'Go greener' for a more spiritual, low-carbon lifestyle

• Published date: 26 June 2022
• Publication title: Shanghai Daily

To create a low-carbon life, many people would suggest pulling down polluting factory chimneys and making solar power more accessible, thereby reducing reliance on fossil fuels -- a key culprit of carbon emissions that contribute to climate change.

While these suggested measures -- largely implemented with government support or supervision -- help reduce carbon emissions significantly, there are many more nuanced ways for people to "go greener" that merit our attention.

On June 15, China convened a high-profile conference in Shandong Province to celebrate National Low-Carbon Day, calling for a concerted effort by individuals and industry to create a low-carbon society. A day earlier, The Paper, a leading news portal based in Shanghai, published an article on how people can learn to reduce their carbon footprints through small, incremental efforts.

What individuals can do?

The Paper cited China's latest guidelines on how people can nurture "greener" habits in key aspects such as food, clothing, shelter and travel. The guidelines were prepared and promulgated by the China Environmental Protection Federation.

Based on discussions among scientists and professional managers, the guidelines recommend 40 specific actions people can take on an everyday basis, such as saving electricity and water, recycling used clothes and printing on both sides of a piece of paper. More sophisticated measures include digital payments and electronic commercial contracts.

The latest research by the Chinese Academy of Sciences suggests focusing on individual contributions to a low-carbon life. The academy has found that household consumption makes up 53 percent of the country's total carbon emissions. While the industrial sector must improve its production and transportation efficiency to reduce carbon emissions, individuals are equally responsible for a cleaner future.

By saving paper, we save trees, which capture carbon through photosynthesis. A seemingly small individual effort goes a long way toward a society's collective good.

merican environmental law professor Karl Coplan has published a book titled "Live Sustainably Now" to chronicle his daily efforts to reduce his carbon footprint over the past decade or so. He recalls how he once commuted to work across New York's Hudson River via biking and kayaking.

Not everyone can repeat Coplan's feat, but we can all do something to benefit our planet. Here are two examples of what I have been doing lately to reduce my carbon footprint.

First...