HAVE YOURSELF AN ECO-FRIENDLY 2022
Before the end of the year, many people start their new plans to improve their wellness and sustain their work-life balance, or try new things and break old bad habits. For example, quitting smoking, doing more exercise and getting a better night’s sleep. Seemingly, most of these goals lead to positive changes in personal and professional life. In fact, new year resolutions could make an even bigger impact, and enact social change, if you decide to make your life a little greener for future generations and the world.
Last November, Greta Thunberg took a strong stance to combat the climate crisis, pointing out that the COP26 climate summit in Glasgow, Scotland, was a “failure” and a “two-week-long celebration of business”.
“We need immediate drastic annual emission cuts, unlike anything the world has ever seen,” she said.
She is absolutely right, as the Glasgow Climate pact will not take us one step closer to fighting climate change if world leaders like Thailand’s Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha don’t sign key agreements and take more serious mitigation actions in the next decade.
Obviously, Gen Prayut is absent from the firm climate commitments to end coal use and deforestation as well as to make a 30% cut in methane emissions by 2030. Even his 2065 net-zero goal is too late to prevent the global temperature from exceeding 1.5C, as three years ago the leading climate scientists warned that there were only a dozen years to limit negative climate impacts, including the risk of extreme heat, severe droughts and floods.
Now, we are in 2022. This means we only have eight years left to save our planet. Eco-friendly new year resolutions could be at least an attempt to reduce the threat of climate change before entire species of animals and plants become extinct and your children never have a chance to see them.
BRING NATURE TO OUR CLASSROOMS
According to the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF), Thailand is the third-largest seafood exporter with 200 billion baht value on an annual basis. However, our country’s marine resources have steadily reduced due to climate change. Still, a variety of other factors including coastal encroachment, illegal fishing and unfair labour practices in the seafood industry must be taken into account. Many non-profit organisations attempt to provide safety guidelines and possible solutions to this nature crisis.
Some people believe it is the responsibility of all government agencies and business actors to maintain marine resources and restore species populations to Thai waters.
Nevertheless, it is impossible for young people, particularly those living in urban areas, to learn and understand the value of our underwater world if they never get firsthand experience in environmental conservation and sustainability. Schools and institutes should nurture a love for nature and wildlife from an early age.
USE REUSABLE SANITARY PRODUCTS
While UN Women has a feminist plan for diverse progressive alliances to prioritise gender equality, social justice and environmental sustainability at the centre of economic recovery, strong public support for sustainable, eco-friendly menstrual products could be regarded as feminist climate action to fulfil a zero-waste agenda.
Luckily, many Thai brands such as SunnyCotton, Wendays and Happi create and offer ecofriendly sanitary alternatives like cloth pads, menstrual cups and stylish period-proof underwear. Of course the materials in these eco-period products cost more than one pack of pads or tampons. The price for a silicon menstrual cup is between 200 and 1,000 baht. Yet this cup can replace at least 3,000 single-use pads as it can be used for up to 10 years. Your investment in eco options will reduce menstrual waste to the minimum and save money in the long run.
Schools and institutes should nurture a love for nature and wildlife from an early age
EAT NATURE-FRIENDLY, HEALTHY DIETS
As mentioned earlier, our Thai seas have become increasingly barren through overfishing. WWF pointed out that food production is the major determinant of wildlife loss, also resulting in a quarter of the world’s greenhouse gas emissions. Fisheries and farming livestock for meat, dairy and eggs account for 31% of food emissions, while crop production generates 21% for human consumption and 6% for animal feed. Accordingly, a serious decline in the carbon footprint from our food production is very challenging when our eating behaviour is still the same.
However, if you want to eat more sustainably for a healthier body, plant-based and locally-grown foods are a responsible choice for lower gas emissions and greener local economies. In fact, many of Thailand’s local communities are planted-based sources as farmers generally grow a variety of vegetables and legumes for their Otop products to build their ethnic identity and generate sustainable revenue, boosting the local economy.
Nakhon Ratchasima’s D-Hope community, which I paid a visit to a week ago, earns money from their herbal yellow oil, sun-dried bananas, custard cake, homemade curry paste and crispy fried mushrooms with sweet sauces. All of their Otop items originate from organic fruit and vegetable production that can replace meat and fish. Furthermore, the great diversity in their agriculture improves our nation’s food system. But above all, eating a vegetarian and locally-sourced diet will provide more nutrients, support food security and increase income for villagers in these communities.