This was written by Alice, one of our students. The opinions expressed herein do not reflect those of Civitas other than respect for the value of open dialogue.
For a couple of years now, I’ve been feeling helpless about what I can personally do about climate change. Reading all the doomsday articles and watching the apocalyptic documentaries, it’s hard not to feel powerless. However, after doing some research and attending a Civitas event about farming in Missouri and how that affects climate change, I have learned a lot about my responsibility to improve our current situation. The main aspects of my life that I have been trying to pay more attention to are food/nutrition, clothing, and my use of non-biodegradable materials.
First, is food waste. 40% of food in the US is wasted, which is so insane! This food waste then ends up in a landfill, which then rots and releases methane, a greenhouse gas that’s more potent than carbon dioxide. For this issue, I recommend composting! As we learned from Melissa Vatterott, a representative from MCE (Missouri Coalition for the Environment), composting is great for soil, and can help with gardening. Another option is to pay to have someone pick up your food waste and use it for compost for themselves. There are several programs like this across STL. You could also simply try to not waste food. Find recipes for leftovers and do what you can to reduce the food waste your household produces. Another issue with food, or more specifically food production, is the amount of greenhouse gases produced by raising animals. At the Zoom on January 23, Ms. Vatterott made a great point about how we grow a lot of crops to feed animals. This requires us to cut down forests to make more space for animals, in particular, cows. Red meat is particularly bad for this reason, as well as the fact that cows put a lot of methane into the air, which also contributes to climate change. When people hear this, they often think that becoming vegetarian or vegan is the answer, and then proceed to shut the idea down immediately. However, simply cutting down the amount of meat you have, particularly red meat, can be enormously helpful. And, of course, going vegetarian or vegan is even better. Overall though, by cutting down on meat and eating more locally sourced fruits and vegetables, you can make a significant difference.
Next is clothing, in particular, the fast fashion industry. Fast fashion is cheap clothing produced by mass-market retailers. It’s problematic for several reasons. It often copies others’ designs and makes a cheaper version; and they often use child labor as a way to keep up, but in the context of climate change, they are awful! They produce 10% of global emissions; they are the second-largest water consuming industry; and a lot of their clothing is wasted, taking 80 years to decompose. The best way to combat this is to shop ethically. Avoid fast fashion stores like Forever 21, Fashion Nova, and H&M, and go thrift shopping. It’s important to note, however, that you should try to thrift within your economic status. You should not be thrifting in poorer neighborhoods, and buying the clothes that people who might need it more have the ability to buy. Another important part of shopping ethically is making sure that you actually want the clothing item. I’m definitely guilty of buying something impulsively, but I’ve really been trying to ask myself, “Will I wear this 30 times?” If the answer is no, then you shouldn’t buy it. If you do have clothes you do not wear anymore, you should always try to donate, and avoid throwing them away at all costs.
Finally, it’s so important to cut down your use of non-biodegradable materials! More than 8 million tons of plastic are dumped into the ocean every year, and at this rate, there will be more trash than fish in the sea by 2025. So, recycle and cut down on single-use plastics. One thing I didn’t realize was how much can be recycled: bottles, cans, paper, and cardboard (as long as they’re clean and dry). These are just a few action items that can make an impact; I encourage you to research more! However, I believe that the best thing we can do is vote for/support legislation or candidates that will take us closer to true climate justice.
