five ways you can save the world

as much as some may want to deny, climate change is real and thriving. i don’t know about you, but i care about our planet. it is our only home, after all. i always feel like we, as people, should give back for all we’ve taken from the earth. soooooooo… here are some ways ~you~ could help save the world today!

eat less animal products

yes, yes, i’m going to be that vegan who tells you to stop eating meat while you roll your eyes at the screen and chomp on a cheeseburger. BUT WAIT, hear me out before you judge. animal agriculture is one of the leading causes of climate change and global warming. it takes 660 gallons of water to produce that one piece of hamburger meat you were eating. PLUS cows release a lot of greenhouse gasses and methane with their fart/poo. now i’m not saying everyone has to be vegan or vegetarian, but try to add more plant-based foods into your meals and you’re already doing a better job. you can also try meatless mondays! it’s better for the planet and your health. 🌿

use less plastic

believe it or not, plastic is its own kind of pollution. next time you buy a water bottle, maaaaaybe think of bringing a reusable one instead. granted, many reusable bottles are made of plastic but i still think it’s better than all the plastic bottles you would’ve used otherwise. thinking of getting a new one and can’t decide which? this and this are my current favorites.

when going to the grocery store, bring your own reusable bag. in some states/places (echm california), you’re required to pay extra for plastic bags at checkout so be sure to bring your own! you can step it up and get your own to-go utensils (the ones i have are bamboo and gr10), reusable storage bags (yes, i have this too), and more.

use public transportation, walk, carpool, or invest in an electric vehicle

if you live in a city with public transportation, utilize it (especially in compact cities like New York, San Fransisco, etc). not only is it better for the planet, but you don’t need to worry about parking and the fees that come with it. more often than not, parking in big cities is more expensive than bus/train/etc fares. if the place you’re going to isn’t that far, WALK. it’s better for our planet and our bodies. aka it’s the best of both worlds!

when you are driving, try to carpool. you’ll save gas prices as well! speaking of which… if you’re thinking about getting a new car, consider an electric vehicle. i know a lot of people dismiss the idea of getting an electric car because it’s inconvenient, expensive, stressful, out of the ordinary, and GOSH BETTY WHY CAN’T YOU LET ME LIVE MY LIFE AND CHOOSE MY OWN CAR. but seriously, electric cars are great and worth looking into. also, electricity bills are cheaper than from gas stations. (i know because my family owns an electric car.)

upcycle or donate your things

one of my favorite youtubers made a video on ways you can upcycle your things and i thought this idea was incredibly clever. instead of throwing some things away, use it! for example, she mentioned using empty/used up candle holders as containers for pens, makeup brushes, etc. for things you can’t really upcycle (clothes, books), donate. instead of having your perfectly good products go to landfill, allow someone else to call it their own.

stop contributing to ‘fast fashion’

fast fashion is one of the leading industries for waste. if you’re buying clothes from H&M, Zara, Gap, and more, you’re contributing to fast fashion. not only are these brands using more water, creating more CO2, and producing more waste, but the quality is probably poor. instead, invest in good quality clothes from brands that are eco-friendly. or, you could check out your local thrift store because those are pretty great too.

what are some ways you save the world? let me know in the comments!