Enough and more has been said and discussed about global warming — an increase in the temperature of the Earth’s surface, both land and water and how the average temperature around the world has risen by almost 1° C over the last 100 years.
Today, most of the Earth’s increased temperature is the result of greenhouse gases caused by human activities. Glaciers are melting due to increased temperature levels, monsoon cycles are disrupted, and summers are hotter than ever — consequences of global warming.
As leaders of tomorrow, here are a few things you can do to nip the problem in the bud and have a shot at better and greener life on Earth, in the years to come.
Get, set, afforest
Innumerable trees are cut and forest cover, depleted, in order to build more house and industries. It is time to restore the balance. Gather your friends and family, and plant as many trees as you can. Trees not only give oxygen but also take in carbon dioxide during the process of photosynthesis, which is the main source of global warming.
You can either plant one sapling a week or a few every month, either as a group or all by yourself. This is also a good way to develop a hobby in gardening.
Ride a bike or take a hike
While carpooling with friends is great for reducing carbon dioxide, nothing can beat walking to places that are nearby or hightailing it there on a bike. Both options get you to places you want to go to, but without the use of gasoline. Not only does it help in reducing the carbon dioxide emitted, it also helps you get healthier as your quota of exercise for the day is complete.
Conserve energy
While global warming seems like a huge problem to solve, your smallest efforts can make a huge difference. For instance, turn off lights and and fans when you leave the room. Try to use alternative sources of energy — ask your parents to install solar panels in your house so that you can have your tube lights running on solar energy instead of electricity. Turn off the tap when you are brushing — don’t let the water trickle until it is time for you to rinse your mouth.
Convince people
This can be tricky because people don’t like being told what to do. Try to start off by convincing your parents — use humour and lighthearted banter to sell your points on what you think they can do. Next, try this with more people — the old couple next door, teachers at school, classmates, and so on. Before you know it, you will have your gang of green warriors raring to go.
The 3 R’s
Make reduce, reuse, recyle, your mantra. Reduce electricity consumption by switching of fans and lights when not needed and replacing incandescent lights with fluorescent lights. Reuse things which may no longer serve their original purpose — your old toothbrush can be used to clean nooks and crannies of your home, for instance. Recycle waste material at home. If done on a larger scale, it will save the energy involved in manufacturing. Avoid using plastic. You can also use recycling bins. Get your parents to but two sets of dustbins. Segregate your waste accordingly — one for biodegradable waste which can be recycled and the other for non-biodegradeable waste.
Conservation club
Start a conservation club at school to raise awareness. Get your fellow students and teachers on board to have the school reduce energy consumption. You can also ask members to come up with weekly issues to discuss — this can range from planting trees, saving water, protecting local wildlife, rainwater harvesting, and more.
Stay updated
Keep learning and reading constantly about the new things you could do to save energy and protect the environment. Use the Internet to its optimum potential, google easy-to-do experiments you can try out and read about the different ways in which you can conserve energy. Try to supplement what you have learnt in school with material from the Internet. Go to your local library, borrow books which you think will help you learn more and glean as much information as possible.
