Category: Environment and Conservation

Climate Talks with Desiree Llanos Dee

Desiree Llanos Dee is the Climate Justice Campaigner of Greenpeace Southeast Asia – Philippines. She seeks compelling stories from all around the world and uses them to humanise climate justice. This is her inspiring story. Waldo’s Friends (WF): How did you first get involved in climate change-related pursuits? Desiree Llanos Dee (DLD): I first dove Read More...

Mimi Tiu Environment and Conservation climate change 0

25Jul

Waldo’s Friends (WF): How did you first get involved in climate change-related pursuits?

Desiree Llanos Dee (DLD): I first dove into this field when I worked with the Philippines’ Climate Change Commission back in 2010. After three years of government work, I received a scholarship to take my master’s degree on climate policy in Germany. After graduating, I had this choice to go for internships or join the People’s Pilgrimage from Rome to Paris. I packed my bag for the 1,500-kilometer two-month journey that changed my life.

After the walk, I shifted my focus from public policy to campaign and communications. Walking across communities in Italy, Switzerland, and France, I realised the great value of stories and human connection in this climate crisis. It also inspired me to pursue the path of being an illustrator (see my works at Deslikesdoodling) to visually communicate complex topics such as climate change, sustainable food systems, and peace. Eventually, the job post at Greenpeace came up and it seemed like a good fit for what I wanted to do.

WF: What are your tasks as Climate Justice Campaigner?

DLD: Greenpeace exists because this fragile Earth deserves a voice. Being a campaigner is being one of those voices. There are country-specific issues such as plastics, energy work, food, and mobility, and I serve as the spokesperson on those issues. But more than that, I would liken the role to being a film director. Like any good film, it starts with finding a good story that is worth telling. Every story involves characters, conflict, and a resolution, and every campaign presents both the problem and the solutions to any issue. It is about orchestrating all those elements into a strategy on how to best tell the story, who to best present it to, and how to build a movement around it.

WF: What would you say has been Greenpeace’s most effective campaign to date?

DLD: In September 2015, Greenpeace Southeast Asia – Philippines and 13 other civil society organisations filed a petition with the Philippines’ Commission on Human Rights (CHR). They were joined by 18 Filipino individuals living on the frontlines of climate change. In December 2016, the CHR announced that public hearings will start from April 2017, despite apparent opposition from fossil fuels companies. In 2018, the public hearings were conducted in Manila, New York, and London, culminating with thousands of pages of statements and evidence on climate change.

The landmark case of the Commission on Human Rights brought together the community witnesses to the hearings in London (November 2018). The investigation was about the responsibility of fossil fuel companies in the human rights violations of Filipinos resulting from climate change.
From left to right: Desiree Llanos Dee (Climate Justice Campaigner from Greenpeace), Veronica Cabe (from Bataan; she spoke about her experience during Tropical Storm Ondoy), Marielle Bacason (a research nurse in London, originally from Tacloban; she spoke about her experience during and after Typhoon Haiyan), and Johanna Fernandez (digital engagement campaigner from Greenpeace)

We are expecting the resolution this year, and the outcome will be the first to hold fossil fuel companies accountable for human rights violations resulting from climate change. It will not only be for Filipinos, but will be for vulnerable communities everywhere. (Watch the animated video I illustrated below or read more about it here.)

WF: Aside from this ongoing petition, do you have other interesting stories you can share about working for Greenpeace?

DLD: There are many! In July 2017, I went on board Greenpeace’s ship, the Arctic Sunrise, for three weeks to protest the new Arctic oil drilling in the Barents Sea. It was to bring the story of Filipinos to the Arctic region and connecting the climate impacts we experience to what they’re experiencing. Actress Lucy Lawless (Xena: Warrior Princess) was also on board with us to protest as well. That journey in itself was a lot of firsts. It was my first time to be on a ship for that long, to be seasick, to see an oil rig, to protest in Arctic waters, and to be in the region at a time where there was zero darkness.

*On board the Arctic Sunrise for an oil rig protest in the Barents Sea with Joanna Sustento (left), a survivor of Typhoon Haiyan*

In early 2018, the Rainbow Warrior came to the Philippine shores to campaign on climate justice, and I was on board for a month. We sailed from Hong Kong to Manila, Batangas, Guimaras, and ended the journey in Tacloban. It was really stressful to have a whole ship tour, but there were moments to be grateful for. While I was sending out emails in one of the rooms, the captain announced that there were whales outside so everyone stopped what they were doing and went outside! I remember thinking, “This can only happen in a mobile office such as a ship.” It was a moment for me to really reconnect with nature again.

*On board the iconic Greenpeace ship, the Rainbow Warrior*

Tacloban experienced the brunt of climate impacts when Haiyan happened back in 2013. With so much loss devastating the whole region, there was not enough psychosocial support for people to process their experience. So the locals came up with the human library called LIVErary, a platform where people can share their stories of tragedy, loss, hope, triumph and various dimensions of disaster. Today, this platform is being used by locals for different issues: LGBT rights for Pride Week, labor issues of workers for Labor Day, voters education for elections, Yolanda commemoration events, and more.

WF: How has working for Greenpeace changed your life? And what do you love most about working for them?

DLD: In some ways, it definitely made me expand my notion of the spectrum of activism. It’s not just protests, banner hangs, and confrontations, it’s also about creative engagement, negotiations, and diplomacy. At a time when there’s so much bleak news, it continues to give me hope to be connected to a global organisation with over 5,000 staff in 55 countries all over the world fighting for the same things.

What I love most about this work is being surrounded by people who choose courage over comfort, and passion over politics. I’m surrounded by people who want the work done more than their own personal interests.

WF: What would you say is the most challenging thing about being part of an environmental organisation like Greenpeace?

DLD: What’s challenging is how people tend to separate themselves from the environment and think it’s something remote from them. Or how people are afraid to talk to environmentalists because they’re afraid of being judged. I think that we should always endeavour to have an open space for dialogue for people to feel comfortable asking difficult questions, without judgment.

WF: Has there been any Greenpeace campaign or project that has left its mark on you?

DLD: Definitely the climate justice campaign. Whenever I witness people discovering their own role and story in the whole climate movement. For the public hearings of the climate and human rights case, we had to gather stories from different communities including indigenous people, youth, farmers, fisherfolk, jeepney drivers, and overseas Filipino workers. To ask them to be resource speakers on the witness stand in an investigation against big companies was not an easy feat. When I saw them on the witness stand, I remembered all their fears and doubts when we first met. I was so proud of how they’ve overcome all that and realised the value of their story not only to the case, but to the whole global climate justice movement. (Read the stories from the New York hearings here.)

WF: What do you think are the actual steps we need to take to create more climate-conscious individuals and communities?

DLD: It starts with awareness—to know and understand what climate change is about, how we’re affected by it, how we contribute to it, and what we can do about it. And to take it deeper would be to be conscious of how we can concretely contribute to the solutions. Climate change is a big problem and it has several solutions. Think big, start small. Some examples include talking to your government officials about what their plans are for climate change or changing your diet. Meat has a high contribution to carbon emissions, so going on a plant-based diet is a concrete individual contribution to lightening your footprint on the planet.

Any individual action is important because it is the beginning of your journey, but it becomes greater when you engage the community around you. We can’t keep thinking that someone else will save the planet. We are the ones we’ve been waiting for. In many ways, we tend to give up our power by not caring, not paying attention, not asking, not doing enough, and not doing anything. I want people to be reminded of their own power to make that change.

WF: How can ordinary people support Greenpeace?

DLD: You can donate. Greenpeace is an independent global organization and it relies on individual donors. It does not accept donations from corporations or governments to maintain its independence.

You can also volunteer. When you volunteer, you can be involved in different campaigns depending on your interests and skill sets. There are also a lot of workshops that are offered for the development of volunteers.

WF: What’s your advice for people involved in protecting the environment or for others thinking of getting into it?

DLD: Just start. Start small. Start in your own way. Start with your strengths. Start with what you’re curious about and just pursue it whether it’s research, illustrating, having an urban garden, volunteering, and communicating. Starting something removes the fears and doubts of creating anything. And if you fail, learn from it and fail forward. (Watch this video to be inspired.)

The global movement on climate justice comes together: The Climate Justice campaign wants to connect legal actions in the world asking for accountability from governments and corporations. Featured here are Filipinas alongside senior women from Switzerland and youth from the USA and Norway

Support Greenpeace Philippines by visiting their website and their social media accounts: Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. You can also support Greenpeace in your country through https://www.greenpeace.org/international/.

10 climate change websites you should follow to stay up-to-date

Climate change might seem like an abstract concept, but it is a real and growing concern that affects every living person, creature, and organism on the planet. More than just letting the nation’s leaders decide on the fate of our Earth, every citizen should do their part in lessening their carbon footprint and helping build Read More...

Mimi Tiu Environment and Conservation climate change 0

07Jun

Be in the know about climate change by adding these websites to your bookmark and visiting them regularly for updates!

1 Climate Central

An independent group of leading scientists in climate science and respected journalists created Climate Central with a mission to “communicate the science and effects of climate change to the public and decision-makers.” Conducting extensive scientific research and reporting their key findings to the public, Climate Central presents unbiased reports on topics such as climate science, sea level rise, meteorology, energy, wildfire, and drought. Analyzing the data they’ve gathered, Climate Central also makes it their goal to provide media, local communities, and as many audiences as possible with the essential tools needed to visualize the real dangers of human-caused climate change and the growing need for practical solutions.

Climate Central’s stories tend to concentrate on studies done in the various US states, but the news (covering warming trends to heavy rain events), videos (ranging from extreme weather to climate in context), and reporting resources (with compelling graphics and detailed information) they provide can be of use to anyone from anywhere in the world.

2 NASA

US federal agency National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) keeps tabs on the planet’s vital signs through satellites that orbit the Earth (some of these have been in orbit for over 14 years!). Their interactive Earth Now feature lets you fly along these missions to monitor the current state of the planet from outer space. Clicking on a satellite lets you view various 3D models of the visible earth, air temperature, carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, sea level, soil moisture, ozone, water vapor, and gravity field, but you can also opt to review the latest data in their Vital Signs tab. Wildfires, super storms, and algal blooms are also presented as geo-located satellite images in NASA’s Latest Events feature.

3 DeSmog Blog

The people behind this blog make it their goal to clear the PR pollution that clouds climate science. Since its launch in January 2006, DeSmog Blog has become a reliable source for fact-based information centered on global warming misinformation campaigns. The blog shares a compilation of helpful media resources, enlightening new series, and even a searchable research database that reveals the individuals and organisations who have actively confused the public into taking action against global warming.

4 InsideClimate News

Founded in 20017, InsideClimate News is a “non-profit, non-partisan news organization that provides essential reporting and analysis on climate, energy, and the environment for the public and decision makers.” With a commitment to establishing a permanent national reporting network as well as training the next generation of environmental journalists, InsideClimate News delivers impartial reports on hot topics such as agriculture, clean energy, climate science, and extreme weather.

Receiving the Pulitzer Prize for National Reporting, the award-winning InsideClimate News also features in-depth investigations (i.e. the effects of extreme weather and climate change to farmers and to national security), documentaries ranging from clean wind power to flash drought, and useful visual guides like charts, maps, and infographics.

5 Skeptical Science

From the “climate has changed before” to “it hasn’t warmed since 1998,” this blog debunks the 10 most used climate arguments through basic and intermediate explanations backed by compelling scientific evidence. Aside from rounding up climate change and global warming news on a weekly basis, its global team of volunteers provides a wealth of resources like John Cook’s Scientific Guide to Global Warming Skepticism, climate graphics, and even a temperature trend calculator. The best part? Skeptical Science offers arguments in 25 different languages (Japanese, Portuguese, Slovak, and more) so that more nations can learn and disseminate its information.

6 The Daily Climate

A publication of Environmental Health Sciences, The Daily Climate reports, publishes, and curates climate change stories from various news sites such as The Guardian, The Conversation, and The Washington Post. Putting the day’s events in a larger context, the team divides what they’ve gathered into five unique topics: solutions, impacts, causes, resilience, politics, and good news.

7 RealClimate

A commentary website created by climate scientists for journalists and the general public, RealClimate aims to “provide a quick response to developing stories and provide the context sometimes missing in mainstream commentary.” Presenting discussions of a scientific nature, the site offers a one-stop link of quality resources that people can check out whether they’re clueless about climate change or simply in need of more comprehensive information.

8 Climate Home News

Politics, finance, energy, land, tech, and science—these are the different topics covered by Climate Home News, an independent website focused on reporting climate-related news unfolding at different parts of the globe. This London-based editorial team seeks to publish pieces that touch on the political, social, and economic aspects of climate change, such as South Africa signing a carbon tax into law, school strikes taking place in 92 different countries, and European State Agency creating a satellite fleet to monitor carbon dioxide emissions worldwide. In addition to reading these stories, most articles on the site can be republished at no extra cost.

9 Climate Desk

A journalistic collaboration between various media outlets and organisations (The Atlantic, The Weather Channel, and Yale Environment 360 to name a few), Climate Desk is dedicated to exploring the multiple impacts of a changing climate—from human and environmental to economic and political—and helping enrich the public’s understanding of this growing issue. The website breaks down the topics into seven categories for easy perusing: warming world, science, politics, energy & tech, food & health, weather & climate, and videos.

10 Grist

Claiming itself as “a beacon in the smog,” Grist has worked hard since 1999 to produce incisive online stories with witty headlines on topics such as clean energy, sustainable food, and environmental science. More than just crafting features, the independent, non-profit newsroom aims to expose inequities, offer solutions, and provide the much-needed knowledge and tools for its readers so they can help make a difference in the world.

Grist brings together a daily digest of must-read news, produces award-winning videos that are fun to watch and easy to understand, and provides a forum in which green advocates can share their thoughts. The website also rounds up an inspiring yearly list of 50 movers and shakers who are coming up with innovative solutions to help solve our global problems.

Which websites do you follow to keep abreast of the latest climate change news? Let us know by commenting below!

Conservation Talks with Kaila Ledesma Trebol

Kaila Ledesma Trebol is the Trustee Adviser for Conservation and Education of Philippine Reef and Rainforest Conservation Foundation, Inc. (PRRCFI). A foundation that owns and manages Danjugan Island in Cauayan, Negros Occidental, PRRCFI was established 25 years ago with a mission to inspire people to take action for biodiversity conservation and sustainable development through experiential Read More...

Mimi Tiu Environment and Conservation animal conservation, Wildlife conservation 0

06Jun

Kaila swimming over Danjugan Island’s famous big table coral

Waldo’s Friends learns about the foundation’s origins, the tireless people behind it, and their continuing efforts to inspire change through their conservation work.

Waldo’s Friends (WF): Could you share the brief history of PRRCFI and Danjugan Island?

Kaila Ledesma Trebol (KLT): In the 70s, Danjugan Island was discovered by a group of SCUBA divers from Bacolod. They leased a small beach on the island as their base camp in the 80s. Over the years, they experienced a lot of environmental threats both in Danjugan and on mainland Negros. They made efforts to work with the leaders back then. However, it was a real struggle. It was then they realized that educating the youth was a way to build the right leaders to fight for environmental conservation.

Back then, Danjugan was also under threat from so many extraction activities. One day, the owner of the island asked the group if they would like to buy a tree on the island for its lumber. A pair of white bellied sea eagles called this tree home, so there was no way the group would see it cut down. They asked if the island would be for sale instead. The owner agreed to sell it, but the group had no money. They had to seek assistance from Land Bank of the Philippines (for its first environmental loan) and World Land Trust in the UK to help purchase Danjugan Island for its conservation. The island is now owned by PRRCFI and is a private protected area. In 2000, the Municipal Ordinance No. 99-52 was passed declaring “the surrounding waters of Danjugan Island as a marine reserve and portions of it as marine sanctuaries.”

*A white bellied sea eagle on the tree that was meant to be cut down*

WF: What do you do as a part of PRRCFI?

KLT: I am part of a nine-member volunteer Board of Trustees. We are the management committee for anything PRRCFI takes on. We are responsible for making sure that all the activities and programs are in line with its vision and mission.

As Trustee Adviser for Conservation and Education, my work involves helping create the camp curriculum and materials, acting as resource speaker, camp staff, or just work in camp logistics. I also assist the creative department in information education material development as well as find ways to ensure the sustainability of the foundation’s operations—from a well-organised ecotourism program to enterprise development and other activities taken on to help sustain PRRCFI. Documenting biodiversity is also one of my passions on Danjugan, so I work closely with the Communications and Science & Research Departments as well.

*Board of Trustees, Project and Island Staff*

WF: What would you say are PRRCFI’s most effective campaigns to date?

KLT: The most effective and popular program of PRRCFI is the Marine and Wildlife Camp, for sure. The first camp began in 1991. I was one of the campers, and my father, Gerry Ledesma, was the visionary who started it all. It started with just one annual summer camp, but over the years, it gained popularity and the demand increased.

Today, we do multiple camps all year round (except during the typhoon season) catering to all groups and all ages. We even expanded to do family camps, so parents and children can discover and connect with nature together. The camp’s tagline was “today’s youth, tomorrow’s conservationists” because it really started with the youth. Today, however, we find that it really is not too late to become a conservationist. We have had so many lives touched by Danjugan, and so many connections have been made that we have created a family of people who really want to make a difference. And as for camp alumni, we have had many who were inspired to go into the field of natural science and environment conservation. Many testimonies have assured us that our camp program is indeed working.

Our newest campaign is SWEEP (Sea Waste Education to Eradicate Plastic). It’s only a year old, but it’s one of our most ambitious and difficult projects to date. Here we create awareness of the growing plastic problem and its effects on marine life. SWEEP embarks on an awareness campaign (through coastal clean-ups and audits, mobile museum, and workshops) in the hopes to get the public to face the problem head on and hopefully find ways to cut their dependence to plastic. We created a mobile museum called “fishbolan” that tours around our partner municipalities to engage communities in creative discussions of this problem (like plastics entering the food chain).
We also opened a Wala Usik (which means “nothing is wasted” in Hiligaynon) store in Bacolod and formed partnerships with sari-sari stores (neighbourhood sundry stores) to join us in our journey toward a “wala usik” lifestyle. We also engage the local government units in helping them in their municipal action plans to really tackle the problem of solid waste management.

*SWEEP team with the fishbolan mobile museum; PRRCFI SWEEP team; Sweep Walk*

WF: What would you say is the best thing about working for PRRCFI?

KLT: It is being able to be in Danjugan Island, working with the most amazing people and the most dedicated team and island staff. We are just so lucky to have them. Being able to work with such an amazing team makes everything rewarding! It has become a real family.

Danjugan is the real uniting factor—it is a healing place. Over the years, we have strived to build a culture that respects nature and people. We strive for balance, an understanding and inclusiveness that make Danjugan such a welcoming place for those who are also open-minded about it and the experiences you allow it to give you.

WF: On the flipside, what’s the most challenging thing about working for PRRCFI?

KLT: When environmental conservation is not a priority for most leaders in this country, you can already see what we face. Yet we continue. No matter how slow the process seems to take, we just keep on doing the work that is meant to be done.

We are also here to support and encourage others who want to do this kind of work too. This is our way, but there are many approaches and many avenues toward conservation. We partner with others who do the things we can’t but ultimately work toward the same goal.

WF: Over the years, has there been any misconception about the work your foundation has done for Danjugan Island?

KLT: We had to battle years of notions that the marine reserve and sanctuaries were protected for our selfish agendas. For years, we had to educate that having marine protected areas are meant not just for biodiversity conservation but also for food security. This goes both ways, meaning we are for the people, too. There are fishermen around Danjugan who are allowed to fish in certain areas. This somehow is also misunderstood for some who visit. They think the whole island is protected, but our vision is “wildlife and people in harmony for a sustainable future.” What we hope to ultimately achieve is balance.

WF: Personally speaking, what do you love most about Danjugan Island?

KLT: Everything! It is the most unique small island because in just 43 hectares, you find so much wildlife and so many ecosystems. Plus, it was kept to keep tourism low-impact and low-volume, but with high-value and high-quality experiences. The trails on the island are easy. You would not need to trek for hours to see amazing birdlife and a cave full of bats. And if you’re lucky, even a python!

I never get bored on the island. It is living simply next to nature, and it has given me the best kind of work and advocacy I could ever hope for. It is like a second home since I’ve been visiting it since the 80s. I already know where the critters are, where the beautiful blue anemone is, where the school of batfishes are, when the shark pups will show up, or where the rare beach thick knee lives. I truly have a love affair with this island. I am also fortunate that I am able to give my kids the same kind of childhood my father gave me.

*Some of the creatures you can find within Danjugan: Bats, shark pups, octopus, and batfishes*

WF: Can you share some interesting stories about the island?

KLT: There are many! There are love stories and forever connections formed on the island. Maybe one interesting fact about Danjugan and its visitors is that they manage to come back somehow. The island contributes to changing their lives significantly. From a British volunteer who came in 1998 and came back eventually choosing to live in the Philippines to a camp volunteer who is now one of our hardworking trustees, Danjugan truly inspires.

There is one special story about a green sea turtle that we rescued. We found her floating, unable to dive back down. Turtles are known to get buoyancy disorders which are dangerous for them because they may get hit by boats, become easy prey, or starve as they are unable to dive down for food. Together with our kids on board the boat, we rescued her and they named her Star.
Star was rehabilitated in Danjugan Island. She underwent many tests and procedures, close care, hand feeding, and was even brought to a nearby clinic to get an x-ray. We were so fortunate that Dr. Nielsen Donato and Dr. Ari Barcelona treated her. Slowly, Star got better and was able to leave Danjugan’s Moray Lagoon on the 48th day of rehabilitation. It was a bittersweet day. We were all happy she was well and free, but sad as we were going to miss her.

*Sea turtle Star when she was first found floating and during rehabilitation with Kaila’s daughter, Aria*

WF: What’s your advice for other people involved in protecting the environment?

KLT: It’s not easy and frustrating, but the rewards are great. I always say that the stars aligned for Danjugan Island—to make what seemingly was impossible to happen, happen. Everything fell into place, from the timing and the people who got involved down to the grants. I feel our hearts have always been in the right place, but it happened with a lot of hard work. So as long as your heart is in the right place, I feel your work will come across and be heard.

The Philippines is so rich in natural resources. We have the rarest and most unique wildlife there is, but they are fast disappearing. We NEED more people to go into wildlife conservation. It is not easy and your heart will break many times, but when you do see an animal that is wild, free, and meant to be there, it is the best thing.

*Manta Reef and aerial shot of Moray Lagoon*

WF: How can people support your organisation?

KLT: You can support PRRCFI by visiting Danjugan Island or taking part in one of our camps. All proceeds of our ecotourism program go right back into conservation. It is what keeps us going and doing what we do! Visit our Facebook and Instagram pages for more information.

Danjugan Island is nature’s perfect classroom. With so many ecosystems and wildlife, it really is the perfect place for anyone to connect with nature.

20 things you can do to reduce your carbon footprint

Mimi Tiu Environment and Conservation, Guides Carbon footprint, climate change 0

05Jun

Whether we are aware of it or not, we all invariably contribute to the world’s carbon footprint. Defined by Oxford Dictionaries as “the amount of carbon dioxide and other carbon compounds emitted due to the consumption of fossil fuels by a particular person, group, etc.,” carbon footprint comes from day-to-day activities that require energy. Energy is produced by the burning of fossil fuels such as petroleum, coal, and natural gas, which then result in greenhouse gas emissions that keep the heat trapped within the earth’s atmosphere.

Be an everyday hero by following 20 of our suggestions below to lessen your carbon footprint!

1. Walk or ride a bicycle.

Did you know that 15% of manmade carbon dioxide comes from cars, trucks, planes, and other transportation vehicles? If you are going somewhere nearby, opt to take a stroll or ride your bicycle to get to your destination. Not only are you helping prevent global warming, but you’re also getting in some much-needed exercise for the day![/vc_column_text]

2. Take care of your car.

A well-maintained vehicle benefits you and the planet. By regularly having your engine tuned, checking your oxygen sensors, and inflating your tires, your car emits fewer toxic fumes and improves its fuel use by up to 40%.

3. Drive smart.

To help you avoid traffic jams, use a GPS navigation app such as Waze or Google Maps that shows you the quickest route you can take. Also, refrain from unnecessarily stepping on the acceleration pedal and remove excess cargo (whether it’s on the roof or in your trunk) to increase fuel economy.

4. Combine trips.

Schedule a day to do all of your errands with other family members, or take turns carpooling with officemates. Air pollution will be undoubtedly less with fewer cars out on the streets. Plus, you get to save money on gas and parking fees!

5. Lessen air travel.

On average, a commercial plane produces 53.3 pounds of carbon dioxide for every mile flown. Compare that to a tree that can only absorb as much as 48 pounds of carbon dioxide per year. That’s a doozy! If you travel for work, why not schedule video chat conferences instead of face-to-face meetings? But if you really need to fly, select non-stop flights (so you have less takeoffs/landings that use up more fuel energy) and economy seats (more seats mean more passengers sharing the plane’s carbon emissions).

6. Fix air leaks.

Create a more energy-efficient house by sealing air leaks around doors, windows, vents, and electrical outlets and improving your overall insulation. Doing so can help you save up to 25% of heating costs and maintain a comfortable indoor temperature.

7. Regulate your thermostat.

Lower your electricity bill while fighting global warming by keeping your thermostat lower during winter time and higher during the summer season. To stay warm, wear extra layers indoors and invest in rugs and carpets that create a soft barrier against the cold. To stay cool, wear breathable clothes and install ceiling fans that use less electricity (55 to 100 watts) compared to air conditioners (500 to 1,500 watts).

8. Choose energy-efficient appliances.

From refrigerators to washing machines to water heaters, climate-conscious companies like ENERGY Star produce slightly expensive yet highly effective appliances that use less energy to complete a required task. Having them at home or at work will result in an overall lowered electricity bill.

9. Change your light bulbs.

Replace incandescent, halogen, and compact fluorescent light bulbs with low-energy LED or CFL ones that shine brighter, last 15 times longer, and use only one-fifth of the energy of a conventional bulb.

10. Unplug and turn off.

The easiest way to reduce your carbon footprint is by switching off the lights (open the windows and let natural sunlight in!) and turning off and unplugging appliances when they’re not not in use.

11. Wash in cold water and air dry your clothes.

The Guardian surprisingly reveals that “washing and drying a load every two days creates around 440 kg of CO2e each year, which is equivalent to flying from London to Glasgow and back with 15-mile taxi rides to and from the airports.” That said, be responsible about washing your clothes. Only wash when you have enough for a full load, choose a cold wash cycle (a 10-degree temperature increase impacts the environment), use concentrated detergent, and skip the fabric softener. When you’re done, hang your clothes to dry on a line or rack instead of using a dryer, which is said to be the third most energy-hungry home appliance.

12. Be a kitchen energy saver.

Plan all the meals you want to prepare before you start cooking. Always choose to cook your food on a stove top rather than an oven. Not only does an oven use the most energy, it also raises the temperature of the entire room. And while cooking, cover your pan with a lid to trap the heat. This lessens the amount of energy and time needed to cook your food.

13. Shop conscientiously.

Buy organic and sustainable food that has been harvested from your local farms and fisheries instead of picking imported produce. This provides much-needed support to your agricultural community and eliminates unnecessary transportation of food. Also, choose products with less packaging and bring big, reusable carrier bags whenever you shop!

When shopping for clothes, skip the trends and pick classic styles and durable pieces that you can use for longer periods of time.

14. Only buy what you need.

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations reports that 8% of greenhouse gases are caused by food waste, with 20 to 50% of the food we buy just ending up in landfills. Do the planet a favor by purchasing only what you need and storing leftovers in the freezer so they don’t spoil immediately.

15. Go the meatless and dairy-free route.

Meat and dairy products are known to create higher carbon footprints because of the more complicated process it takes to make them—from farming and processing the animals to packaging and shipping them. Consuming produce that are low on the food chain such as vegetables, fruits, beans, and nuts reduces your carbon footprint.

16. Go paperless.

Choose to receive your utility bills, tickets, and other paper documents through email. Aside from preventing a stack of papers to grow on your desk, it eliminates the need to print the document and have someone deliver it to you. Plus, it makes it easier to search for your files just by typing in the right keywords.

17. Recycle your things.

Prevent landfills from growing by reusing what you have at home and recycling paper, plastic, glass, steel, and aluminium products. In the US alone, it is said that 29% of greenhouse emissions come from the extraction of resources, manufacturing, transport, and disposal of goods.

18. Try alternative energy sources.

Solar, wind, and geothermal energy are just some of the cleaner alternatives to fossil fuels. Do your research and see if there are companies that can provide these in your area. Or if you have the means and time, why not try making your own solar panels?

19. Reduce water use.

There are so many ways in which you can save water. From skipping long hot baths to collecting rainwater for your plants to limiting the number of times you wash the car, you save gallons of this precious resource that can be used for other, more important purposes.

20. Take your reusables with you.

Say no to plastic! Stash your recyclable drinking bottle and reusable utensils (straw, fork, spoon, and knife) in a tote bag and bring them wherever you go.

Your carbon footprint greatly impacts the environment. Calculate your carbon footprint by logging how much energy your home uses, the car rides and plane flights you take, as well as what you purchase. We all need to do our part in protecting and caring for our planet because it’s the only one we’ve got!

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