How can people protect the environment

20 Amazing Ways to Help Protect the Environment

There is an annual Environments Day celebration. During the event, there are endless talks and suggestions on how to conserve the environment. But how often do we apply these suggestions or take practice those measures?

Most of us appreciate nature, the forest, animals, and rivers, but if you are not protecting the environment, you are harming it. Various elements such as sewage, plastics, and domestic waste pollute the environment.

We may not all be environmentalists, but there are simple steps which we can jointly take to reduce consumption of resources to avoid depletion. Also, we can limit the waste we generate. The following are 20 amazing ways to help protect the environment.

Table of Contents

1: Plant Trees

The most significant method to preserve the environment is to plant trees. Trees may take longer to grow, but they serve the next generation. Have you ever walked under the scorching sun and wished there was a tree to offer you shade? If you have, what did you do about it? Trees provide shade and eliminate the need for air conditioning.
Trees are used in the paper industry. So, you can save the trees by maximizing the use of your paper. For example, you can print or write on both sides.

2: Conserve water

Water is life. Water conservation is vital since we cannot survive without water. A significant amount of energy is used to pump water to your home. You can minimize water wastage through;

3: Limit Car Use

You can substitute your car and opt for alternative methods such as biking, walking and public transport. It is a significant measure to reduce the emission of greenhouse gases, which are accountable for climate change.

First, you can start cycling, which reduces 90% emission of gases to the environment. Besides, cycling saves you money, which you would have otherwise spent on fuel. Second, you can opt to walk. Third, you can consider public transport. It may not be as comfortable as a personal car, but you will have made a significant contribution to conserving the environment.

Statistics show that if a person opts for public transport rather than using their cars to travel a 20-mile distance; they reduce carbon dioxide emission that year by 4800 pounds. It can be you who is making that difference.

Fourth, you can decide to join hands and let your friends tag along. Carpooling is also useful to reduce the gas emissions. Fifth, you can also combine errands or even shop virtually. Lastly, you can choose to telecommute. Research shows that workers are likely to use half energy if they work from home as opposed to at the workplace. Also, you can record your trips in a travel journal.

4: Minimize Food Wastage

Statistics show that in the United States, 40% of food is wasted annually. Also, research shows that annually food that gets lost globally is sufficient to feed almost a billion hungry people across the world.

Wasted food is thrown in landfills and with time decomposes to hazardous greenhouse gas, methane. Moreover, wasting food implies wastage of energy and water which was used to produce the food. Fortunately, there are measures we can take to reduce food wastage.

You can make a list of the food you are going to buy as well as the amount. It reduces impulse buying of food that we are likely not to eat and ends up in the trash. Also, you can plan the meals you will take for that week and include the ingredients for each meal.

Monitor the trash. Always note down the food you throw in the bin and keep tabs on the pattern. To make the monitoring effortless, you can download an app to help you track. Moreover, you can opt to donate the food instead of tossing it in the bin. There are needy people all over the world who need the food you throw away.

Adopt a habit of eating leftovers. Some of us don’t eat the same meal twice. Conversely, throwing away food because you don’t want to eat it isn’t constructive to the environment. Or if you don’t love leftovers, but you practice farming, you can also create a composite pit. The composite hole will recycle the nutrients to the ecosystem and enriches the soil. Always remember to check for the expiry dates on products.

5: Switch off

Change your daily habit by switching off anything that is not in use. Turn off a computer, television, printer and even lights which are not in use. You can simplify this by;

6: Reduce food packaging

Research in the United States shows that food packaging amounts to two-thirds of the overall packaging waste. Just like food, they end up in pits, decompose and produce methane. On the brighter side, Companies are aware of the damage of the packaging and have resulted to reusable packaging products. You can help by carrying your cups, purchasing things in bulk, invest in reusable tins.

7: Go Green

Every time you go shopping, remember to conserve the environment. Green Purchasing implies making purchases with the situation in mind. You can go green by carrying your bag while shopping and choosing to invest in a water bottle. If you live in an area where the tap water is contaminated, consider buying a water filter system for your home. It will reduce damping of mineral water bottles which will protect the environment. Be mindful of the trees by checking to see whether the paper product was made using ecological methods.

8: Use the hanging line

Instead of using the dryer every time you wash, you go traditional and hang your clothes out to dry. Air drying is not only eco-friendly, but it gives the clothes a fresh smell. Use the dryer only when cleaning a load. Also when using the dryer, ensure that the vent is clear for efficiency and safety. If you are looking to buy a dryer, go for one that does not use a lot of water.

9: Water in the morning

If you have a lawn, ensure you water it early in the morning or late in the evening when it is cool. Watering at midday when the sun is hot leads to evaporation. However, water in the evening is not recommended by experts who say that it puts the lawn at risks of fungus.

10: Replacing light bulbs

Consider using LED bulbs or energy saving fluorescents to save electricity. Initial installation or replacement may be considerably costly, but you will enjoy fewer electricity bills monthly.

11: Do away with mercury products

Mercury is not only hazardous to the environment, but one`s health as well. Some Countries have spots which accept mercury products and substitute them will environmental friendly products. Look up if such services are available.

12: Limit meat consumption

You can set days which you will not consume meat products. Research shows that 460 gallons of water are equivalent to a quarter beef pound. Besides, whenever an animal is slaughtered, there are greenhouse emissions and the fossil fuels will produce methane during decomposition.

13: Go Second Hand

New products need resources for their manufacturing and production. Most of these productions use natural resources. Thus, you can protect the environment by choosing second-hand products. For example, trees are used to make furniture. To prevent felling of trees, consider buying a second-hand chair and restructuring it to your preferred design.

14: Minimize air conditioning

Sparingly use the air conditioner, and sometimes, consider not using it at all. If you have to use the air conditioner, set it at a temperature that is slightly lower than the environmental temperature. The lower the setting, the higher the energy the conditioner uses.

Also, instead of turning on the air conditioner at a high temperature in the winter, you can keep yourself warm by taking cold drinks and wrapping yourself in a sweater or warm blanket. Thus, you can set the air conditioner at a lower temperature than you would have set initially, which will reduce the energy consumption.

15: Conditioning Vents

Whenever you are not at home, close the conditioning vents. When you get home, only open the vents that in the room you are in and keep those in other places shut. Developing a habit of using vents in one room saves a lot of energy which would have been squandered in unoccupied rooms.

16: Exercising

You can save the energy by exercising without electronic machines. Instead of using a treadmill, you can opt for actual running, walking, cycling, press-ups, pushups and other many manual exercises.

17: Sparely use toilet paper

Only cut the toilet paper that is sufficient for you. Don’t keep rolling for a little wipe. Also, sparingly use the paper towels. You can switch to washable clothes to clean the kitchen. Most paper comes from trees, which is why we need to be cautious with how we use them.

You can also choose eco-friendly products, for instance, you can also pick paper products which come from recycled paper. Instead of using disposable papers to clean the house, opt for washable clothes.

18: Properly inflate your tires

When your tires are properly inflated, they not only make the tires durable, but they also save on gas.

19: Cloth diapers

Cloth diapers may be a traditional method, but they are very environmentally friendly. Besides, they help you save you clean them after every use. Moreover, you can store them and use on your next child. Furthermore, there are so many diapers on the market today, and it is essential to be cautious with the one you buy Using the cloth diapers prevents hazardous chemicals from coming to contact with your baby`s skin.

20: Be a mindful customer

When going shopping, before picking a product and adding it to the basket, ask yourself what impact the outcome creates to others and the environment. You can be mindful by first, ensuring you buy what you need. It saves you resources and eliminates wastage. Second, always look to purchase durable products. Still go for products that have a long life, which you can decide on after extensive research. Third, you can rent or even borrow items which you occasionally need rather than buying. Lastly, you can recycle or reuse.

Final Words

We depend on the environment for survival, and so does the environment rely on us for survival. It is the simple things we do that go a long way to conserve the environment. We have discussed the 20 main steps you can take to preserve the environment. You can make a difference by changing your means of transport, decreasing energy consumption of electronics around your home, changing your eating habits.

Simple measures such as wrapping gifts in fabrics, keeping beehives and going to the library rather than buying books go a long way in protecting the environment. Once you change your lifestyle to an environmentally conscious one, you can involve yourself in activism to educate others and draw them to doing the same.

20 Easy Ways to Protect the Environment and Help Save the Earth

The Earth is dying. At least, that’s what the world’s leading experts are saying. But what exactly is happening, and why is it such a big deal? And what can you do to help protect the environment?

What’s Happening?

The fact of the matter is that every part of Earth has been damaged to an extent, and although nature has been responsible for some of these problems (volcanoes emitting carbon into the atmosphere, pigs releasing phosphorus through excretion, etc.) environmental destruction has been caused almost entirely by humans. As a matter of fact, many scientists believe that Earth is in the midst of its 6 th mass extinction, and unlike the previous five extinctions, which were likely caused by asteroid impacts, massive volcanism, or extreme climate change, this one is being caused by humans.

Overconsumption and Population Growth

In the 1990s, environmental scientists Dr. Mathis Wackernagel and Dr. William Rees estimated that humans are using Earth’s resources 50% faster than they’re being replenished, calculating that the human population will need two Earths to support its population and consumption by the year 2030. Essentially, the planet is struggling to support the 7 billion people that already inhabit it, and an increasing population (coupled with the subsequent consumption) will have dire consequences for the planet.

Biodiversity Loss and Species Extinction

Humans have destroyed numerous animal and plant habitats due to resource consumption, agriculture, and industrialization. The destruction of forests, contamination of marine systems, and manipulation of land for agricultural and industrial purposes has misplaced and/or eliminated animal habitats. In 2007 Amhed Djoghlaf, head of the United Nations convention on biological diversity, stated the following:

“We are indeed experiencing the greatest wave of extinctions since the disappearance of the dinosaurs…Every year, between 18,000 and 55,000 species become extinct. The cause: human activities.”

Human Creation of Waste and Plastic

Humans living in western society are naturally wasteful: paper, food scraps, yard trimmings, old electronics, packaging, metals, etc. Practically everything purchasable comes with some type of packaging or wrapping that is thrown away. If not managed correctly, waste can emit hazardous toxins into the environment, harm animal habitats, and pollute land and water. In addition, there’s the industrial waste that is emitted from factories, mining activities, agriculture, petroleum extraction, and other processes. U.S. industry generates nearly 8 billion tons of waste each year, the majority of which is wastewater. The management of human waste will no doubt be an area of concern in coming years due to the increasing population and human consumption.

So, now that we’ve addressed the severity of the issues at hand, what can you do to help save the earth?

Easy Ways You Can Help Protect the Environment and Save the Earth

If we’re really in the midst of a mass extinction, what can you do to cease this extinction or send it into regression? Well, every environmentally conscious step can help better the planet, no matter how small the action may be. To help you out, here are a few small steps you can take today:

1. Eat Less Meat

Did you know that eating meat is the worst thing that you can do as an individual for the environment? In fact, according to the nonprofit Greenpeace, the meat industry accounts for the same impact as flying and driving all the vehicles and planes in the world combined.

According to the National Center for Biotechnology Information, “livestock production does not only have a negative influence on GHG emissions, but also on the water footprint, water pollution, and water scarcity.”

So what can you do if you are a meat lover? Cutting down on even one beef dish per week will have a huge impact. The less eat you meat, the more you can protect the environment and help save the earth. Baby steps can make a huge difference.

2. Protect the Environment and Walk/Ride a Bike.

Sometimes, it’s not necessary to take a car everywhere you go; walking or riding a bike is a great way to get some exercise and reduce your carbon footprint to help save the earth.

3. Unplug Unused Electronics.

Even unused electronics can suck up energy – unplug rarely-used items to reduce energy consumption and your electric bill. It’s a win-win.

4. Save the Earth by Taking Public Transportation or Carpooling

If walking or riding a bike is out of the question, mass transit and/or carpooling causes less strain on the environment and puts a smaller dent on your bank account.

5. Install a Low-Flow Shower-head.

Low-flow shower-heads use less water, meaning a lower water bill and less strain on the world’s limited supply of fresh, drinkable water.

6. Sign up for e-billing

The amount of trees and water it takes to supply the world with paper is significant. One simple thing you can do today to protect our environment is sign up for e-billing. It can save you time, save lots of trees and help save the earth.

7. Change the Thermostat Level to Protect the Planet.

Lowering the thermostat level during cooler temperatures and raising it a few degrees when there’s warmer weather can save you some money and reduce the use of fossil fuels.

8. Use Reusable Shopping Bags

Plastic bags aren’t biodegradable, meaning nature can’t break them down. They often end up ravaging animal habitats or polluting waterways. Instead, use a cloth or canvas bag when doing your grocery shopping.

9. Bundle your Errands

If you know you’re going to have several errands to run over the course of a month, try to do them all at one time – it’ll save you money and help the environment.

10. Use LED Lightbulbs

LEDs are more energy efficient than regular incandescent bulbs. In fact, they are 75% more efficient and last 20-25 times longer. This is a no brainer, save the planet and save your cash!

11. Vote for Politicians that Protect the Environment

In a country where citizens elect their representatives, it’s important to choose individuals who have your best interests at heart. Because the state of the environment affects everybody on Earth, it’s necessary to vote for politicians who are passionate about protecting the planet.

12. Skip the Bottled Water

Opt for a reusable water bottle to save money and help the environment. Install a water filter in your home or use a Brita filter. Besides, tap water is already stringently monitored by the government, so bottled water isn’t necessarily safer.

13. Protect the Environment by Keeping Old Electronics

14. Grow Your Own Food.

15. Buy Sustainable Products.

16. Don’t Buy Products that Contain Palm Oil

Palm oil plantations (many of which are illegal) are one of the leading causes of habitat destruction and deforestation around the world. It is an ingredient that is used in many consumer products by the worlds biggest brands because it is cheap. Despite its detrimental effects on the environment, these companies continue to use palm oil and aid in the destruction and deforestation of critical habitats because many people don’t know how harmful it is and continue to buy products with palm oil.

Next time you go shopping for household goods and food, take a moment to look at the label. Don’t buy products that contain palm oil in their ingredients. It is as simple as that. Make an impact with your wallet.

17. Pick Up Trash (Even If It Isn’t Yours).

Notice all of the trash on the sidewalks or on the road? Take a moment to pick it up and throw it in the trash or recycle it. Make it a habit on your walk to work to bring a bag with you to fill with trash or simply drop it in the closest trash can. If everyone picks up a couple pieces of trash each day the world would be a much cleaner place.

18. Recycle.

Recycling is a classic way to help the environment, but not many people know exactly which items can be recycled. Glass, newspaper, aluminum, steel cans, plastic, food and yard debris (compost), corrugated cardboard, motor oil, and batteries are all items that can be recycled at community recycling facilities. To find out what items can be recycled in your community, contact your local waste management.

19. Reuse.

Simply reusing old items can help protect the environment. Glass containers can be used for storing food or other items, cereal bags can be used in place of Ziploc bags, and old or unused items can be sold in a yard sale; it’s about finding alternative uses for items so that waste can be reduced.

20. Compost Your Food.

There are many environmental benefits of composting. Not only do you reduce the amount of food going into the landfill thus reducing greenhouse gas emissions, you also can use it to help grow your own sustainable garden!

The Takeaway: It’s Easy to Protect The Environment and Save Our Planet

The state of the environment is one of the most pressing issues of our time. You can make an important impact with small changes designed to minimize your consumption and waste. And even though you’re just one person, others are sure to take note of your good actions, resulting in a domino effect that will magnify the benefits of your behavior.

Top 10 Ways to Protect The Environment – Save Our Environment at Home

Posted on Published: 10/20/2020

These top 10 ways to protect the environment at home take very little time to do. It’s just a matter of making a commitment to doing something good for the planet and sticking to that plan.

I call this “my environmental to do list.”

Earth Day happens in April and lots of people talk about how to protect our environment for that one day.

For me, thinking of ways to help our environment is not something I talk about one day of the year, but something that is on my mind most of the time.

There are so many ways to help the environment at home.

From taking the time to turn off lights, or setting the thermostat a few degrees lower to growing your own vegetables, read on to find out how to protect the environment in our daily lives.

These 10 ways to protect our environment at home are simple to do and can make a big difference.

My environmental to do list contains suggestions that are easy to implement, actually save money in most cases, and go a long ways towards protecting our environment.

I’ve also included a free graphic that you can print out and display in an obvious place. I have mine on the back of my medicine cabinet door.

It reminds me of what we can do at home to help the environment. You can print it out here by using your browser print function, or use the print button the in the printable card at the bottom of the post.

Share this post about protecting our environment on Twitter

Conserve energy and save money

We all love to stay warm in the winter and cool in the summer, but adjusting the setting by just a few degrees during the hot time of the year (or turning it off and opening the windows) can make a huge difference.

That is a huge savings in money and energy. So adjust the temperature. You’ll be amazed at how quickly you get used to a different setting.

Conserve water to protect the environment

There are loads of ways to save on water usage. When you brush your teeth, only turn the water on when you need to rinse.

Are you boiling potatoes for dinner? Don’t throw the water down the drain! Use it to water your plants.

Use rain barrels to catch water from the gutters and downspout. This can save a lot on your water bills and makes watering your vegetable garden a cost saver too.

These are just a few ways to save water that can make a big difference in protecting our environment.

Conserving water is one of the most important things you can do make a difference and help our planet at the same time.

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Some of the links below are affiliate links. I earn a small commission, at no extra cost to you, if you purchase through one of those links.

Use products that are environmentally favorable

Products that are free of dyes, flavors, preservatives and fragrances and are never tested on animals will make you feel great about saving the environment.

When you are looking for ways to protect the environment at home, take the time to do some research about environmentally favorable products.

Some brands to consider that are eco-friendly:

Environmentally friendly garden products

While gardening is eco-friendly in itself, many products are not. If reducing your carbon footprint is important to you, try some of these products.

Use filtered water to conserve plastic use

My daughter bought me a Brita filtered water pitcher for Christmas last year. It is one of the best Christmas presents I have ever gotten.

I keep the pitcher full all the time and it makes the water taste fabulous. This clean water encourages me to drink it often which helps my heath.

Using the water pitcher allows me to really save on the purchase of bottled water, which also saves on plastics use. This makes it a win-win all around!

Recycle food waste with a compost pile to save our earth

Food wastes takes up so much space in our landfills, but it can easily be put to wonderful use if you have a garden. I started a compost pile last summer and just kept adding food and yard waste to it.

The soil under the top layer makes a fabulous compost that adds nutrients to your garden. I consider it black gold for my veggie garden.

I add a scoop of compost with every hole that I dig for my plants. No chemical fertilizers for me, and using this compost really adds to the soil and encourages earthworms.

Not only does using the compost help your vegetable garden, it means that you won’t be throwing so much into your garbage bins each week.

Find out about all sorts of things that you can compost that you may not have thought of.

Ways to save the environment – plant vegetables

Planting your own vegetables is fun to do, and is very satisfying when the garden produces and gives you peace of mind that you are eating things that you have grown.

When I plant vegetables, I try to stay way from GMO seeds. I use heirloom seeds, my own compost and can rest easy, knowing that I am feeding my family the best home grown food.

Organically growing your own food is sustainable and nourishes your soil when you are using safe and natural fertilizers and products.

Recycle and reuse to help save the environment at home

There are a so many things that you can do with normal household items instead of throwing them into the trash. If you are looking for a fun kids craft project, make some egg carton caterpillars.

Instead of purchasing new pots for your succulents, look around your house to find items that can be used for creative succulent planters.

Instead of throwing that old newspaper away, use it to easily make into starting plant pots for vegetables.

When they have grown enough, you can plant the whole thing, newspaper and all right into the garden!

How to protect the environment at home – pick up litter

On your next walk with your kids, set a great example for them. Take along a plastic bag from the grocery store and pick up any litter that you see along your walk.

The kids will grow up learning to think of ways to save the environment, and you will help to keep the environment cleaner too.

While we are on the topic of those plastic grocery bags, find other uses for them! I’ve written a whole post about 48 uses for plastic grocery store bags. Be sure to check it out for ideas.

Make homemade desserts

Instead of using boxed dessert mixes, make your own. It really does not take that much longer.

You will know that you are saving money and skipping the chemicals that seem to make it into the boxed mixes.

Use reusable shopping bags

We talked about recycling plastic grocery bags as a way to save the environment. Now, let’s consider reusable shopping bags instead.

Some stores now charge a fee if you use plastic bags and some stores give a small discount if you use a reusable bag. This is their way of encouraging you to be more environmentally conscious.

Whatever the reason, reusable bags are a great product when you are looking for ways to save the environment.

I have a set of about 10 reusable cloth shopping bags that I take with me when I go shopping.

They hold a LOT of food and have lasted me for almost 10 years.

Now it’s your turn. How can we protect the environment?

Can you think of other ways to help protect our environment at home? What do you do to protect our planet all year long, and not JUST when Earth Day rolls around?

Tell us your what is on your environmental to-do list in the comments below.

Admin note: This post first appeared on the blog in April of 2016. I have updated the post to add more ideas, new photos, a printable and a video for you to enjoy.

Pin these tips for ways to protect the environment at home.

Would you like a reminder of this environmental to do list? Just pin this image to one of your household tips boards on Pinterest so that you can easily find it later.

Protecting our environment starts at home. There are so many things we can do that will help to save it for future generations.

Print out this environmental to do list and place it in a spot that you will see often. It will be a great reminder for eco-friendly habits!

10 Ways to Protect the Environment

Category: Environment On October 25, 2016 By Various Contributors

Protecting the environment is essential if we want to preserve the flora and fauna of the natural world for future generations.Below are 10 simple ways to conserve the environment. So why not start now?

1. Save water.

Install a water saving device in your taps, toilets and showers. Turn off the tap when you brush your teeth and collect rainwater to water your back yard with instead of using a hose. Rain-water harvesting is a simple, yet power way to save gallons of water. Further, we should put efforts to keep the fresh water bodies (such as rivers, ponds, etc.) clean and safe.

2. Take public transport whenever possible.

Reduce your carbon footprint by taking the train or bus to work – or walking, which is very healthy in addition. You will also save money by not purchasing a gas guzzling car. And, when it comes to air travel, try and limit your carbon emissions by taking the sleeper train instead of shorter distance flights. Plane travel is one of the biggest contributors of greenhouse gases that come from private individuals rather than corporations.

3. Being responsible:

Environmental protection is joint responsibility of every people on earth, not just of environmental agencies and governments. The goal of a sustainable and healthy environment can be achieved only if we all start behaving responsibly towards the environment. For example, we can buy items that will last and do not succumb to the culture of ‘fast fashion’ and buy cheap clothing that wears out quickly and ends up in landfill. Look for ethical, vegan companies with a low carbon footprint if possible. Your buying and consumption habits can protect the environment!

4. Recycle.

Don’t contribute to the islands of trash floating in our oceans. Recycle and reuse packaging and other waste materials wherever possible to help save the environment. You can even recycle when you are away from home. For example, why not bring your own travel mug to cafes instead of taking away a paper cup which is not always recyclable.

5. Take community action.

Become a conservation activist. Writer letters, attend demonstrations and educate others about how to save the environment. Let corporations with a poor ecological record know that you will take your custom elsewhere unless they change their ways. People power can really get things done!

6. Sponsor an animal.

Our natural environment consists of a variety of animals and other living creatures. Such biodiversity is often considered importance for the subsistence of the environment and ecosystem. Today, s large number of animal species such as black rhino, tiger, mountain gorilla, bengal tiger, asian elephant, etc. are endangered. Zoos are home to many endangered animals, and they will often let you sponsor one to help to contribute to its food, shelter and general upkeep. You will usually get a certificate and regular updates when you sponsor an animal, and this can make a wonderful birthday gift as well.

7. Avoid fossil fuels.

Save fuel by insulating your home with double glazing and sealants for cracks. Choose green fuels and power sources such as wind and solar energy instead of fossil fuels like coal which contribute to the greenhouse effect. Making the switch is easier than you might think, and you may be surprised to know that you can use solar energy in the winter, too!

8. Plant trees.

Cultivate wild spaces in your back yard, or engage in community reforestation projects. Even the simple act of planting bee or butterfly friendly plants in your garden can really help to boost populations of these beautiful (yet often struggling) insect populations in your local area.

9. Sustainable use of natural resources: Natural resources such as fossil fuels, wood, land, air, water, wind, etc. should be use in a way that ensures the sustainability of the environment, its various ecosystems and the bio-diversity. For electricity generation, focus should be made on renewable sources of energy such as hydro-energy, wind-energy, solar energy. Thermal power generation, as it involves burning of fossil fuels, should be discouraged.

10. Appreciate the environment.

It is hard to feel motivated to save the environment when we feel disconnected from it. So, take time to appreciate the environment. Go for walks, meditate in a local park or other green space and do a little gardening each weekend. That way, you will realize how much better a gorgeous natural world can make our lives – and this will help to spur you on to take action to conserve the environment for future generations.

Conclusion

It is vital that we all act now if we are to halt global warming and prevent the mass extinction of many of our beloved species of plants and animals. Luckily, there are plenty of things that you can do in order to protect the environment. And, with all of them, you can start right away. So, adapt your travel plans, get out in the garden and start saving water around the home! Why not try and follow all 10 of these guidelines by the end of the year?

Caring For The Environment: 8 Reasons to Protect & Sustain Earth

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How can we save our earth? Caring for the environment is the way forward. This article aims at giving you the reasons and methods of protecting this wonderful planet.

Caring For The Environment: 8 Reasons to Protect & Sustain Earth

The environment around us is not only our home but everything that keeps us alive. From the food we eat, the water we drink, the air we breathe, our shelter and more, it helps us to survive. Therefore, caring for the environment is something that should be inherent in us.

Sometimes, our actions endanger everything that surrounds us, including ourselves. Our interaction with the environment should be in a way that we use the resources that nature provides, but in a sustainable manner. Here is a guide to what sustainability means and how to practice it daily.

We should ensure that our actions don’t end up harming the environment as we are the ones to suffer later.

Today, let’s look at how we can take care of our environment, as well as the reasons why we should protect the earth and the environment.

Why is it Important to Take Care of Our Environment?

1. We Only Have One Earth As Our Home

Why is the environment important? Although some of us may take this lightly, it is critical to know that we don’t have anywhere else we can run to. If we spoil what we have here, we will suffer the consequences of our actions. If we take care of nature, then nature will also take care of us in return.

When we pollute the water sources, we are the ones who will lack clean water. If again we cut down all trees for our short-term goals, we will suffer global warming, lack of rainfall to grow our food, and many other adverse situations.

Therefore, if we love our lives, we must love nature.

2. Clean Environment Means Healthier Lives

The more we take care of our environment, the more we can have a cleaner and habitable home. If on the other hand, we neglect nature and undertake actions that harm it, the more difficulties we will have to access clean essentials like water, food, and shelter.

Polluted water sources and air will bring about devastating effects like diseases, such as cancer and various respiratory disease. Everyone, therefore, has a role in ensuring they maintain a clean environment we can all live in.

A report by US EPA showed that air pollution is closely associated with various body conditions like asthma and heart attacks, premature mortality, bronchitis and more.

The research also indicates that our indoor surroundings are 2 to 5 times more contaminated than the outside environment.

3. Rise In The Overall Earth’s Temperatures

Even just a minor increase in the atmospheric temperature can bring drastic changes in the weather patterns. If the average global temperatures rise, it means we will have changes in seasons which will affect both plants and animals.

Some plants may not survive in some temperatures, which would mean that some areas will start to experience food shortages. We will also experience things like strong storms and floods, among others. If you thought global warming wasn’t real, you should think again, it is real and here with us.

The worst thing about this is that human beings are the major contributors to these negative occurrences. Our activities such as industrialization, and waste disposal methods are some of the major causes of greenhouse gases.

Our habit of cutting down trees reduces the ability of nature to reduce gases like CO2 from the atmosphere.

4. Caring For The Environment Protects The Ecosystem And Humanity

Almost all our activities affect the ecosystem in one way or the other. If we negatively impact the ecosystem, we put various species on the verge of extinction. For example, if we pollute the water bodies with plastic or leaked oil, we kill the species that live there.

Therefore, as we produce, consume and dispose of waste materials, we should think of how it will affect the ecosystem. Again, it does not only affect what surrounds us, but it also affects us as well. Some poisonous gases and radioactive wastes directly affect human life.

5. Biodiversity is Essential

The term biodiversity stands for the availability of different types of animals, plants and other organisms in the world. Biodiversity offers us the chance to get everything we require for survival. Based on a study by EPA, biodiversity can easily be affected by both human activities and natural forces.

We are able to get food, air, water and shelter because of biodiversity. There exist various natural processes formed by different species that enable the availability of these essential life elements.

If anything happens that may affect these processes, a chain of reactions may occur, which may not be favorable.

Therefore, we should take care of our surroundings to prevent occurrences that may be detrimental to our source of livelihood.

6. The Environment Provides Various Raw Materials And Habitats

The various things we use like furniture, rubber, food, and shelter, among others, comes from raw materials we get from forests. Deforestation, therefore, means that we are at risk of lacking such essential materials.

Also, forests offer a home to different birds, animals and even some people. Almost half of the world’s species live in these forests. If we destroy our forests, we destroy the home of multiple species.

We should, therefore, make sure that we use forest resources at a rate that doesn’t affect its life.

7. We Have A Moral Obligation

Since nature is the source of our livelihood, it’s only right that we should also be kind to it. Every person has a moral obligation to take care of nature. Not only, because it takes care of us, but because it’s also the right thing to do.

We get everything from nature for free. It will be greedy and insensitive of us to destroy the one thing that gives us life.

The noblest thing we can do is to preserve this beautiful environment so that we can continue to reap the sweet fruits it offers.

8. Protecting The Environment is An Excellent Way to Give Back

One indisputable thing is that we only live because nature offers us resources. Whether we want to hear it or not, if nature is gone, we will also disappear with it. Therefore, caring for the environment is a great way to show that we care and appreciate it.

Everything that keeps our lives moving comes from nature. Whether its energy; renewable or non-renewable, all come from the same environment.

If we preserve the environment, then we are giving back to the planet. This is a major reason why we should take care of the earth.

How Can We Save Our Earth

If we want to protect our environment, here is a guide on how to take care of the earth.

Make Use of 3R Waste Management

These are the best steps to ensure that less waste reaches landfills and in return, less pollution. The 3 R’s of waste management stands for “reduce, reuse, and recycle“.

If we can reduce the number of waste materials we produce through reuse and recycling, it means that we move one step forward to protecting our environment.

What we can not reuse, we can recycle to make new products that will reduce the necessity for new raw material. For example, if we recycle paper, we will not need to cut down too many trees to make new paper.

Also, when we recycle, we prevent paper waste from piling up in landfills which in turn generates considerable amounts of greenhouse gases.

Recycling will also ensure that things like plastics don’t end up in water bodies like oceans, as it can cause multiple dangers to marine life.

Conserve Water Resources

Protecting our environment doesn’t have to be so complicated. Even the simple things that seem obvious, can play a major role in this. For example, when it comes to water, the act of turning off water taps after use will ensure that we don’t waste this essential product.

Also, if you have a leaky faucet, it’s better to fix it to ensure no more water leaks out.

Those tiny drops you ignore may add up to significant amounts every day, which may have been used elsewhere. Use these resources about water:

Use Clean Energy Sources

Most of the energy sources we use to drive our day to day lives generate emissions that might be environmentally harmful. For example, fossil fuels are one of the major causes of greenhouse gasses. Petroleum and other products produce greenhouse gases like CO2 when they burn.

Therefore, reducing the use of such products can reduce the greenhouse effect and lead to a cleaner environment. Also, if petroleum leaks during transportation, it may cause serious effects both to the water bodies and land.

We should, therefore, strive to make use of renewable, clean energy like solar, wind, biomass and more.

This way, we will guarantee a future for the coming generations.

Shop Wisely

When we go shopping it’s prudent that we consider a few things. For example, the packaging of some products or packing bags. If we can avoid plastic bags and use more eco-friendly bags, we can reduce the amount of plastic we produce daily.

The best thing is to carry your reusable bags for shopping, to avoid buying the one-time-use bags.

Also, we can reduce the amount of plastic in our environment if we can buy less bottled water. We can use purified water instead and buy reusable purifying bottles. This will help us avoid the use of single-use plastic bottles which are non-biodegradable.

Luckily, specialized zero-waste stores make it easier to purchase essential items without contributing to landfills.

Reduce The Use of Chemicals

If we use too many chemicals in our farms, the chemicals end up in the soil and water bodies. Some of these chemicals can negatively affect some plants and animals, as well as human life.

Also, industrial chemicals that sometimes find their way into rivers and oceans can sometimes cause harmful and even fatal effects within the ecosystem.

Therefore, we should always take care of what we dispose of the environment to avoid pollution.

Effects of Not Caring For The Environment

Scarcity of Water

Not caring for our environment translates to pollution and degradation of the environment. If for instance, we pollute the sources of clean water, it means that we will have less clean water for consumption.

Water is a necessary element of life and, there is no life without it. Therefore, if we don’t have clean water, it means that we will lose lives — both for animals and plants.

Air pollution

The cars we drive, the industries and energy plants, all produce harmful gases to the environment. The more polluted the atmosphere is, the more challenges and diseases we will face. In a study by the UN, they suggest that around 300,000 to 700,000 deaths occur each year as a result of air pollution.

Air pollution causes numerous chronic health issues that are sometimes fatal to humanity. Things like acid rain are also due to pollution, and they affect both plants and animals.

Air pollution will also lead to global warming, which will, in turn, lead to floods, intense storms, and change in weather patterns.

Solid, Hazardous Wastes

Sometimes we leave waste material lying around anywhere. These dumping sites can be breeding spots for dangerous bacteria and diseases. All these are harmful to us and future generations.

Some solid wastes also block water passages and drainage, which also poses a great danger to human life.

Food Scarcity

Continued deforestation and mining are some of the activities that lower soil quality. Low soil quality means less food production and therefore, food crisis for the population. Soil degradation is a serious factor in food production and that if not well addressed will cause food scarcity.

Deforestation also translates to less rainfall which not only reduces the amount of clean water but also the quantity of food production. No rain, less food.

Loss of Biodiversity

Extinction of some species is one thing that will happen if we don’t take care of our surroundings. Less biodiversity implies that we will lack some essential requirements in life. For instance, some medicinal plants may get extinct, which can be a great loss for us.

Also, it will affect the beauty of our environment, and we can no longer enjoy the serene environment with various plants and animals that we previously knew.

Conclusion On Caring For The Environment

If you thought we had a choice, then too bad. Caring for our environment is a must. If we want to guarantee ourselves a healthy life, as well as a good life for future generations, it a must that we preserve our environment.

I hope that this article helps you to see the need for environmental preservation and how we can do it.

Go green and save the planet earth.

How much more do you think we should do to preserve the environment? Share with us in our comments area.

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