Summarize various ways in which people can create a sustainable lifestyle for themselves and thus begin the process of environmental justice on an individual basis

Question

What will be an ideal response?

Answer 1

While economics and politics are key areas in which changes are necessary in order to move toward sustainability, environmentalists stress that small changes to one's lifestyle can also have a major impact. One can, for example, stop using disposable plastic bags. These bags are made from the nonrenewable resource petroleum, and their production releases toxins into the air. Essentially nonbiodegradable, after one use plastic bags usually wind up in a landfill or become litter that fouls the land and waterways and chokes unsuspecting animals. To avoid this waste, many people are turning to reusable bags made out of durable materials like canvas. Similarly, consumers concerned about the waste produced by billions of paper cups and Styrofoam containers are switching to travel mugs and reusable food containers. Businesses also respond when consumers demand green alternatives. Because of consumer anxiety about the toxic chemicals that wind up in the ground and water as a result of conventional farming practices, organic produce is now widely available in supermarkets. And in many parts of the country, consumers can tell their electric company that they would like part or all of their energy to come from renewable resources. Given the added cost, not everyone can afford to make these choices, but more and more consumers are deciding that the benefits are worth it. A lifestyle choice that has major implications for sustainability is transportation. While there is always room for improvement, cities like New York and Portland have taken great strides to make walking, biking, and public transportation more attractive by adding bike and bus lanes and extending service hours and regional service. Indeed, everyone can take steps to learn more about the wider ecological impacts of their lifestyle and then decide what environmentally friendly changes are possible or attractive to them.