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A new years resolution for the environment
The beginning of the year is a time for thinking about how we can make positive changes in our lives to benefit ourselves and our world. A resolution does not have to be about giving something up cold- turkey or limiting ourselves, it could just be making small changes to the way we go about our day to day lives and doing our best.
We asked some of Become Carbon Negative’s volunteers what their environmental New Year’s resolutions are.
Cassie: Making the environment a political issue.
We asked some of Become Carbon Negative’s volunteers what their environmental New Year’s resolutions are.
Cassie: Making the environment a political issue.
This year my resolution is to get together with my local environmental groups to help raise political awareness that we need to tackle the climate crisis. The UK government declared 2020 a ‘Year of Climate Action’ but sadly the climate crisis has been overshadowed by other events.
The environmental conference COP26 which is the 26 th UN Climate Change conference was due to take place this year but has been postponed to 2021. This will now take place in Glasgow in November and will be biggest summit the UK has ever hosted so I will be working alongside the community to make noise and let those in power know that as a society we want change. The conference will look at how all countries signed up to the Paris agreement are meeting their targets so the more awareness we can create, the more pressure there will be for the UK’s leaders to make decisions which will cut emissions and meet our goals.
There is a lot for government to deal with at the moment, so I think this year it is especially important to remind them that the environment is a top priority and not let the climate crisis get brushed under the rug. I will be checking my social media groups to see what is on in my area. I am hoping that in time we will be able to meet in numbers but in the meantime, I’ll be writing to my local MP to ask him to support the CEE Bill and signing any environmental UK and parliament petitions.
The environmental conference COP26 which is the 26 th UN Climate Change conference was due to take place this year but has been postponed to 2021. This will now take place in Glasgow in November and will be biggest summit the UK has ever hosted so I will be working alongside the community to make noise and let those in power know that as a society we want change. The conference will look at how all countries signed up to the Paris agreement are meeting their targets so the more awareness we can create, the more pressure there will be for the UK’s leaders to make decisions which will cut emissions and meet our goals.
There is a lot for government to deal with at the moment, so I think this year it is especially important to remind them that the environment is a top priority and not let the climate crisis get brushed under the rug. I will be checking my social media groups to see what is on in my area. I am hoping that in time we will be able to meet in numbers but in the meantime, I’ll be writing to my local MP to ask him to support the CEE Bill and signing any environmental UK and parliament petitions.
Lucy: Shopping sustainably.
Recently, I have started to look into shopping more sustainably. This includes every aspect from being aware of where I am shopping from to the material used to make the item. In the new year, I am hoping to cut down on how much I buy, especially ensuring that I do not order too much online as packages can generate plastic, which we know is extremely harmful to environment. Impulse shopping is something that is very prevalent today, and I am working to cut down the quantities of the items I buy and how much time I spend looking at online shops. Whilst it is sustainable to shop second-hand online, I am hoping to shop from charity shops mostly for clothes as this reduces plastic.
Furthermore, shopping locally means that less transport is used to get to the shop and as a result, emissions are cut down. I would also like to ensure to insist on using environmentally friendly packaging when selling my own items and buying from others, this way I am making a commitment to cutting down plastic and waste. I would recommend that the word should be spread further, and that awareness should be raised when it comes to cutting down on fast-fashion and online buying.
There are still many who do not realise the damages that their shopping habits carry out, and 2021 can be the year that we spread the word. Not only does being smart-minded help, but also letting others know that what they are doing can be harmful.
Furthermore, shopping locally means that less transport is used to get to the shop and as a result, emissions are cut down. I would also like to ensure to insist on using environmentally friendly packaging when selling my own items and buying from others, this way I am making a commitment to cutting down plastic and waste. I would recommend that the word should be spread further, and that awareness should be raised when it comes to cutting down on fast-fashion and online buying.
There are still many who do not realise the damages that their shopping habits carry out, and 2021 can be the year that we spread the word. Not only does being smart-minded help, but also letting others know that what they are doing can be harmful.
Gabi: Taking part in ‘Veganuary’ and eating less dairy.
Veganuary is a charity that encourages us to eat less animal products and educates people on the benefits of going vegan. Every January since 2014 they have ran Veganuary, a global event where people go vegan for the month of January. This year my family and I will totally be cutting out all animal products from our diets for the whole 31 days! I am the only vegetarian in a household of meat eaters so I will be more equipped to complete the challenge than the rest of my family. We are
taking on the challenge as we plan to slowly transition to a more plant-based diet for the rest of the year.
So why should you take on this resolution? Going plant based is an incredible thing to do for the environment, and it can be tasty and nutritious too. But why does going vegan or reducing your animal product intake help the environment? Going vegan; conserves water, reduces your energy consumption, protects the soil, and reduces air pollution. Still not convinced? It also is healthy for your body and helps to reduce world hunger!
Going vegan can be easy and fun, but it takes some planning. It is important to find new sources of protein for your diet but there are so many options out there. Some key sources of vegan protein include chickpeas, peas, Quorn, tofu, lentils, and pulses (and many others). Whether you simply challenge yourself to Veganuary like me or commit to a totally plant-based diet this year you are making a great contribution to saving our planet.
What will you choose to do?
What can you do to make better environmental choices in 2021? Make sure whatever your resolution is this year, it is one that’s worth sticking to. Think about how much positive change you can make for the precious world we live in, and also to your own life and lifestyle choices. These examples will hopefully give you the inspiration you need to have a greener, environmentally friendly, and safer 2021.
