Photo by © CHIARA TERZUOLO via
Savvy Tokyo
Vocabulary:
- emission /ih-MISH-uhn/
[noun] an amount of gas, heat, light, etc. that is sent out
Greenhouse gas emissions usually come from fuel and carbon companies.
- commodity /kuh-MOD-i-tee/
[noun] a substance or product that can be traded, bought, or sold
Some of the commodities that are best to trade are stockpiles of oil, pork bellies and wheat.
- flatten /FLAT-n/
[verb] to stop increasing or stop something from increasing
Many famous celebrities are starting to influence other people to avoid single-use plastics. Since then, the production of such plastics has been flattening.
- sustainable /suh-STEY-nuh-buhl/
[adjective] causing little or no damage to the environment and therefore able to continue for a long time
Instead of depending on fossil fuels or foreign oils, using clean sustainable energy sources will be more environment-friendly.
- gigaton /GIG-uh-tuhn/
[noun] one billion tons
Science assumed that there are gigatons of stars in our galaxy.
- prolong /pruh-LAWNG/
[verb] to make something last a longer time
The fight for climate change will prolong if we are not going to take action.
- consumption /kuhn-SUHMP-shuhn/
[noun] the act of using, eating, or drinking something
Carbohydrate consumption should be decreased if one wants to have a healthier life.
Global warming has been an alarming issue and unfortunately, people don’t pay too much attention to it. In spite of the 5 to 10-year deadline to save the world from climate change calamities, response and actions are still at a glacial pace. Japan’s Cabinet is mapping out ways to zero greenhouse gas emissions in the second half of the 21st century. Here are some ways to achieve that:
1. REDUCE, REUSE, AND RECYCLE
300 to 400 plastic bags are used around by each average person in Japan in a year, and a total of 40 billion for their entire nation. To prevent this from happening, withdraw from using single-use plastic bags and opt to carry around reusable things that you use daily such as metal chopsticks or mugs and eco-bags. This might be tough at first but as you force yourself to do it every day, it will be a no brainer routine in no time.
2. EVERYTHING COMES WITH A HIDDEN PRICE
In buying goods and commodities, always go for the toughest, finest, and most resistant option in which you can use for a very long time. In this way, you didn’t just help the environment from buying and trashing the same things repeatedly but also save your wallet from flattening. And if you’re only going to use something once, borrowing from a friend or from online sharing services would be the best option.
3. SUSTAINABLE TRAVEL
People love to travel abroad but little do they know, traveling by plane also causes global warming. As an airplane takes flight, it fills the atmosphere with great amounts of pollutants such as dangerous carbon dioxide and nitrogen oxide. Soon, airplanes will release gigatons of it which will continue to damage our atmosphere. So, instead of international trips, locally traveling by bus or train will help us prolong the pleasure of having a greener planet.
4. CUT YOUR MEAT CONSUMPTION
Most people might disagree with this one but the livestock industry massively contributes greenhouse gases in our environment. This is not only because of the process of producing animals for food but making way for animal agriculture by cutting down carbon dioxide-absorbing forests also causes environmental damage. So instead of growing crops to feed animals that we’ll later on consume, it is more recommended to just set aside the meat and be the one who’ll eat the crops instead. In that way, we don’t only save the earth but also keep ourselves healthier.
5. AGITATE AGAINST FOSSIL FUELS
It is not a secret that big businesses and governments are the biggest contributors to pollution. Climate Accountability Institute found out that in just 90 companies which are primarily fossil fuel businesses, 63% of carbon and methane are released. We can help in solving this problem by using renewable energy for your home such as solar panels.
6. CHANGES START AT HOME
We are all waiting and asking for governments and big organizations to do actions about climate change. But instead of waiting for them to make a move, why don’t we start doing the listed ways on how we can help fight climate change? Practice what we want to see and preach what we practice. We can influence other people if they can see great results in what we do.
We only have one Earth so start making a great difference for it now!
Comprehension Questions:
- According to the article, how many plastic bags does an average person in Japan use in a year?
- In the article, what can we do to avoid using single-use plastic bags?
- In buying goods and commodities, what should we do to help the environment and also save money?
- Based on the article, how does traveling by airplanes damage the atmosphere?
- In the article, how many percents of carbon and methane do fossil fuel businesses release?
Discussion Questions:
- Using eco-friendly things are becoming popular nowadays. Have you ever tried using them? What do you think about those things? If no, why not?
- If you are going to use something once or twice, will you be willing to just borrow things from a friend or from an online sharing service? Explain your answer.
- What do you think are other alternatives in solving the damage that airplanes do in our atmosphere?
- Do you think it will be possible to balance the process of producing a large mass of animals for food? Please explain your answer.
- If you can add more ways to fight climate change aside from the ways listed above, what would you add?
[noun] an amount of gas, heat, light, etc. that is sent out
Greenhouse gas emissions usually come from fuel and carbon companies.
[noun] a substance or product that can be traded, bought, or sold
Some of the commodities that are best to trade are stockpiles of oil, pork bellies and wheat.
[verb] to stop increasing or stop something from increasing
Many famous celebrities are starting to influence other people to avoid single-use plastics. Since then, the production of such plastics has been flattening.
[adjective] causing little or no damage to the environment and therefore able to continue for a long time
Instead of depending on fossil fuels or foreign oils, using clean sustainable energy sources will be more environment-friendly.
[noun] one billion tons
Science assumed that there are gigatons of stars in our galaxy.
[verb] to make something last a longer time
The fight for climate change will prolong if we are not going to take action.
[noun] the act of using, eating, or drinking something
Carbohydrate consumption should be decreased if one wants to have a healthier life.
1. REDUCE, REUSE, AND RECYCLE
300 to 400 plastic bags are used around by each average person in Japan in a year, and a total of 40 billion for their entire nation. To prevent this from happening, withdraw from using single-use plastic bags and opt to carry around reusable things that you use daily such as metal chopsticks or mugs and eco-bags. This might be tough at first but as you force yourself to do it every day, it will be a no brainer routine in no time.
2. EVERYTHING COMES WITH A HIDDEN PRICE
In buying goods and commodities, always go for the toughest, finest, and most resistant option in which you can use for a very long time. In this way, you didn’t just help the environment from buying and trashing the same things repeatedly but also save your wallet from flattening. And if you’re only going to use something once, borrowing from a friend or from online sharing services would be the best option.
3. SUSTAINABLE TRAVEL
People love to travel abroad but little do they know, traveling by plane also causes global warming. As an airplane takes flight, it fills the atmosphere with great amounts of pollutants such as dangerous carbon dioxide and nitrogen oxide. Soon, airplanes will release gigatons of it which will continue to damage our atmosphere. So, instead of international trips, locally traveling by bus or train will help us prolong the pleasure of having a greener planet.
4. CUT YOUR MEAT CONSUMPTION
Most people might disagree with this one but the livestock industry massively contributes greenhouse gases in our environment. This is not only because of the process of producing animals for food but making way for animal agriculture by cutting down carbon dioxide-absorbing forests also causes environmental damage. So instead of growing crops to feed animals that we’ll later on consume, it is more recommended to just set aside the meat and be the one who’ll eat the crops instead. In that way, we don’t only save the earth but also keep ourselves healthier.
5. AGITATE AGAINST FOSSIL FUELS
It is not a secret that big businesses and governments are the biggest contributors to pollution. Climate Accountability Institute found out that in just 90 companies which are primarily fossil fuel businesses, 63% of carbon and methane are released. We can help in solving this problem by using renewable energy for your home such as solar panels.
6. CHANGES START AT HOME
We are all waiting and asking for governments and big organizations to do actions about climate change. But instead of waiting for them to make a move, why don’t we start doing the listed ways on how we can help fight climate change? Practice what we want to see and preach what we practice. We can influence other people if they can see great results in what we do.
We only have one Earth so start making a great difference for it now!