5 Ways to Support the SDGs From Your Couch
We all have the power to make a difference. Whether it be at work or in the comfort of our home, we can make a change everywhere and anywhere. Though world-changing goals such as ending homelessness or fighting climate change may seem too large for just one person to tackle, even the smallest actions can make a huge impact. Some of these actions don’t even require you to get up off the couch. Here are five ways to support the SDGs from your couch:
Save Electricity
Make sure to plug your appliances, such as your phone and computer, into a power strip and turn them off completely when you’re not using them. Also, be sure to turn off any lights you don’t need. They may not even be necessary if your TV or computer screen provides enough brightness.
Speak Up
Make your voice heard. Contact your local and national authorities and ask them to become involved in initiatives that are not harmful to people or the environment. Also, be sure to voice your support for the Paris Agreement and encourage your country to ratify or sign it if it hasn’t yet. Furthermore, you can show your support over social media. Share posts rather than just liking them. For example, if you come across an interesting post advocating for women’s rights or climate change, be sure to share it on your account so that those in your network will also see it. You can also inform the United Nations about your actions to achieve the SDGs by using the hashtag #globalgoals on social networking sites. Additionally, report online bullies. If you see harassment on a message board or in a chat room, be sure to flag the person making the harmful comments.
Stay Informed
According to a survey conducted by Corporate Citizenship, only 42% of people have a solid understanding of the SDGs, being able to understand their role in the global agenda and name a few specific goals. Furthermore, 15% have heard of them but said they didn’t know much about them and 8% have not heard of them prior to answering the survey. Higher awareness worldwide could create more opportunities for the SDGs to be implemented more effectively. So be sure to further educate yourself. You can start by following your local news and stay up to date with the Global Goals online or on social media at @GlobalGoalsUN.
Stop Paper Bank Statements
Pay your bills online or via mobile. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the amount of paper that the average American uses each year is approximately one 100-foot-tall Douglas fir tree. Reducing the amount of paper you use can be incredibly beneficial to the environment, leading to less paper production and thus less air pollution.
Reduce Carbon Emissions
In addition to the above, be sure to offset your remaining carbon emissions. Use Climate Neutral Now if you’re looking to calculate your carbon footprint or purchase climate credits. Originally launched in 2015 by the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) with the purpose of promoting the voluntary use of carbon market mechanisms. It has since become a bigger tool for raising awareness, building capacity, developing partnerships, promoting and facilitating the estimation of carbon footprints as well as, the reduction of those footprints. If you are part of an organization that wants to be involved, you can become a participant by signing the Climate Neutral Now Pledge and reporting on its growth and progress annually. By doing so, you can help reduce global carbon emissions faster.
Commitment Is Key
Commitment is vital to the achievement of an objective. It involves making a decision in your heart, soul, and mind to accomplish a task. It requires fierce commitment and focused perseverance. Committing ourselves to sacrificially giving to others is how we show our love and appreciation for others. There are so many ways that we can commit ourselves to the SDGs that are not taxing or time-consuming. Thus, we all ought to do our part.
