They say kids can’t save the planet. Here are 5 things I’m doing…
Océanne Kahanyshyn-Fontaine - photo courtesy CBC article - read it here
Océanne Kahanyshyn-Fontaine, 17, is from Edmonton, Alberta, and is part of a youth climate action group called Decarbonize: Decolonize. She recently returned from COP26, a major climate conference that took place in Glasgow, Scotland, in early November. There, she presented ideas to world leaders on how to stop climate change. The ideas came from 35,000 youth in 54 countries.
Here are some of the ways I’m fighting for a better planet and some tips for you to do as well.
1. Avoid fast fashion - I absolutely love fashion, and it can be tempting to want to have the latest and greatest things, especially with holiday shopping and Christmas approaching.
Fast fashion is when companies mass-produce cheap clothes and we continuously buy them, wanting to keep up with the latest trends.
It’s harmful to the environment, though, because cheap clothes wear out quickly and are thrown into landfills.
2. Make sustainable purchases - There are companies in Canada working hard to make decisions that are better for the environment.
For example, Rocky Mountain Soap Company, from Canmore, Alberta, uses leftover soap shavings to make more soap, with minimal packaging, which reduces their waste.
3. Plant a garden - Recently, I made a small garden in my backyard where I plant vegetables. That way, I don’t have to go buy things that are imported from other countries.
Transporting goods over long distances produces a lot of emissions.
Also, by growing food in my own garden, I can make sure that what I’m eating is organic, since I never use pesticides, which damage the environment.
4. Avoid taking the car - I also try to walk or bike as much as possible, instead of using cars.
By decreasing the amount of vehicles used, we can decrease the amount of greenhouse gases emitted.
Just like me, you can encourage your family to use public transit, like trains and buses.
5. Keep trying to learn more - Another thing I’m doing to help solve climate change is to educate myself, my family and my friends about it.
Once we understand what causes climate change, we can adapt our habits and beliefs in order to help save our Earth.