Green Technology Efforts to Protect Our Planet

It’s no secret that humans can be wasteful and destructive beings. We have mile-high landfills, the Great Pacific Garbage Patch (estimated to be between hundreds to thousands of square miles long), massive and numerous oil spills, among other things. Then there’s global warming. Humans have rapidly increased climate change to the point where many crucial species and whole ecosystems are disappearing. With all of this in mind, how can we be less wasteful and destructive so that we can preserve the health (and existence) of our planet? The answer lies in green technology.

Essentially, green technology has the goal of reducing, or reversing, the effects of human impact on our planet. There are many ways that we can work towards this goal, and they include individual, collective, national, and global efforts. The first step, before taking green technology measures, includes education on how humans have negatively affected our planet. Once this is achieved, measures can be put in place that assure we all actively work towards a healthier, better planet.

Read More: How the Technology We Use to Measure Weather Has Evolved

Reduce the Effects of Climate Change

Solar, water-powered, and wind-powered energy are great ways we can alter the amount of energy we consume, and the effect that energy has on our planet. The Paris Agreement, for example, is a global effort to reduce the effects of climate change through green technology, with goals such as reducing greenhouse gas emissions and reducing the global average temperature.

Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle

Unfortunately, recycling plastic, cardboard, and magazines is not enough — but it’s a good start. We need to actively reduce waste through reusable goods, like cloth bags and ceramic coffee cups, in addition to curbing wasteful habits, like excessive energy usage. Further, many more products than you might think (like electronic goods or bicycles) are recyclable — though they may not be recyclable yet in your area. Composting is also a great way to repurpose waste.

Reduce Harmful Habits

In addition, don’t throw away your old clothes or products. Instead, donate them. If they’re in poor shape the company will pass them onto a recycling center so that the fabrics or materials can be repurposed. It’s also worth mentioning that “fast fashion” is detrimental to our environment, in its production and the promotion of wastefulness. Although e-waste, or the massive amount of old technology, is also a big issue, the Internet promotes reduction of paper waste. A better future — for all of us — includes changing or eliminating certain habits, from the food we eat, to the electronics we use, to how we get to work in the morning.