What Would 2020 Look Like If Everyone Kept Their New Year’s Sustainability Resolutions?

Many people make resolutions and set goals for themselves at the start of each year. Maybe you want to lose weight, eat better, exercise more, or be more productive. Unfortunately, a staggering 80% of resolutions fail, and many of them do so as early as February.

Most people’s resolutions tend to focus on personal changes without impacting anyone else. But, what would happen if you set a resolution to be more sustainable for the good of the planet?

If you think that one person can’t make a difference when it comes to things like climate change and energy conservation, you’re wrong.

Think about what would happen if everyone felt their changes didn’t matter — no one would make an effort to help the planet! The more people who choose to “go green,” the bigger the impact it will have now and for the future.

So, what would happen if you kept your sustainability resolutions this year? What would happen if everyone did?

Small Changes Can Make a Big Difference

The first step in living a more sustainable lifestyle is to educate yourself on not only what that means, but on different areas of your life where you might be contributing to waste and excess.

A great place to start is by taking a look at your monthly home energy usage. Using simple formulas, you can calculate the energy your appliances use each month and resolve to lower those numbers either by making changes in how you use them or by making the switch to more energy-efficient products. As a bonus, by using less energy in your home, you’ll start to see your utility bills shrink!

Recycling at home is also a great way to reduce waste and get the whole family involved. Did you know that over 60% of the items you throw away could actually be recycled?

By recycling more, the earth will depend less on non-renewable resources and will have to burn fewer fossil fuels, which can help to combat climate change and overflowing landfills across the globe.

Reducing your usage of certain things at home can also make a difference. Take shorter showers. Use cold water instead of hot whenever possible. Turn lights off when you’re not in a room.

Even using the Internet less can cut down on greenhouse gas emissions, as it makes up 6-10% of the world’s energy consumption.

Breakthroughs and Spreading the Word

Because of the increasing awareness of climate change, efforts across the globe are being made to go green and create more sustainable practices.

Solar energy is a major player in reducing our dependence on non-renewable energy. California recently became the first state to require newly-constructed homes to have solar panels built-in.

Businesses across the world are taking steps toward sustainability, too. Google, for example, has an entire environmental mission in place designed to use technology to help the planet instead of harming it.

When more people demand change, more things get done. This is especially true when it involves legal changes within the government.

If you want to get involved and start a movement in your own community, contact your local representative to talk about energy-efficient tax credits. These can be great incentives for your friends and neighbours to take part in more sustainable practices within their homes.

A More Sustainable Future

The changes you make now might seem small. But, you’re helping to create a brighter future for the next generation and beyond, and you never know who you could be influencing just by making greener lifestyle choices.

Things as simple as eating less meat, going paperless, and composting can save you money, show your children how important it is to take care of the environment, and ensure the health of this planet for centuries to come. If one person can make those changes, imagine how much of an impact it would make if thousands did.

It all starts with you.

Author Bio

Sam Bowman writes about people, tech, wellness, and how they merge. He enjoys getting to utilise the internet for community without actually having to leave his house. In his spare time, he likes running, reading, and combining the two in a run to his local bookstore.