The Green Rocket

The climate change debate has been both a blessing and somewhat of a trial when it comes to calling others to action. It has gained increased attention by highlighting the issues and creating a strong movement. On the other hand, it has given some individuals and groups an easy reason not to take their environmental impact into consideration with the notion of, “Why fix a problem that doesn’t exist?”

Whether or not an individual believes in climate change, there are many reasons to live life in a more sustainable manner. To analyze two areas of sustainable living that yield benefits, consider health and economics.

On the health angle, there is the example that pollution has been linked to a variety of respiratory problems. So why wouldn’t anyone have a desire to lower toxic emissions? Moreover, riding a bike, walking, and in some cases taking the tram or bus – which forces many users to walk at least a small distance to and from the stops – will help tone muscles, increase circulation and aid weight loss, amongst other benefits.

In societies like the United States and Canada that are rampant with obesity-related health issues, one would suspect people would be jumping for excuses to incorporate healthy living into a routine. Unfortunately, there are some challenges that create a barrier most people are unwilling or unable to overcome, be it willpower or due to external forces.

One of the main criticisms is that “going green” requires a lifestyle change or, in the eyes of many people, too much effort. Consider the habit of smoking. People know it’s unhealthy, yet they still smoke. With that in mind, is it realistic to expect people to change their lifestyle to live more sustainably?

One counterargument is that it is easier to be motivated to incorporate healthy living activities in multiple areas of life once it becomes a routine. Another is that more regions are taking action to make activities like riding a bike easier, such as implementing comprehensive biking trails.

There are also cases where eco-friendly routines become seasonally impossible. For example, riding a bike outside through a Canadian winter is more or less impossible, and being outside at all in many areas of Canada is just plain uncomfortable to most—and in some cases, unsafe. Possible solutions for this could include car pooling or car shares, which also save money on fuel.

To further build on the idea of health and the environment, buying local ensures knowing where food is coming from and how it is grown. This can help guarantee quality on a level that is personally satisfactory and eliminate fears such as pesticide use. Moreover, while there is still debate over the general consensus of organic foods being healthier than conventional foods, studies have shown that certain organic substances actually do have more health benefits than non-organic, such as milk, which has higher antioxidant counts when produced organically. Other observations in debate include that organic foods contain higher nutrition levels and therefore increase energy and vitamin intake.

Economically, the environmental movement also provides many incentives to uphold a sustainable lifestyle. The shift to a green paradigm has caused consumers to demand more “green” products and therefore investments in green companies are rising, while consumer prices are becoming more affordable as an increased number of products hit the market. Meanwhile, a potential benefit of an eco-friendly product is long-term savings in personal expenditure. This is evident in the mileage conserving hybrid and electric automobiles that have emerged. Savings can be applied on a corporate level as well. Energy efficiency, for example, can conserve money not only for homeowners, but especially for large-scale operations that depend on energy use.

In terms of economic benefits, effort required in greening a lifestyle is not only present physically, but can also be measured in high start up costs. Installation of an efficient device often has a value that makes long term savings seem obsolete. Many companies can afford the initial prices and will make back the money quickly if they have high operation costs. However for smaller businesses, households and individuals, these costs can be problematic.

In many countries, one solution can be to seek government grants or funding, which are becoming widely available initiatives. If they are not offered, never forget that small steps can still make a big difference to the environment and the pocketbook such as unplugging electronic devices that are not in use for longer periods of time, using less temperature controls, turning off lights and water, driving less, and so forth.

In these few paragraphs, I’ve only touched the surface of the health effects and the economic impact by shifting to a more sustainable lifestyle, as well as the challenges found along the way and suggestions on how to offset their effect.

It is important to keep in mind that health and economics are only two of many aspects of the climate change debate and sustainable living. There are many other categories to consider, such as politics, career opportunities, morality, and a plethora of resources out there to explore them. In addition, some of the points outlined are more applicable to some countries more than others, and vary even within countries depending on financial constraints and other related stresses—this warrants a topic in and of itself. In the meantime, the best first step to take – for belief in change or just to explore what personal benefits can be realized – is to seek education on the issues and their alternatives.

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