ontheedgeofeverything

Global warming is undeniably on the rise. We read about it in reports, we hear about it on the news, and we see it ourselves in the more and more sporadic behaviour affecting those of us residing in Southwestern Ontario (and across the globe).

Something that has struck me as of late, though, is how underwhelming the news of global warming seems to be to most of us. Not all of us, but most.

I think perhaps the reasoning behind our societal lack of concern towards global warming stems from personal doubt. We know the issue is present, but we figure the efforts of a single person won’t make much of a difference in environmental conservation. So, with this mindset, often times we fail to acknowledge how small efforts here and there really can make a tremendous difference in the fight against climate change.

I’m guilty of this poor attitude, too. However, as of late, one of my good friends has started campaigning for more awareness to reduce our carbon footprint, and some of her tips and ideas are simple enough for all of us to keep in mind. Don’t allow the water to run while you’re brushing your teeth, for example. Make it a habit to turn off the lights each time you leave a room in your house, or at work. Use washable Tupperware for bringing food to school and/or work instead of plastic bags. Recycle items in your home that don’t need to be tossed in the trash.

These are just a few examples, but they’re relatively easy changes. If each person on planet Earth were to take up and abide by these practices, we could make a significant difference collectively.

Can one person stop global warming in its tracks? Probably not. But together, we can make a conscious effort to be better.

Photo credit: <a href=”https://visualhunt.co/a1/f10d43″>David Blackwell.</a> on <a href=”https://visualhunt.com/re3/50ff8309″>Visualhunt</a&gt; / <a href=”http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nd/2.0/”&gt; CC BY-ND</a>