How Taco Tuesdays can turn into a chance to save the environment. Good news: Surprisingly small changes can make a big difference in your climate footprint — and have a positive effect on your own well-being too. It’s true that big climate actions are important. Unless society invests in transmission lines, moves from fossil fuels to renewable energy, makes buildings more energy-efficient, improves public transportation and carries out many other structural changes, we will blow past the targets of the Paris Accords. But individual and household actions are also important: In fact, they can contribute roughly25%–30% of the emissions reductions neededto avoid the worst effects of climate change. And they don’t have to be draconian.These are all relatively simple substitutions that don’t involve drastic lifestyle changes. A study published in October in the journal Nature Food shows that simple substitutions (chicken instead of beef in tacos, for example) can greatly decrease the carbon footprint of a typical U.S. diet while improving dietary quality. Other substitutions, such as cod instead of shrimp, or plant-based instead of dairy milk, can also reduce emissions while enhancing diets. The authors of the study found that lower-carbon foods typically have better “Healthy Eating Index” scores, making them good for you as well as good for the planet. It’s not just on our plates where a simple change can reduce our footprints. Changing your travel routine to avoid one car trip per day can save half a metric ton of CO2 per year. At the same time, alternative transportation like biking, walking can lead to improved fitness and decreased air pollution from automobile exaust.....read on https://www.msnbc.com/
Surprisingly Small Changes can Make a Big Difference in your Footprint and Increase your Sense of Well-being
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- Written by: Glenn and Rick
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