There is no question
that we’re on the brink of an environmental
crisis. Scientists have been warning us about the
consequences of global warming caused by human activity for decades. In
Australia, we now feel the negative impact of global warming
on an almost daily basis.
The bushfire
crisis has continued for months, and an area of
over 10.7 million hectares have been destroyed. Australia is home to over 1800
at-risk plant and animal species, and an estimate of over 1 billion animals
have perished.
The world
heritage listed Great
Barrier Reef has suffered from two major back-to-back coral bleaching
events. If water temperatures continue to rise, we might lose large part of the
reef forever, destroying a delicate ecosystem and with it the livelihood of
thousands of people that depend on it.
At the
same time, governments and many multinational companies continue with business
as usual. Large scale fossil fuel project such as the Carmichael
coal mine in Queensland and a deep water oil drilling project in the Great
Australian Bight still forge ahead.
Seeing all these events
unfold can lead to a feeling of helplessness. Many
of the decisions that have led us to this point can seem out of your control
and too complicated to solve as an individual.
But you can make a difference through the choices you make every single day. This article provides you with tips on how to start living a more sustainable lifestyle.
What sustainability means
In very simple terms,
sustainability means to meet our own needs without compromising the needs of
generations to come.
When you choose to
live a sustainable lifestyle, it means that you intentionally avoid things that
deplete natural resources, to maintain ecological balance. You leave enough for
the environment to replenish itself and avoid products that cause harm to the environment
or cannot break down at all.
The 5 R’s of living a more sustainable lifestyle
There are hundreds of
small steps you can take to start living a more sustainable lifestyle. The tips
below give you some ideas on the habits you can adopt to reduce your personal
carbon footprint.