Saturday is Zero Emissions Day across the globe, an idea started in Nova Scotia, Canada, in 2008 by environmental activist Ken Wallace. The goal was to get industries from agriculture to transportation to cut carbon emissions for one day “to give the world a break and time to breathe.”
Today those goals have been expanded to include raising awareness of the harm caused by carbon emissions and getting more people to change to more climate-friendly actions and make more climate-friendly choices in their life.
“Everyday choices made by ordinary people hold the key to our efforts to reduce emissions and find more sustainable solutions,” the Climate Leadership Coalition says on its website in a Zero Emissions Day post.
The coalition points to a report from the IPCC Working Group III that says global greenhouse gas emissions could be reduced by 40% to 70% by 2050 if measures such as infrastructure development, adoption of end-use technologies and new ways of providing services were taken. Changes in social and cultural behaviors could also play a big role in those reductions, the working group says.
In that regard, Zero Emissions Day “serves as a call to action, encouraging people to adopt sustainable practices, such as using public transportation, conserving energy, and supporting renewable energy sources, to strive for a cleaner and more sustainable planet,” the University of California-Merced says on its sustainability web page.
“Zero Emissions Day underscores the collective responsibility we all share in mitigating the effects of climate change and working towards a greener and more environmentally conscious future,” the university says.
Here are nine ways the European Wilderness Society and other environmental groups say you can celebrate Zero Emissions Day and make a start on reducing your own carbon impact:
- Turn off lights: Turn off all lights when not in use.
- Use public transportation: Take the bus or train instead of driving.
- Use clean energy: Choose clean electricity sources, like solar or wind, when available.
- Reduce waste: Avoid single-use items, like plastic water bottles and utensils.
- Eat local: Choose locally sourced food to save on fuel and support your health.
- Plant a tree: Plant a tree to help the environment.
- Reduce food and clothing waste: Reuse or repurpose items when possible.
- Get an energy audit: Have an energy audit done to identify ways to reduce your home’s energy use.
- Purchase energy-efficient appliances: Invest in appliances that use less energy.
Read more: Decarbonizing agriculture is the next frontier in impact investing
