Given that carbon neutral home heating methods are yet to be
invented for colder climes, are their ways to lower our carbon footprint while
celebrating the Yuletide Season?
By: Ringo Bones
Given the deadlock in this year’s UN COP 25 negotiations and
scores of climate change denying heads-of-state had been recently elected into
office, it seems that keeping our carbon footprint to a minimum when
celebrating this Holiday season has become a necessity just to keep our planet
livable for the next generation. Having an environmentally conscious Christmas
is probably what Greta Thunberg wished for Santa this year and we can do our
part too.
Using plastic disposable utensils during Christmas dinner is
not only tacky it is also uglier in the landfill and puts more pressure on our
fragile environment. Using natural biodegradable Christmas décor also helps in
a big way and if you can keep a tree alive as a Christmas tree for a number of
years, this too will put a big dent on your carbon footprint this Yuletide
Season. And carbon offsetting when you come home for the Holidays – especially if
your workplace requires you to take a plane ride to be home for Christmas.
Gifts should be dictated by quality and not quantity. Some
of your well-heeled gift recipients this Holiday Season will probably
appreciate donating to charity in their behalf given that you are probably be
too poor to buy them a Learjet powered by sustainably produced jet fuel. And while
eating meat can drastically increase your carbon footprint, choosing to eat one
only during special occasions at least would reduce it to a manageable level.
