We’ve all seen the images of how pollution has lowered due to COVID-19; which is perhaps the only silver lining which has come from all of this. However, some researchers believe that these changes won’t last post-lockdown. The importance of climate change is known to us all and these are some swaps we can all make to maintain the positive impacts on the climate crisis:
No food wastage
We’ve all been using every scrap of food in our cupboards – we’re making meals from ingredients we never thought went together. Taking this mentality into our lives post-lockdown will help keep food wastage down. Not only will this help our bank balances (did you know that the UK wastes £9.7 billion of food every year?) but our planet too.
Walk where you can
Lockdown has meant that we are all restricted about where we go and for how long. We probably all took our ability to walk places for granted, using our cars, taxis or public transport instead as walking was a ‘chore’, but did you know that transport makes up 23% of global carbon emissions? We could all probably do with stretching our legs, so when it’s safe to do so, perhaps consider walking where you need to go.
Make your home energy-efficient
We are all spending more time than ever in our homes. Yes we’re safe, but we’re probably spending more money on our bills. There are some ways to change this though while also having a positive effect on the environment. You could switch to energy-saving light bulbs; try working without the lights on; switch plugs off when you aren’t using something; even putting on an extra layer instead of putting on the heating.
Make environmental swaps
I can’t be the only one to admit that more often than not I forget my reusable coffee mug and end up paying extra for a paper takeaway cup. Remembering our reusable cups and water bottles is one simple way to help the environment. Other things we can do are using reusable cotton pads; saying no to plastic straws; using environmentally friendly period products; and recycling when we can.
Take less flights
Not to be a debbie-downer, but flying and driving contribute 11% and 72% (respectively) of transport’s greenhouse gas emissions. Rather than booking that post-lockdown flight, why not explore somewhere in the UK? Using public transport or car sharing is one way to combat excess emissions – could there be a better excuse to spend more time with friends and family?