In recent years, global warming has become recognized as one of the biggest crises on the planet. Carbon dioxide emissions are generally considered to be the biggest culprit of global warming. Reducing carbon dioxide emissions has gradually become a common concern for people all over the world.
We know that carbon emissions refer to the average greenhouse gas emissions generated when a product is produced, transported, used and recycled. As students, some drive to school, some ride public transportation, some ride bicycles or walk, so each of their carbon emissions are very different. The carbon emissions resulting in raising animals to consume meat and eating vegetables and fruits are also different. This means that each of our households must emit carbon every day of our lives.
In daily life, students must first minimize carbon emissions, which means to encourage a low-carbon lifestyle that will result in our daily reduction of energy consumption thereby reducing carbon, especially carbon dioxide emissions. As the seasons change, wearing appropriate seasonal clothing can reduce the use of air conditioners. Like the blog, “The 35 Easiest Ways to Reduce Your Carbon Footprint”, the author, Renee Cho, said, Trendy, cheap items that go out of style quickly get dumped in landfills where they produce methane as they decompose. This shows that when we students buy clothes, we should choose environmentally friendly fabrics and reduce washing with washing machines to reduce electricity consumption. If clothes need to be washed, we can choose to wash by hand. In addition, our desire to buy clothes must be reduced, except for necessary purchases.
We also need to make changes in diet. Renee Cho also wrote, Livestock—meat and dairy—is responsible for 14.5 percent of manmade global greenhouse gas emissions, mainly from feed production and processing and the methane. This means that we should buy local and seasonal foods to reduce food transporting which will reduce carbon dioxide emissions. At the same time, we can try to eat more fruits and vegetables to get the vitamins and nutrients the body needs. In addition, the consumption of soybeans allows us to absorb rich protein. These foods can be a good substitution for meat.
When we go outside, our choice of transportation is also crucial. The article, “Top 20 Ways to Reduce Your Carbon Footprint”, offered that we minimize driving by setting concrete reduction goals and walking, biking, carpooling and using public transit as much as possible. This clearly shows how much carbon emissions from vehicles need to be controlled. As a student, if the school is far away, we can plan to carpool with other students. Otherwise, we are can take the subway or bus to the school. These methods not only reduce carbon dioxide emissions, but also reduce traffic jams.
In addition, students can also reduce their energy consumption. Students can conduct an energy audit on their own house or apartment and see if the house’s equipment wastes energy, and if so, how to change it to reduce energy consumption. For equipment, we need to maintain regular equipment maintenance. At the same time, energy-saving household equipment can be purchased to replace energy-wasting equipment. No matter what time, if you don’t need to turn on the lights, don’t, and try to minimize your use of lights. This not only reduces household expenses, but also reduces the increase in carbon dioxide. Although students make small changes, changes like these have already greatly reduced the world’s carbon emissions.
Photo by: https://www.ucsusa.org/resources/cooler-smarter-geek-out-data#.W-4zk-hKjD5
N.A.” Top 20 Ways to Reduce Your Carbon Footprint” Global Stewards, 11 November 2020,
www.globalstewards.org/reduce-carbon-footprint.htm
Cho, Renee.” The 35 Easiest Ways to Reduce Your Carbon Footprint” Blog, Earth Institute, Columbia University, 27 December 2018, blogs.ei.columbia.edu/2018/12/27/35-ways-reduce-carbon-footprint/
