According to the Washington-based National Academy of Sciences, writes Fiona Macleod, extravagant Western lifestyles are using up natural resources 120% faster than the Earth can restore them. How much does your lifestyle contribute to the planet’s depletion? Are you aware of the impacts of your activities — and what can you do to reduce your footprint on the Earth?
Answer the following to test how much you know about some of the issues involved. You’ll find the answers below, with tips on how to help save the planet.
60%
1) Become a steward
Answer: Snoek is one of the few fish that you can still eat with a relatively clear conscience. Many linefish, including sole, are going extinct because there are too many seafood restaurants. Tuna and a lot of hake are caught on long lines that trap and drown endangered birds such as albatrosses. Sardines, caught in nets and plentiful in South Africa, calamari and kingklip are also still okay.
In an attempt to counter dwindling fish stocks in the world’s oceans, an international Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) was set up five years ago. It has certified 14 fisheries as sustainable, including South Africa’s hake fishery. Certified fisheries place MSC labels on their products, meaning you can buy them in the knowledge that you are not irreversibly harming the species.
Another global stamp of sustainability to watch out for is the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC). Formed in 1993, the FSC endorses sustainable forests in more than 40 countries.
Locally, Cape Nature has introduced the concept of stewardship to privately owned land that is used in support of conservation objectives. Conservation stewardship is extended to private owners who use their land sustainably and to advance the economy, livelihoods and quality of life.
2) Buy green
Answer: Palm oil is the common ingredient used in a variety of every-day consumer items — including soaps, shampoos, chocolate bars, ice cream, ready-to-eat meals and margarine.
It has a hefty environmental price tag. The palm oil industry’s growth in the past two decades is responsible for the rapid clearing and burning of tropical forests, putting pressure on endangered species that live in the forests and creating serious human respiratory problems in SouthEast Asia.
Soon you’ll be able to find labels letting you know which items contain palm oil that doesn’t have such a negative impact on the planet. In November 2005, an international group called the Roundtable for Sustainable Palm Oil set in motion criteria for the responsible production of palm oil.
When you’re out shopping this festive season, look out for green labels like planet-friendly palm oil. Green labels allow you to be a consumer with a clear conscience.
Western Cape wine-makers are working with conservation organisations to produce ”green” wines that protect the biodiversity of the Cape Floral Kingdom. Wines boasting they are part of this Biodiversity & Wine Initiative should become available in 2006.
Energy Star ratings on household appliances indicate that they use energy efficiently, saving you money and reducing climate change-causing greenhouse gas emissions.
Look out for toiletry products and cosmetics that specify they aren’t tested on animals. The Body Shop is always a good choice, plus they promote fair trade principles.
Organic labels on foodstuffs and clothing products indicate they are likely to be healthier for you and the planet. Buying badger-friendly honey helps promote initiatives to stop honey farmers killing badgers.
3) Eat simple
Answer: Potato chips use four times more energy to produce than home-cooked potatoes.
The more complicated and ready-made foodstuffs are, the heavier they are on the planet. Microwave-ready food uses up 10 times more resources than normal food. Make an effort to eat simple food — it’s healthier for you and the planet.
Eat food grown or produced close to home. The typical mouthful of food now travels at least 2 000km to your mouth, with all the energy — processing, refrigeration and transport — that takes up.
When you’re in the supermarket, seek out foods that are organic, free-range, country-reared — all alternatives to factory-farmed, which is generally environment-hostile and unkind to animals.
South Africans tend to love red meat, but besides health repercussions meat consumption is bad for the planet. The protein we get from beef requires 25 times more energy to produce than a comparable amount of protein from grain, and it requires 500 times as much land to produce a kilogram of beef as a kilogram of vegetables.
Cook with gas if you can — it’s much more environmentally friendly than electricity, or wood.
4) Plant a tree
Answer: Carbon dioxide is the greenhouse gas that is responsible for about 80% of global-warming pollution. Trees absorb carbon dioxide. Feel free to chop down an exotic pine for your Christmas tree, and plant an indigenous tree to herald the new year. Exotic trees, apart from being in the wrong place, tend to be water-guzzlers.
5. Adopt an endangered animal
Answer: Impalas are the only animals mentioned that are not listed as endangered in South Africa. At least 247 mammal species are listed in the Red Data Book of the IUCN-World Conservation Union.
Apart from putting money into conserving endangered species by supporting tourism initiatives, you can help individual species by ”adopting” them. Various conservation outfits offer animals for ”adoption”, which usually means you get a certificate and photo. The concept makes for a feel-good gift.
Options include adopting a penguin at The Southern African Foundation for the Conservation of Coastal Birds in Cape Town, a cheetah at the De Wildt Cheetah and Wildlife Centre in North West, or one of a number of species at the Johannesburg Zoo. Prices usually range from R250 to R5 000.
Another great gift is to buy a brick from the My Acre of Africa initiative. My Acre of Africa is an endowment fund that sponsors educational initiatives in South African National Parks.
6) Save energy
Answer: A full city bus replaces 40 vehicles on the road. Public transport is a far more energy-efficient mode of transport than cars. During this year of natural disasters, an increasing number of people became aware that we all need to save energy in order to cut down on the air pollution that is destabilising the climate.
From January 1 2006, leaded petrol will no longer be available in South Africa, which will help to reduce vehicle emissions and improve urban air quality. But if your vehicle is not regularly serviced, noxious gases and particulates will still be emitted.
An issue you can’t do much about at the moment is the amount of carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions you are responsible for each time you catch an aeroplane. The Democratic Alliance’s Gareth Morgan calculated that a return trip to Germany would total 2,7 tons of CO2 and that most MPs who are frequent flyers are responsible for the emission of at least 19,46 tons of CO2 each year.
International efforts to offset carbon emissions are in an embryonic stage and are restricted to large business deals. Individual offset deals will no doubt soon be common, but in the best thing you can do to offset aeroplane travel emissions is to plant a tree or two each time you fly anywhere.
Bicycles and walking are still the cheapest, most energy-efficient and most planet-friendly way of getting around.
Other ways to cut down on your energy consumption include using a microwave instead of a stove, using fans instead of air conditioners, cleaning the air conditioner’s filter monthly and switching off your air conditioner during winter months.
Use sunlight and wind, rather than a tumbledrier. Instead of an electric blanket, use a hot water bottle. Switch off electrical appliances when you aren’t using them. Energy-saving light bulbs are usually more expensive, but they last a lot longer and can save up to three-quarters of energy used to light up your home.
All these measures will help you save on your electricity bills, in addition to reducing the rotten gases that you help pump into the air from coal-powered electricity generation.
7) Cut out chemicals
Answer: Chemical garden pesticides and fertilisers are a source of greenhouse gas because they contain nitrous oxide. If you create a balanced ecosystem in your garden, you’ll find little need for pesticides. Rather work on attracting birds, which happily wolf down worms and aphids.
In the home, use baking soda and vinegar for cleaning rather than more expensive commercial brands that use dodgy chemicals.
8. Save water
Answer: The best time of day for watering lawns is early morning. Watering the lawn uses up to 700 litres of water in half an hour.Watering gardens has been banned in many reagions of the country, and we are in the middle of a full-scale drought cycle.
Try grouping plants with similar water needs so that you don’t have to water the entire garden all the time. Use indigenous plants that are adapted to your region — they will need less water than exotics.
Showering uses much less water and energy than bathing. Washing dishes by hand uses much less water than a dishwasher.
9) Reduce, recycle, re-use
Answer: All the materials mentioned can be recycled. Even polystyrene is now being recycled. Search for companies such as Enviromark, Petco, EnviroServ, Waste-Tech and Buyisa-e-Bag on the Internet to find out where your closest recycling depot is.
It is still a good idea to reject goods that have a lot of packaging. Refuse plastic bags unless you really need them. Use both sides of paper, and recycle used paper. Pass on magazines to schools and community projects.
Glass is the most environmentally friendly packaging because it can be endlessly recycled, and comes from sand — a limitless resource.
10) Make your home eco-friendly
Answer: Upgrading your home’s insulation can reduce your electricity bill by as much 30%. Insulate your attic and walls, preferably with recycled content and minimal chemical emissions.
Solar heating panels are becoming increasingly affordable and practical. Use natural lighting and ventilation to further cut down on energy usage.
In our water-stressed country, it is advisable and helpful to invest in rainwater storage tanks.
Minimise use of carpets. Chemically treated carpets, adhesives and backings can emit numerous chemicals.
If you’re building or renovating, try to use products with recycled content. Also try to reuse and refurbish existing building components before you replace them with new materials.
Avoid using building materials with chemical emissions such as formaldehyde, solvents, and volatile organic compounds (VOCs). These compounds can be found in particle board, paints, vinyl floor and wall coverings, certain types of carpet and insulation. Look out for building materials with minimal chemical emissions, such as ceramic tiles, linoleum, formaldehyde-free particle boards, low-VOC paints and sealers, low-VOC adhesives and non-toxic cleaners.
An eco-friendly home reduces your exposure to sick building syndrome, in addition to being healthier for the planet. What’s good for the Earth is good for you too!
With assistance from Julienne du Toit, Earthyear, May 2003, and Hayley Mueller