Our carbon bigfoot
Opinion: It's time to take responsibility for our role in environmental damage.
Have you ever had one of those cliché moments when it feels like a light bulb must be flashing over your head? I certainly have. When delving into cyberspace to see how many trails of carbon footprints stain the face of our beloved isle, I finally understood why Ireland was dubbed ‘The Emerald Isle’: it was a loophole. No one could bring themselves to say that Ireland was ‘green’.
When comparing Irish carbon emissions to those of other EU states, Ireland came second only to Luxembourg. With a population of approximately 9,208,034. Sweden has over twice the population of Ireland (4,156,119) and is also six times Ireland’s size. Despite this, Sweden has the lowest rate of carbon emissions. After reading that I came to see that Ireland’s carbon footprint resembles that of a colossal Yeti.
Even though many of us rant and rage about how the planet has been destroyed and how the government should be doing more, we don’t take responsibility for our own role in this disaster. The Power of One Campaign emphasises the individual importance of each Irish citizen. The carbon emissions of one household may appear to be of no consequence, but they quickly add up when you consider how many households are of that opinion.
That said, there are many ways we can help shrink the size of our Yeti’s shoes without breaking the bank, or a sweat:
- From turning down the thermos stat 1 degree to taking a quick shower instead of a bath, the Power of One website offers a variety of ways to help reduce carbon emissions in your home. Click here for more information. You can also find ‘The Power of One’ packs in most libraries which contain stickers to remind you to turn off the lights and the likes, and a calendar to mark each day as you become a better friend of the environment!
- A personal favourite of mine is to keep a recycling bin in my own room. I’ll be the first to admit I’m not going to make the long trek downstairs and out to the back garden in traditional Irish weather to dispose of my magazines more responsibly. A ‘bin’ need only be a paper bag and as soon as it’s full the whole thing can be thrown into the proper recycling bin!
- Turn off appliances! I know it’s something the majority of us are tired of hearing but the difference it makes is incredulous. If it’s the mere idea of having to unplug everything in your room that turns you off (excuse the pun), then consider getting an extension lead. They generally facilitate four or five appliances but leave you with one lone plug to unplug when you’re rushing out the door in the morning.
- Green-Schools is a fantastic international scheme that acknowledges the long-term, whole school action for the environment. Schools that get involved with this project inevitably earn a ‘Green Flag’, showing that they are an eco-friendly school. Find more information about Green-Schools here.
Economic crisis or not, we all have to start paying the price of our ill-treated environment. As Whoopi Goldberg said: "That's the thing about Mother Nature, she really doesn't care what economic bracket you're in."
By: Ruth Ní Bheoláin
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