How to do your Part to Support Environmental Protection

Saving and protecting the environment is not something that can be done fast but requires several years of pain-staking efforts to do so. Unfortunately, it takes very little time to ruin the efforts made. There is no age group or segment of the population that is significantly responsible, everyone’s effort counts.

Here are several ways you can take care of your own destiny while still protecting our climate and ecosystems:

• Volunteer:

Taking environmental protection initiatives can go a long way, whether it's something small like starting a neighborhood clean-up group or creating a broad social organization with substantial scope and effect. Many active youth-led environmental organizations and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) are leading by example today. If you don't feel up to it, you can always help the environment by volunteering with local non-profits and supporting environmental community groups. You can contribute several ways, from running online awareness programs to providing practical assistance such as beach clean-ups and fundraising activities.

• Reduce/Recycle Paper:

What do you do with your no-longer-needed textbooks and novels? Why not give them to juniors, local kids, or send them to countries where children have little or no access to educational resources? Although books on a bookshelf aren't doing any harm, why not save money by repurposing them?

Similarly, recycling unwanted paper reduces the demand for raw materials in the paper industry, preserving trees and forest habitats. Paper is no longer needed for anything, from online assignments to writing exams, thanks to technological advances. We can easily move away from paper-based operations at all levels by using smart technologies currently available.

• Recycle Often:

Recycling is an easy but efficient way to save energy and lower your personal carbon footprint. Separate your plastic, paper, and metal waste and place it in a recycling bin instead of dumping it all in the garbage. Recycling contributes to a circular economy by reducing landfill emissions, raw material usage, and fossil fuel consumption.

• Save Resources:

Did you know that freshwater makes up just 0.03 percent of the 70 percent of the water available to us? As a result, conserving water is important for freshwater habitats. You can save gallons of water by doing basic things like taking shorter baths, avoiding small clothes washers, and turning off your taps while brushing! Similarly, it's important to be aware of your electricity use and make adjustments to minimize the demand for energy production and conserve fossil fuel resources. Although public and private agencies prepare to transition to sustainable alternatives, we can reduce our dependence on fossil fuels by doing our part at home and work.

• Only Buy What You Need

Finally, consider your buying patterns. Do you have a habit of buying too many things? Will you do without any of the things you buy regularly? Are you a conscientious shopper? Buying more to take advantage of enticing deals or discounts would cost us and the environment more. Whether it's groceries, clothing, shoes, or home goods, buying only what you need eliminates waste production and, as a result, emissions. Since natural resources are small, our unsustainable consumption can backfire and jeopardize the biodiversity of our planet.

It is never too late to make efforts towards environment preservation. For Volunteering opportunities go to https://volunteer.appalachiantrail.org/s/volunteer-project-search for more information.