How can you contribute to stop climate change?

This summer we have all suffered the reality of climate change, and many people have wondered how we can help to alleviate it.

It is not just about recycling, but we can all contribute to stop it in our day to day in various ways, beginning with reducing energy consumption in these four ways:

1) Do not waste food

Agricultural and livestock activity is responsible for a quarter of greenhouse emissions, causing climate change. It is estimated that up to a third of this food production ends in the garbage, and we are all responsible for stopping this outrage.

Your menus program and make ad-hoc purchase lists. Alíte with your freezer and always have reusable zip bags and hermetic containers in case you buy fresh product of more than you will not be able to cook, or to preserve those delicious leftovers of your favorite dishes.

Take advantage of the less "noble" parts of fresh products, such as the central part of tomatoes with their seeds, which can serve you for a stir -fry, or the green part of leeks, carrots tips and some onion Forgotten in the refrigerator drawer, which can be used to prepare a base broth at a time with the simple help of a fine strainer. Of course, if you consume proteins of animal origin, do not lose sight of the heads and thorns of the fish or the housing of a rich corral chicken.

You can also apply creativity in your recipes to give way to those "pochas" fruits in sorbets, smoothies or ice cream.

2) Opt for sustainable transport options

The transport of people (and merchandise) still depends largely on the burning of fossil fuel Countries still depend on the burning of those same fuels (coal, natural gas and oil).

Whenever you can travel walking or bike. If it is not possible, opt for public transport. For your long trips also use public transport, prioritizing the train, whenever possible. Before making a displacement in your car or motorcycle, think if this journey is avoidable. For example, do you really need to go to the outskirts on the outskirts? Or could you make the same purchase with the help of a car on foot visiting the different shops in your neighborhood? If you have to move in your car, try to optimize the journey and not go alone in your vehicle.

Finally, avoid travel by plane and, if not possible, at least I know you and try to establish a maximum number of plane journeys per year that you do not exceed.

3) Reduce your energy consumption

Keep your home at a reasonable temperature, both in summer and winter. Do not abuse heating, or air conditioning. Use the awnings and blinds to keep your home fresh in summer. In winter he lowers the blinds at night to keep the heat and ventilate the house first thing opening all the windows at the same time for a brief period and before lighting the heating. Regulates the temperature of your boiler (usually a temperature of 45-50 degrees is sufficient). In your house, wear hot clothes in winter and fresh in summer. Choose low consumption bulbs and, if you have to replace an appliance, choose one of high energy efficiency. Do not start appliances such as dishwasher or washing machine until they are full, and get a good tendard instead of a dryer.

4) Repair

Do not throw something because "it breaks." Almost anything can be repaired and it is always a better option to repair an object that already exists, than throw it in the trash and replace it with a new one.

The clothes can be sewn, but if the thread and needle are not your thing, look for a repair place, the same with the footwear. Appliances and technological devices (computers, tablets or mobiles) can also be repaired, locating the technical service is not so complicated, and sometimes you can even do it by following tutorials already published. Mobile, in addition, can be expanded their storage and processing capacity to extend their useful life.

Teresa Gimeno is an expert in ecology and researcher at the BC3 - Basque Center for Climate Change