Everything we do and purchase has a massive impact on the state of our planet. Have you ever thought about the damage you're doing and how you can minimise it?
Electronic devices
Our lives have become so dependent on electronics and technology that we don't even think about the impact they have. We all have phones, computers, game consoles and TVs that we use daily without thinking about the damage we're doing by using them.
There are many reasons why electronics have such a negative impact on the environment. One of them is the production of electronic devices. Many greenhouse gasses are released with the production of devices such as phones, these are emitted into our atmosphere when producing displays, lithium batteries and chips that phones run on. On average, the production of a phone creates around 50 kilograms of carbon emissions which is equivalent to around 25 weeks of laundry. That is devastating when you realise how many phones and other devices you went through in your lifetime. The solution to this problem is to repair your devices instead of replacing them every time we have a problem with one of our devices.
Another reason why electronic devices are so dangerous for our planet is the previously mentioned lithium batteries, which have to be charged at least a few times a week or even once a day when it comes to our phones. Charging your phone every day for 6 hours is equivalent to around 2.5 kilograms of carbon emissions. With the addition of other devices such as laptops, smartwatches, and uses of games consoles and TVs, this number can quite easily exceed 50 kilograms of carbon emissions. There is a very easy solution for lowering your carbon footprint, switching off your devices when not using them and decreasing the usage. Although that may seem impossible at first, you will become more productive and decrease your carbon footprint simultaneously.
Transport
We all have to get to work, uni, and meetings with friends and family. The easiest and most common way of travelling is by car, and as we all know this is one of the leading contributors to climate change. Cars emit large amounts of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases, which trap heat in the atmosphere and contribute to global warming. Cars also produce nitrogen gasses and other air pollutants, which have a negative impact on our health and environment. Next time you get in a car think about all this damage you are doing to our plant.
Reducing car travel is a crucial step we have to take when it comes to reducing the mitigation of harmful gases. This can be achieved through the adaptation of more sustainable modes of transport, such as walking, cycling, or the use of public transport. There are also new modern methods of transport such as electric scooters and bikes. These are quick and efficient, with a fully charged one allowing you to have up to 12 hours of travel. These are available for a small fee in most major UK cities making it a great alternative wherever you are.
E-Cigarettes
You might not be a smoker yourself, but we know at least one person that is. Nowadays we see people with disposable e-cigs everywhere, whether they're teenagers or the older generation. It is hard to go to a busy place and not see at least ten people with brightly coloured vapes. These people are damaging not only their health but also our planet.
At first, disposable vapes might seem harmless but in reality, producing one of them increases single-use plastics, which increases plastic pollution. Also, every disposable vape has a lithium battery similar to a phone, which is thrown away every time it dies. Throwing them away can be dangerous as the lithium batteries can spill or explode near wildlife. Toxic chemicals are emitted every single time one of the vapes is used. The easiest way to solve this issue is to restrict the sale of them, but that is never going to happen. The most realistic option is to educate people on how these vapes impact the climate and inform people about recycling them instead of throwing them away on the floor.
Every action we have will have some sort of negative impact on the climate, but the most important thing is for us to come together as a community to make small changes and sacrifices every single day to make a big difference for the future.