The emergence of COVID-19 has also shown just how disastrous the consequences of ecosystem loss can be. By shrinking the area of natural habitat for animals, we have created ideal conditions for pathogens – including coronaviruses – to spread.
With this big and challenging picture, the World Environment Day is focus in the ecosystem restoration and its theme is “Reimagine. Recreate.Restore.”
Ecosystem restoration means preventing, halting and reversing this damage – to go from exploiting nature to healing it. This World Environment Day will kick off the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration (2021-2030), a global mission to revive billions of hectares, from forests to farmlands, from the top of mountains to the depth of the sea. Only with healthy ecosystems can we enhance people’s livelihoods, counteract climate change and stop the collapse of biodiversity.
From forests to peatlands to coasts, we all depend on healthy ecosystems for our survival. Ecosystems are defined as the interaction between living organisms – plants, animals, people – with their surroundings. This includes nature, but also human-made systems such as cities or farms.
Ecosystem restoration is a global undertaking at massive scale. It means repairing billions of hectares of land – an area greater than China or the USA – so that people have access to food, clean water and jobs. It means bringing back plants and animals from the brink of extinction, from the peaks of mountains to the depths of the sea. But it also includes the many small actions everyone can take, every day: growing trees, greening our cities, rewilding our gardens or cleaning up trash alongside rivers and coasts.
Here are some simple going green tips from us at Travel and Food Network, for those wanting to make a difference, both at home and abroad.
Travel Responsibly
- When you book a flight, tour or accommodation, question whether (and how) the company supports sustainable travel.
- Use local transports (trains/busses) for short intra-city travel instead of flights to reduce the impact of carbon emissions.
- Explore the hidden gems and unexplored destinations to contribute to their local economy
- Wherever possible choose an eco-friendly hotel or resort that prides itself on using alternative energy sources, hiring local employees and using locally sourced products, offering recycling options and giving back to the local community.
- Make sure to turn off the lights, heating unit/AC and television when you leave your hotel room.
- Leave the “Do Not Disturb” sign on the door to stop housekeeping from cleaning your room every day. The cleaning supplies and electricity of vacuuming and washing bed linens you save adds up. This also means you will end up re-using your towels for a couple of days, just as you would at home!
- Travel with a tote, which allows you to shop but avoid accepting plastic bags.
Water and Energy Conservation
- When traveling, simply turn off water while shaving or shampooing to conserve water. Ofcourse do the same at home too.
- Washing machines and Dishwashers consume large amounts of energy and water, so reduce their usage as much as possible by running them with completely full loads.
Kitchen & Dining
- Livestock is a top contributor of greenhouse gases. Consider prioritizing more vegetarian meals into your diet. Reducing the amount of meat you consume has significant environmental benefits.
- Eat organic foods. Plant a sustainable garden and consider buying your seeds from local family owned businesses that offer organic options.
- Plan your meals. Make a shopping list and avoid succumbing to marketing gimmicks or impulse buying especially when it comes to perishable goods.
- Understand Expiry Dates: “Sell-by” and “use-by” dates do not always indicate safety, except on certain baby foods. Rather, they are manufacturer suggestions for peak quality. Most foods can be safely consumed well after their use-by dates.
- Freezer is your Best Friend. Frozen foods remain safe indefinitely. Freeze fresh produce and leftovers if you won’t have the chance to eat them before they go bad.
- Don’t over order. Restaurants will often provide half-portions upon request at reduced prices. Also ask your restaurant to pack up your extras so you can eat them later. Freeze them if you don’t want to eat immediately.
- Composting food scraps can reduce their climate impact while also recycling their nutrients.
World Environment Day is a great way for all of us to be more mindful of how our everyday lives affect the planet and what we can do (big or small) to ensure we are helping create a cleaner, more sustainable planet — not just for ourselves, but for future generations. Let’s do our bit to protect our planet!
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The above content piece first appeared as 16 tips to go green on Earth Day.
Source : United Nations Photos : Shutterstock
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