This article is brought to you by MUN Graduate Sustainability Society.
The Graduate Sustainability Society (GSS) is an upcoming, growing society at MUN, which aims to promote sustainability on and off campus. There are no disciplinary restrictions, and it is open to any graduate student who is interested in sustainable living and practices.
Image Credit: Mun Graduate Sustainability Society
In the recent days, environmental sustainability has become an important topic around the world. The main components of this are the elimination of waste and reduction in greenhouse gas emissions. Climate change is occurring at a faster rate than was previously estimated. Scientists agree that a key contributing factor to climate change is “human expansion of ‘greenhouse effect'”. Catastrophic weather forecasts, rising sea levels, extreme weather events, deforestation and extinction of species are among the many effects of the global climate change.
As individuals, we can take steps to slow down global warming, using small sustainable actions. What are you doing in your sphere to eliminate waste? A lot of us drink coffee, juice or pop. Have you ever considered using your coffee mug every time, instead of the disposable cups? Studies show that if an individual uses a single-use cup every day, it will result in 23 pounds of waste per year. This number may seem small, but in the grand scheme of things, it amounts to so much waste. In metro areas, an estimated 50 million disposable cups are used annually. In contrast, using a regular coffee mug can contribute to reducing waste generation significantly. Start small and make a change today!
The Graduate Sustainability Society invites you to join a group of like-minded individuals who are seeking to make a difference in the MUN environment and the community at large. If you are interested in being a part of this initiative or just want some more information, please join our Facebook group: MUN Graduate Sustainability Society or email us at gss@mun.ca. We would love to hear from you!