Climate change has been on my mind a lot lately. I’m always mindful of the environment, and always have been, but recently I’ve gone back to thinking about it more actively as well as trying to educate myself on what I can personally be doing to help the environment. Some of the information I’ve found is a review, but when it comes to climate change, I don’t think there’s such a thing as being too mindful. It might be because I’m a child of the 90s—worrying about endangered species and the Amazon is ingrained in my consciousness. However the last few years I’ve become a little complacent, a little lazy. Part of it is the feeling that no matter what I personally do, it won’t have any effect, but that’s the totally wrong place to be. If we all change our behavior, we can make a difference. I used to be very mindful about small things like taking reusable bags to the grocery store, as well as general things like conserving water and conserving energy. I would like to return to that state of mindfulness.

I just shared two “environment goals” for this summer on Facebook. I’m going to record them here as well, along with some more thoughts:

1. Use less plastic (Avoid: bottled water, throw-away cups, plastic straws, plastic grocery bags). Use reusable bags and food containers.

2. Drive less. Also drive the speed limit and keep tires properly inflated.

It seems simple but these two things can go a long way to reducing the amount of waste I generate, as well as reducing my personal carbon emissions footprint. Ideally I would be using public transit and biking, while avoiding car travel altogether. While I know that won’t always be an option for me, I can be smarter about my car use by reducing my speed and making sure my car is running as efficiently as possible.

Plant a Tree

It may not have much of an impact globally, but I would like to plant a tree or two this summer. Planting a tree that shades your home is a great thing you can do to reduce energy spent on summer cooling. In my case, I have to consult with my neighbors before planting trees, but if anyone has more autonomy with their property, I highly recommend planting a tree. The tree will shade your home and capture carbon. It will also enhance the appearance of your property.

Less Beef and Dairy

I do not eat beef and infrequently consumer dairy products, but another important thing many can do is reduce their consumption of the aforementioned foods. Cattle farming requires a lot of water, often requires forest destruction (especially near the Amazon), and it produces a big chunk of Earth’s green-house gases (especially methane) responsible for rising global temperatures. If you don’t want to give up beef entirely, try to reserve beef for special occasions and try to consume less dairy products.