Tips For A Sustainable Future
We were curious to hear more from her, so after a few friendly e-mails, we asked her how we can "do better" for our earth. And so, she was kind enough to share some of her tips on how we can all live a greener lifestyle and share the global responsibility we have in protecting our environment. Read on!
“Do the best you can until you know better. Then when you know better, do better.” ~ Maya Angelou
Photo provided by Dr. Kohfeld. Fall 2019. She is wearing our Perception Tunic and Cozy Coat.
If we could all do 3 simple things on a consistent basis to best reduce our impact on the environment, what would they be?
1. Travel less, and use lower-impact forms of transport.
We've seen with the COVID-19 lockdown that daily greenhouse gas emissions around the world decreased by 17% in early April 2020.
This was in part because we weren't driving and flying. Many large cities around the world have been converting street space so that it can be used for pedestrians and cyclists, and there's a possibility that some of these changes could become permanent.
Imagine, as we move forward, that we continue to walk, bicycle and telecommute more often, rather than spending hours in our single-occupancy, gas-powered vehicles. We'd reduce our dependency on oil, reduce our greenhouse gas emissions, and we'd feel healthier, too.
2. Change our consumption patterns.
By now most of us have heard of "reduce, reuse, recycle," and now we can add "refuse" and "rot" (composting) to those. We have the information out there to become informed consumers, and we can refuse to buy things (plastics and single-use products) that contribute to environmental waste.
Diane, you yourself have posted about how the fashion industry, for example, is a major contributor to greenhouse gas emissions worldwide, but you've shown that it doesn't have to be. We can, to the best of our abilities and where possible, make informed choices.
3. Vote for laws and policy makers who put sustainable environmental policies in place.
We have the technology to transform our transportation and energy sectors in Canada, but truly battling climate change will require that we vote for system-wide policies and changes.
Numbers 4, 5, and 6 would be to have difficult conversations with your friends and family so that they are aware; reduce your personal energy consumption; and reduce your reliance on meats and vegetables produced through industrial farming (i.e. buy local!)
Thank you so much for this well-written advice, Dr. Kohfeld! We hope our readers are inspired and encouraged by your words 💚
