Electric cars, big solar panels, and other fancy gadgets may be the biggest push towards a healthier environment, but what about those who can’t afford those gadgets?
Imagine a massive heat wave that lasted 29 days, killing power, livestock, and making life miserable for anyone stepping outside. Imagine if one day the ocean becomes so warm, it becomes soup like temperatures or if towns who never experienced much flooding, have to adjust their everyday lives because of all the flooding they’re receiving.
This will be the planet’s climate crisis in less than 30 years if people are unable to help their own carbon footprint.
The biggest excuse for people who do not help their footprint either deals with climate change being fake, right…, or that certain aspects of a cleaner environment like eating healthier or driving electric cars, are out of their price range.
Barry Marquart, Environmental Science teacher and Environmental Activist Stated that our footprints are easier to control than we think.
“As we get older, getting to that age to vote, I think that you can help with your vote and find the right candidate who wants to make solid advances in environmental issues, who takes climate change, pollution seriously.” Marquart said.
Voting may be a pain to register but once someone hits that age, voting can turn the tide within the political standpoint of environmental progression. The call for environmental help across the world has some states questioning if a class like environmental science should be required.
Barry Marquart stated that in time, high schools will tend to drift towards some sort of requirement for the class.
“The environmental science class, I would argue, should be required to graduate and I think we may see that eventually…another thing a student can do to help their footprint is to join those clubs, learn as much as you can so you can be the change.” Marquart said.
With the opportunity to take a class, it is an affordable way to learn about the status of the local environment while getting hands-on experience to help.
School clubs and local organizations usually do not have expensive fees and can be another inexpensive way to learn to lower their footprint.
Mr. Marquart also teased the idea of biking if an electric car is unavailable.
“One thing I think schools should work on is developing better biking opportunities for students whether it is a better path to the school or more bike racks, it is an easy and efficient way for students to get around.” Marquart said.
Teachers like Mr. Marquart can help provide inexpensive ways to further a student’s environmental activism.
Marquart loves to bring kids to different hands-on field trips including a float trip once a semester to help clean up the trash within the streams.
Former student Alec Weatherby has stayed active in his local environment before and after taking Mr. Marquart’s class.
Alec has been a part of not only the Environmental Science class but also other organizations like helping within his local church and being a part of Boy Scouts.
“Despite being out of the class, I still manage to make sure my local community is clean and I manage a compost bin to help lower landfill usage…I also carpool whenever I can to lower my footprint.” Weatherby said.
The carpool method is popular within students who can not afford higher levels of environmental activism.
Not only is carpooling a safe idea, so is using public transportation. (train, bus)
The overall cheapest ways to lower a carbon footprint starts within a person’s home and their community.
It could reside in the public officials, in someone’s garage, or something easier like carpooling, but there is always a way to help your Carbon Footprint.
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