Do Landfills solve all of our waste problems?

     Landfills, do not solve any of our waste problems. In fact, they just create more environmental problems. Landfills are merely heaps of trash that are used as storage. Now because our trash problem is higher than ever, we are running out of space to put trash in landfills or we are forced to build new landfills. Have you ever thought of the cost, the amount of transportation, and the amount of pollution that goes into using and maintaining a landfill? As said by Nick Goepper, "We're looking for answers in a landfill instead of looking to people who bring the light." Whenever we hear about environmental-related problems that are affecting the world we just sit and do nothing about it. Action and initiative by all of us is the only way to stop problems such as the compounding of waste in human landfills.

Isn't sustainability always expensive?

     This statement is not true. You can be sustainable inside your own home by replacing incandescent light bulbs with LEDs. Here, instead of being expensive, you could save a considerable amount on your energy bill monthly. Another example may include, replacing your current shower with a shower-head that is more water conserving. Here you get the satisfaction of helping the environment and also you can save on your money bills. Some ways of sustainability may be initially expensive but in the long-run they can do you and the environment a lot of good. Let's take the example of solar panels; not many people have solar panels because initially they are very expensive to install. But once you have solar panels you may never have to pay a single energy bill again because the source of energy for you home would be the sun itself.

Don't cotton grocery bags protect water quality?

     This is another common misconception that is false. Using cotton grocery bags do not protect water quality at all. They actually cause approximately 606 times more water pollution compared to plastic bags. A study by the Danish Ministry of Food and Environment found organic cotton requires so much fertilizer that it significantly contributes to the worst water quality problem, deoxygenation that creates “dead zones.” If you are to use either plastic or cotton grocery bags, chose plastic. Although neither of these are ideal for the environment, plastic is the better of the two. Best option yet would be to use biodegradable or compostable bags as these do not harm the environment at all.
                                                                                     *Information courtesy of the Washington Policy Center

Pine trees: good? Bad? or Neutral?

     Are pine trees good, bad, or neutral? If you are like me, you may be tired of seeing pine trees every direction you turn outcompeting the other trees. Still, are the actually somewhat valuable to the environment? Believe it or not we do need pine trees in our ecosystem. They prevent soil erosion with their shallow but connected roots. The seeds of pine trees also attracts many types of birds and also squirrels. Finally, many types of pine trees have certain medicinal values. For example the white pine has certain antibiotic properties. The pine resin of white pines can be used as a healing salve while the smoke from burning pine is said to help with respiratory problems such as asthma. Parts of the aleppo pine can be used for internal issues as well as respiratory problems. Where I come from in Wilmingon we have lots and lots of longleaf pines. Longleaf pines are important as they support wildlife and biodiversity, store lots of vital nutrients in the soil, and also store carbon for long periods of time.
                                                                                                                                                                               Information Courtesy of SFGATE

aren't our individual impacts on mitigating climate change limited?

      Climate apathy is a real problem, especially because it often seems that we, individually, are not having any meaningful impacts. But in reality there is no definite answer to this question; it depends on our perception of climate change and the actions we take. There will always be ways to take action for the environment, even as an individual. Whether this may be from turning off the lights every time you leave the room to organizing a national rally, our individual impacts always hold value. However, there is some environmental problems that are out of our reach to take action on. This could be anywhere from deciding to pass legislation on renewable energy to the Supreme Court ruling of West Virginia vs. EPA.
    As individuals we cannot make all the climate decisions for our country or even the world. Collective action is different. With enough public support there is always potential to sway political opinions. The United States and many other countries around the world are democracies, the opinions of the people, as a collective group, do really matter.
   In conclusion, as an individual we have many avenues to take action. But taking your environmental advocacy to the next level may require working collectively with the people around you. Still, here is the biggest takeaway: if you are trying to do your best with your environmental work, it will not be unaccounted for. You are making a difference whether you realize it or not.

WILL it be the end of the world if we cannot meet our climate goals?

     While this question is something that I get asked a whole lot, it is not true. The Earth will keep spinning no matter how much we pollute or how warm it gets. Literal theories of how the world will end are outside the scope of environmental science and conservation. If you are concerned about this, do a little bit of internet research. This is not, however, something we need to worry about anytime soon.
     If we reword the question, will it be the end of humankind if we cannot meet our climate goals? I do have a better answer to this. Our climate goals are designed to ensure that we, as a species, can thrive successfully along with our surrounding environment. This includes producing and consuming resources sustainably, lessening our carbon footprints, switching to renewables, and advocating for policy at various governmental levels. But, if we do not reach our desired goals, it will not be the end of humankind either. There will be numerous setbacks that we did not previously have. Many of these setbacks are already becoming evident such as unbearable levels of heat in developing countries and frontline communities facing the brunt of the impacts. Inability to meet our climate goals will lead to the continuation of the current climate trends. Some areas of Earth may become inhabitable and people will likely be more susceptible to death from natural disasters, heat, pollution, and much more. In summary, humans will still be living on Earth but there will be many global problems that are exacerbated by climate change.
   Since we have the potential to mitigate climate change, why wait? Why make life harder for ourselves in the long run? There are only benefits when engaging in environmental conservation and advocacy.

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