missed many.
2. If you think the world is not a peaceful place right now, wait till the climate change ramifications starts showing their impact.
3.Humans will live without the internet but will die of pollution and contamination.
