Examples of sustainability are very varied and include small and large scale projects. Whether it’s large-scale initiatives to reduce greenhouse gas emissions or the species of trees and shrubs you plant in your garden, it all makes a difference and benefits. importance. If you’re ready to embrace a sustainable lifestyle (or expand your current job), the good news is that there are relatively low-intensity changes you can make that are very helpful.
But first, let’s see what the term “sustainability” really means…
What is sustainability?
What is meant by “sustainable lifestyle”? It varies from person to person, and the definition of sustainability even differs depending on where you are. In general, sustainability is based on a simple principle: everything we need for our survival and well-being depends, directly or indirectly, on our natural environment. To pursue sustainability is to create and maintain the conditions in which people and nature can exist in productive harmony to support current and future generations. Or put another way, development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs”.
7 easy ways to live a more sustainable lifestyle
So how do you embrace a sustainable lifestyle on a more personal level? Here are seven suggestions to get started. Try to get comfortable with one or two of them, and once you’ve absorbed them, add another to your life.
1. Embrace nature!
Planting flowers, grasses, trees and shrubs native to your area promotes biodiversity. You will be surprised at the new species of birds that appear when you plant species like native oaks. The oaks are home to 557 different species of butterfly caterpillars and moths. That’s a lot of food for birds (or pollinators, if they reach the adult stage)!
Let’s not forget that an adult pair of tits, a very popular species of bird, must find between 6,000 and 10,000 nearby caterpillars to feed their young before they are strong and big enough to leave the nest. Exotic species imported from other parts of the world simply do not provide this type of food for birds.
2. Embrace invertebrates
People tend to spray, set off poison bombs, and smash any bug or spider they see. But in reality, these critters play an important role in the food chain. The more diverse the plantings in your neighborhood or town, and the smarter the landscaping, green infrastructure and preservation measures, the more natural predators will emerge to fight pests and maintain the balance.
3. Create more walkable and bike-friendly cities
Of course, getting around on foot, by bike or on an electric scooter is a great way to live a more sustainable life. But if you want to go further, become an advocate for better “urban mobility”.
Cities and urban areas generate 70% of global greenhouse gas emissions. And a third of these emissions come from transport. By partnering with like-minded people and city planners, you can help build bike and walking paths in your neighborhood, which not only reduces pollution, but also improves quality. of everyone’s life.
4. Support companies that “walk the talk”
Avoid supporting companies that do greenwashing and instead invest your hard-earned money in products and services offered by truly sustainable companies that improve your well-being.
5. Protect (and restore) wetlands
Chemical farming, unsustainable farming methods and overdevelopment threaten wetlands, also known as the planet’s “kidneys”, thanks to their water-filtering properties.
People who complain about “swamps” and mosquitoes may be humbly surprised to learn that keeping wetlands healthy and preserved actually reduces water pollution and mosquitoes. . Wetlands support the most diverse habitat on the planet and store six times more carbon per acre than grasslands. Join local conservation efforts to restore and protect wetlands, and when gardening, avoid soil mixes or pots that contain peat. Companies harvest peat by draining wetlands, which is extremely damaging.
6. Give up junk food
If you’re struggling to give up unhealthy foods, take inspiration from the following: Big Food has hijacked your taste buds to crave ultra-processed foods that release dopamine and serotonin, substances which provide a feeling of well-being. The creation of all these ingredients harms not only our health, but also the environment. Valuable rainforests are being cleared for the production of beef and soy in fast food restaurants. Glyphosate, a systemic herbicide, is used on genetically modified (GM) crops with genetically modified organisms (GMOs) and is taken up by the plant. Finished junk food products often test positive for glyphosate residues.
7. Watch, Listen, Connect
It’s hard to want to save something if you don’t even know it’s there! Reconnect with the primitive bond that unites man with the natural world and you will also benefit from an improvement in your health. People who spend time outdoors report feeling much healthier and healthier. Explore your neighborhood using apps like a plant and animal identifier. You’re never too old to explore. Awaken the curiosity that lies dormant in you and you will open yourself to a whole new fantastic world.
