Go ahead and grab your cup of tea or coffee because you know what day it is
There's a topic I've been really wanting to discuss on the channel and given that it's Earth Day in just a few days
We're gonna do it
Today's chat is gonna be about decreasing our
environmental footprint
There are two main reasons I've been a bit reluctant to talk about this in the past for one
I'm not a leader in the game at this myself. I'm not zero waste,
and there's a lot I'm still learning and the other reason is that it can be a bit of a touchy subject
So I'm gonna take the opportunity right now to say that we're gonna make this video and the comments section below
a safe space to discuss any
Experiences that we've had or any tips that we might have
When I first started pick up limes my focus was specifically
about plant-based nutrition and minimalism
I was really happy actually knowing that these kinds of practices were helping to contribute to a healthier planet
But slowly and over time you guys actually were the ones that were starting to bring to my attention
Ways that I could be even more conscious in ways that weren't even on my radar so for example in one video
I wrapped my cookies in plastic wrap to store in the freezer and in a vlog to Indonesia
I had some drinks that were served with plastic straws in them and in another minimalism video
I mentioned using microfiber cloths, which then some of you taught me can pollute our water sources
I actually really appreciated those comments
Especially the ones that were shared in a positive and in a constructive way because it is true the more we become aware of our
Practices the more we can try to improve them sometimes it can seem petty and small
But if each of us makes even the smallest of changes then together and in numbers it can mean pretty big changes
So aside from sharing some of the more obvious tips like let's use less plastic
and remember to bring our tote bags to the grocery store when we're shopping
I want to share just a few tips that I think aren't mentioned as often and these are tips that I think
That are small changes that can make a really big impact so first starters trying to adopt more of a plant-based diet
I think this is one of the most impactful things any one of us can do
There was an assessment done by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations where they indicated that the livestock sector in itself
Contributes to more global greenhouse gas emissions than any other form of transportation
And when looking at the production of protein sources from foods the emissions to produce beef are
250 times greater than when we want to produce lagoons per gram of protein
not to mention that
80% of the Amazon deforestation
Is for raising cattle and the list goes on and a study published in the journal Nature found that we could decrease 80
percent of our global greenhouse gas emissions from food production if the global diet switched to more of a vegetarian diet
Now imagine if they had done that study for vegan diets
But all this just to say that if there's any way you can include more beans and lentils
Nuts and seeds or plant-based milks and yogurts into your diet the planet will thank you for it
And so will your body and the animals
Here's another super quick and easy substitute
there is a free search engine that you can use as a substitute to Google that plants trees just because you're browsing the net
The search engine is called Ecosia
And here's how it works you search the web using Ecosia search ads then generate revenue for them
And then they use this income to plant trees in hot spots of around the globe
They've already planted over 25 million trees
And they're aiming to get to 1 billion by the year 2020 and we can help them get there just by browsing the net
so I've partnered with them to create a custom link just for our community feel free to check out the link in the description box below
Now last item I want to discuss is one I get questions about all the time
for someone who's trying to be more environmentally conscious
I do travel a fair bit because travelling is just one of those things
I really truly value
But we all know that those planes are emitting some things that are just not good for the environment
So my focus is to do the best that I can within the realm of getting from point A to point B
So for example one thing I always try to do is opt for airlines that offer
carbon neutral flights like
KLM for instance, so for an extra fee on top of the cost of my flight the airline will invest in reforestation
Projects that compensate for the emissions of me having been on that plane
Then when I arrive to whatever destination
I'm at I always try to walk and cycle whenever I can then maybe use some public
transportation before needing to opt for anything like a car
So like I said I am no expert when it comes to environmental sustainability
But I don't think that we need to be to start making some incremental changes and
using less plastic and eating more plants traveling smart and planting trees with our web searches
These are just a few of the many ways that we can decrease our waste, or give back to the environment in some way
But there are many more ways and I welcome you to share that with us in the comments section below
remembering to keep it a safe and happy place and
That's pretty much it. I look forward to learning from you guys. Thanks for enjoying this cup of tea with me
Happy Earth Day have an awesome week, and we'll see you in the next video