With Christmas fast approaching, and with the urgent need to combat climate change, many people want to make a difference for the better with the gifts we choose to give rather than just shopping. Here’s how – with five simple suggestions. Find inspiration, share it with others and help Christmas help!
1. Choose Pre-loved. Second-hand, vintage, used, quality pre-ensured… whatever you want to call it, when you choose something that does not have to be produced for you but has already been through its first cycle of usage, the climate impact is of course reduced, as is the toll on dwindling natural resources. Bonus: When choosing vintage, the risk of someone else giving the exact same gift or the person already having what you are giving is almost zero. You had lots, now you have more – at least someone else had this before.
2. Let the gift grow. A gift that lasts and grows will be remembered for a long time: Cut flowers die in a week or two, living plants, bushes or trees live for years and clean the air meanwhile. It could also be an investment in sustainable energy, where the climate benefits are paired with money growth that can be reinvested in further growth. Bonus: Even if you somehow forget to give a gift next year, this gift will continuously be a reminder that you have given before.
3. Sharing is caring. Individual ownership is resource intensive, wasteful and takes up so much space. That is why shared resources is so beneficial to the climate, from the rapidly growing trend of car-pooling instead of each of us having a car that is unused 95% of the time to listening to music online instead of each having a record collection. Bonus: Choose well, and you may also get to benefit from the shared gift that you give!
4. Experiences, not stuff. When giving experiences instead of yet more things, the climate impact is usually much lower. Of course, that depends on what you do; an expedition to the South Pole to see polar bears has a huge climate impact (and zero chances of seeing the bears since they are in the north), while going to see the local band or festival, theatre, or football game will have a small climate footprint. Bonus: The experience can be shared – just make sure it. is not too obvious that it’s your favourite band or team you got tickets for.
5. Give it to someone else. A donation in the recipient’s name to an established environmental organization will help ensure that the money you spend is put to good use. Just make sure that the donation is aligned with the values of the person who is to get the certificate – for instance, if he or she does not believe in blocking roads for the climate, maybe it is a better topic for discussion than subject of donation. Bonus: Don’t worry, the organization will remind you next year that it would be good to renew the gift and continue to do good.
Have a Very Merry Christmas – and let Christmas be part of a better future for all.
Mattias Goldmann
