Helping the environment

​For many years we have been polluting the earth, did you know that in Birmingham sometimes the air pollution is that high it is illegal? We are polluting our rivers and seas by plastics and chemicals.

​David Attenborough was on BBC news on location filming his new program, The Green Planet talking about the environment and going to the conference in Glasgow. “If we don’t act now, it will be too late.” 

​I am getting worried about the damage that is being caused by global warming, but I can’t change my hobby. I can’t live with there being no steam trains in the world. No matter how much eco coal they use it is still polluting the air. Luckily, there aren’t as many steam trains as cars and lorries in our city, otherwise the air would be terrible. 

​Big companies want us to look at our personal carbon footprints, but unless they stop polluting the atmosphere, we can’t save our planet, our wildlife, our plant life through small actions.

​Buying more local food and checking where your food comes from, as well as growing your own fruit and veg can cut down your carbon footprint (the amount of carbon dioxide released into the air). Also, if you don’t buy things wrapped in plastic when we are shopping and take our own bags that will make a difference, as well as recycling. Many plastic items end up in the sea and can get caught around an animal’s neck, causing them to die.

Reducing your electricity usage around the home will save you money as well as reducing your carbon footprint (the amount of carbon dioxide released into the air). You can do this by switching off electrical appliances, such as kettles and televisions, at the wall when they are not in use. Also, switching off the lights when you’re not in a room and using battery powered lights or solar lights to secure your home when your out, so as not to leave the electricity on.

​Turning down the heating in the home, even by 0.5 degrees, does make a difference. If you own your home, there are schemes to help with the cost of getting a new eco boiler to cut down on gas use.

Eating meat means there is less space for trees as we need to use a lot of land to grow food for the animals. Cutting down on meat that we eat is not only good for our health but also for our planet. Here is an easy vegetarian recipe, and it is cheap too. https://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/one-pot-mushroom-potato-curry

​Together we can make changes to save our Earth. We can’t solve the environment problems on our own, but we can help to make a difference by taking clothes to charity shops or putting them in charity bags/banks at the supermarkets.

​You could also choose support politicians who want to make a difference to the environment. This week there has been a conference in Glasgow where all the world leaders have come to discuss the environment people’s and we can be a voice to them of what needs to change.

​In Birmingham on Saturday there was a march to voice our concerns of how much things to need change. You can ask your MP or councillor to makes changes to make Birmingham less polluted and protect our planet better.

Find your MP here

I hope the blog I have done will help you think of ways that you can help the planet and hopefully support you to have a voice.

Jennifer Brown