Climate change is a big problem in today’s society. This is something that I was less aware of as a younger child, and I only recently became more educated about the topic. It is clear to me that there are many misconceptions when it comes to climate change and what that means for each and every one of us. Personally, I know that there are many changes happening around me in the environment that I have zero control over. However, there are many things that I can control in regard to the environment.
Some actionable things that I can do include recycling and making sustainable purchases. I do this by making second hand clothing purchases, reusing my soap bottles, and eliminating as many harmful chemicals out of my daily routine as possible. These changes may seem simple or insignificant. On the other hand, if everyone had the same mindset, there would be significant changes made in society.
Many companies are trying to make their products seem more eco-friendly than they actually are and this is called greenwashing. Companies are able to trick their consumers into thinking that what they are using is significantly better for the environment than it actually is. These companies are doing this so that they can have a better environmental presence to the outside world. It is up to people like you and me that see this happening to understand that it’s not necessarily doing good for the environment. This marketing strategy has proved to work for some companies; however, simply changing graphics that are on an ad or the color that it appears on your screen does not mean that the company‘s intentions are correct. I encourage you to research your next purchase in more depth to understand where and how the product is actually made. This could change your purchase behavior for the better if you were to do this every time you bought something.
There are other harmful actions that are happening too.
Climate change has been driven by the actions of humans for many years as we continue to burn valuable fossil fuels such as oil and gas that produce heat-trapping gasses. These decisions have caused a series of unfortunate events. Including harming many species of animals and depleting resources that humans use each and every day. There are many species that will not be around for much longer as their natural habitats are melting or facing other effects of climate change. Humans also do not have endless access to fossil fuels at the rate that they are currently consuming them. This is an overwhelming problem that makes it hard to comprehend sometimes.
I often have to remind myself that although the world will not change by tomorrow, it is important to be mindful of the choices that I make today. Making a change can be difficult when companies try to trick our minds for their own profit. For this reason, I encourage you to take a deeper look next time you see an “eco-friendly” advertisement.