Climate change affects health by diminishing people’s access to clean air, safe drinking water, sufficient food, and secure shelter in addition to increasing the rate of waterborne diseases and diseases transmitted by insects.
We all need to CHANGE for Climate Change! CHANGE stands for Commit to Health for All Now, Green the Environment. Here are some suggestions on where to start.
The bonus? Many of these ideas will also benefit your health and your wallet, in addition to giving your confidence a boost as you actively help us as a society reach a cleaner, greener, and healthier Viet Nam!
- If you smoke - quit! Smoking is not only harmful to your health, killing more than 8 million people every year, but is also responsible for 600 million trees being chopped down to make 6 trillion cigarettes yearly. Less trees = less clean air for us to breathe!
- Use your feet or your bike! If your commute to work isn’t too long, leave your motorbike or car in the garage for at least one day every week. Physical activity like walking or biking is beneficial to your overall health and letting your motorbike or car rest for a day (or two?) helps reduce the emission of CO2.
- Reduce the amount of meat you eat! Vietnamese cuisine is full of delicious vegetarian alternatives. Why not try out meat-free Mondays? Reducing the intake of red meat is good for your heart, and the meat industry is a big contributor to CO2 emissions.
- Ditch the plastic bags! A reusable bag is a better alternative: it is more comfortable to carry around and will also protect your groceries more efficiently. Who wants bruised fruits and vegetables?
- Buy fewer clothes! The clothing industry is the world’s biggest polluter, only second to the petroleum industry. If you need to buy a piece of clothing, try to buy second hand, or from a sustainable brand.
- Be mindful of your energy consumption! Turn off the lights when you leave a room, unplug electrical devices that are not in use, and take shorter showers. Energy consumption is one of the main sources of human-induced greenhouse gas emissions.
- Skip the disposable water bottles! Get yourself a reusable one and fill it up whenever you have the opportunity. Drinking enough water is super important for your health, but it tastes better without the unnecessary plastic.
- While you are at it - get a reusable coffee cup too! Keeps your drink warm or cold for longer and helps reduce the overwhelming number of disposable cups being thrown away every year: an astonishing estimate of about 500 billion cups annually worldwide.
- Switch to LED lightbulbs! They last longer than conventional bulbs and are far more energy efficient too.
- Fix it, don’t throw it! Instead of just buying a new item when something breaks, try fixing it first. Unable to fix it? Repurpose it! Try turning your old pair of worn-out jeans into a new bag.
So, are these suggested actions inspiring you to make a change today? Or are you doing something different? By making healthy and environmentally friendly choices for ourselves, we are also helping society as a whole, and inspiring others. Make your pledge to CHANGE for Climate Change today!