We can all make a difference

“There are moments in history where the world can choose to go down different paths. The COP15 Climate Conference in Copenhagen is one of those defining moments: We can choose to go down the road towards green prosperity and a more sustainable future. Or we can choose a pathway to stalemate and do nothing about climate change leaving an enormous bill for our kids and grand-kids to pay. It really isn’t that hard a choice.” Connie Hedegaard, Minister for the UN Climate Conference in Copenhagen 2009

While world leaders are attending the conference on Climate Change in Copenhagen to sustain our environment for the future, we can take some little steps ourselves to help make this a reality.

Here are some tips:

Say 'NO' to wasteful packaging, plastic bags and bottled water and you will help the environment by an Estimated Saving of 13kg of CO2 per month (150kg per year)

Reject or cut back on these bad-for-the-environment items: over-packaged products, non-recyclable packaging, plastic bags and bottled water when tap water is available.

How to ...

Eating out, and shopping for food and beverages are key parts of our daily lives where we can make a significant difference on CO2 pollution and send a message back to the manufacturers by saying ‘NO’.

Top of our list for things to reject are:
o    Plastic bags
o    Any over-packaged products
o    Any non-recyclable packaging
o    Bottled water whenever tap water is available

1.    Always carry reusable shopping bags or your own collapsible shopping kart with you and say ‘NO’ to plastic ones.

2.    Study packaging such as plastic trays for meat and vegetables and make sure it can be recycled (look for the recycling symbol). Say 'NO' to packaging that can’t be recycled.

3.    Actively discourage shop assistants from using multiple packaging on items, especially take-away foods (e.g. wrapping a sandwich in paper, putting it in a paper bag and then in a plastic carry bag)

4.    If you think any packaged item is over-packaged then don’t buy it. You also can take time out to explain to the store manager or attendant why you don’t want the product (if enough people complain, hopefully they will pass word back to the manufacturer)

5.    Tips to help you avoid bottled water include:
o    Install a tap filter at home or buy a filtering jug
o    Get yourself a refillable water bottle and carry it with you whenever you can, especially if you are with children who are likely to get thirsty
o    Ask for tap water in restaurants instead of bottled water, and especially avoid imported bottled water

Why is it important?

We have a lot of power as consumers to reduce CO2 and to influence retailers and manufacturers to improve the environmental performance of products.

There's also a substantial CO2 pollution factor from making plastic bottles (from oil), filling them and transporting them around the country.  

http://www.1millionwomen.com.au

http://en.cop15.dk

N.B.

You may notice not all these tips are applicable in Lebanon, and some tips may seem trivial, but remember small steps can lead to big changes

Apply the habits you can change and encourage others to do the same =)