10 U.N. Recommended Daily Practices to Reduce Climate Change

Many of the actions you take every day - inside or outside the home - help reduce climate change. The United Nations (UN) maintains that at least 65% of greenhouse gas emissions are related to what you do or don't do at home.

Based on the U.N. proposal to reduce climate change, it’s a good idea to reconsider certain household chores and consumption practices so that they don’t become a burden for the climate crisis and for our health. So, how does the environmental situation impact people? Furthermore, what are the chores and habits that should be changed? Find out in this article!

What is climate change and how does it affect us?

Firstly, the UN explains climate change as the changes in temperatures and weather patterns in the long term. Thus, according to the institution, since the 19th century, human intervention has been the predominant agent driving these changes due to the burning of fossil fuels.

Furthermore, these variations damage the environment, as evidenced, for example, by the lack of drinking water, natural disasters, and the decrease in food production, according to Manos Unidas.

Moreover, in terms of human welfare, the World Health Organization (WHO) links the effects of the climate emergency with deaths caused by extreme meteorological phenomena, including floods, heat waves, and storms.

In the same vein, the Pan American Health Organization warns of the indirect effects of allergens, respiratory and vector-borne diseases, water, and food, not to mention the socioeconomic consequences, such as food security, the vulnerability of groups, and forced displacement.

As an alternative to mitigate the damage, WHO endorses the suggestion of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, urging to limit the temperature increase to at least 1.5 °C, as its research suggests that this would be the ideal scale to prevent catastrophic health impacts.

If you apply the following daily habits, you can reduce climate change

The Emissions Gap Report 2022 emphasizes the urgency of bringing global warming below 4°F, to decrease the emission of greenhouse gases by 2030. Contributing to the mission is possible if you adopt the measures recommended by the UN that we’re going to talk about here.

1. Don’t waste energy

It’s likely that every day you do something with an environmental impact. Greenpeace mentions that making breakfast, teleworking, and training involves electricity, one of the inputs that deplete the planet’s resources.

Whenever you use less current, you favor energy efficiency. That is, electricity-saving methods at home have to do with replacing incandescent bulbs with LEDs, cutting back on heating and air conditioning hours, and/or purchasing energy-efficient appliances.

2. Eat more vegetables

Plant-based foods mean less use of energy, land, and water, which in turn translates into lower greenhouse gas emissions. Therefore, you should consider a mixed diet, including legumes, fruits, and vegetables.

An experiment reported by National Geographic suggests that eating less red and processed meats, as well as doubling the intake of fruits and vegetables, benefits health and the environment.

To reach this conclusion, researchers changed the diet of a group of Americans, consisting of about 2,000 kilocalories per day. Thus, they determined that eating healthy reduces between 222 and 826 kilos of pollution per person and reduces between 20% and 40% the risk of myocardial infarction, type 2 diabetes, and colorectal cancer.

3. Wash with cold water

The Water Foundation argues that as long as you use a less hot temperature, you minimize gas emissions because you demand less electricity. Thus, washing dishes or clothes in cold water is a plus for the environment.

4. Air dry your clothing

Activating the clothes dryer is counterproductive to the climate problem, given the energy waste and that some of these machines run on methane, a highly potent gas. The non-profit organization Te Protejo insists that air-drying is appropriate, as it does not require electricity and extends the life of the garments.

5. Recycle to reduce climate change

Recycling is a method of climate protection. It happens that in all stages of the production chain, energy is wasted and increases pollution.

The Water Foundation highlights recycling as the recovery of reusable raw materials to manufacture new products, boost the circular economy, and reduce tons of garbage.

6. Don’t waste food

Compost leftover food. The World Wildlife Forum links food waste to the waste of water and energy that went into growing, harvesting, packaging, and transporting it. In the landfill, waste rots and emanates methane.

7. Select eco-friendly products

Have you noticed a blue star label on household appliances? This is the Energy Star seal, which means the product is qualified to both save money and protect the environment. On their official website, they indicate that there are 50 types of products, covering major appliances, lighting, office, and household items.

If you buy appliances belonging to the classification, you support the work of companies that use resources responsibly and do not strengthen the carbon footprint.

8. Switch to an electric car

A World Bank article highlights that in the United States, China, and Europe, electric vehicles are increasingly accepted as an alternative to mitigate climate change.

DiarioMotor compared CO2 emissions from electric and gasoline cars. Their analysis calculated that electric cars, during 195,000 kilometers, released 8,785 kilograms of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere.

Meanwhile, the latter, during the same trip, released 48,216 kilograms of CO2. The difference is significant.

9. When you can, move around on foot

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency points out that burning fossil fuels for transportation purposes is one of the main human activities that emits CO2. For example, walking or cycling reduces pollution and has health benefits.

When distances are very long, taking the bus or train is the appropriate option. The idea is to travel by car as little as possible. If it’s appropriate to do so, try to share the vehicle to decongest the streets and reduce gas emissions from gasoline or diesel.

10. Adjust your thermostat

Regulating cooling and heating helps to reduce climate change; both services constitute the largest part of energy expenditure in the home.

The United Nations advises adjusting the thermostat to a lower temperature in winter and a higher one in summer. Thus, the environment wins, and your electricity bill will decrease.

Promote these actions to reduce climate change

Finally, a valuable method to reduce climate change is to spread the message. Express the importance of adopting environmental habits in your everyday life and with those around you. By doing this, we can speed up the results if the entire population participates.

Finally, emissions reports emphasize that lifestyle changes at home and in communities serve as a catalyst for widespread transformation. So, now that you know the practices, will you make changes for the well-being of the planet?