What can you do about air pollution? Well, remember that factories produce things for you to consume. You can use recycled paper and reusable products, and encourage your family to choose goods that have an 'ecological' label such as phosphate-free washing powder. Look for things with the least amount of packaging. For example, at the supermarket, buy loose vegetables and fruit, not pre-wrapped ones.
- Travel by bike to school or to visit friends and use public transport as much as possible. |
- Turn off the lights, TV and computer when you leave a room. |
- Plant a tree! This absorbs carbon dioxide, a greenhouse gas, from the air. |
- Encourage your family to use the car less and walk or bike when they can. |
- A large part of air pollution comes from transport, including freight transport. Buy goods that are produced near where you live. Do your tomatoes have to come from a foreign country, or are they grown locally? Does it really make us happier to buy strawberries in winter? |
- Try to use products that are labelled 'ozone friendly'. |
- Encourage your family to recycle old refrigerators or air-conditioning units, and make sure that CFCs from them are not released into the atmosphere. |