“Too many people spend money they haven’t earned, to buy things they don’t want, to impress people they don’t like.”
Will Rogers
The connection
Minimalism and the climate – what could these two things possibly have in common? Hear me out. I am passionate about climate change and consider myself a minimalist. Lately, I’ve been thinking about how these two interconnect.
Solving climate change
The increase in extreme weather is making climate change hard to ignore.
These days, the debate is mostly about which solutions are best. Two things are clear – we need to rapidly transition to renewable energy, and remove some of the heat-trapping gases already in the atmosphere.
But there is another important piece of the puzzle. We will decarbonize a lot faster if we also reduce our consumption of resources. Countless companies are focused on increasing efficiency and reducing waste, but individuals can play a part too.
It takes a lot of energy and natural resources to make and transport all the stuff we buy. Let’s consider the fashion industry for example. Here are a few eye-opening facts:
- The fashion industry creates 10% of global carbon emissions
- Around 20% of our wastewater comes from dyes and chemicals used to make clothing
- It takes about 1000 gallons of water to make one pair of jeans!
Win-win
There are endless win-win scenarios when it comes to solving climate change, and consuming less is a big one. When we are more intentional about what we buy, we can save money, help the planet, and maybe even improve our lives at the same time.
Wait…improve our lives?
Less stuff, more meaning
More stuff does not equal more happiness. In fact, data suggests the opposite is true. Several years ago, I stumbled onto the concept of minimalism (also known as voluntary simplicity). Over the past several years I have pared down and chosen to buy less.
My mantra has been “less stuff, more meaning”. The result: my home is less cluttered, and I have more time for experiences. It’s freeing, and I feel more peace and happiness.
Minimalism isn’t for everybody…just ask my family members. And I’m not here to judge or make you feel guilty about what you buy – simply trying to stimulate thought. If you’re curious about minimalism and simplicity, here are some people who have inspired me along the way: Courtney Carver, Joshua Becker and The Minimalists.
Let’s do something about climate change. Learn about it. Think about it. Talk about it.