The ‘it doesn’t really affect me’ argument doesn’t really work anymore when it comes to climate change and global warming. Over the last 15 years, the world has seen erratic weather patterns and NASA scientists have documented increasing temperatures that correlate with increased carbon emissions every year. The fact that the world’s average temperature has gone up 1-2 degrees over the last 100 years doesn’t sound alarming, but the consequences from this change is what’s concerning. The thing is, if people fail to pay attention to it now, when it does happen it will be too late!

In the last 15 years, sea levels have risen so much that small islands in the Pacific Ocean are starting to disappear. Shorelines have also risen substantially along some coastlines due to the melting of the polar ice caps. In fact, the polar ice caps have shrunk by 70% since the 1970’s.

There are several more natural disasters occurring, such as flooding and extreme temperatures, which causes death, destruction, food deprivation and the displacement of people.

The message has been clear for a while now, but people still aren’t taking action. This is usually because they don’t see the impact or they don’t prioritise it due to financial constraints. It’s understandable, but it is a narrow-minded way of looking at things and if they don’t suffer in their lifetime, their offspring will in the future.

You might see yourself as a small cog in the wheel, thinking, “How on Earth can I make a difference?” Even though many major corporations contribute to a significant amount of carbon emissions, changes to processes and technologies in several small to medium-sized businesses can also make a difference in the long-term. Ideally, businesses can rely on renewable energy suppliers, however the biggest change is likely to come from improvements in technology.

Savewise is helping local businesses take advantage of energy-efficient technologies such as LED light bulbs, which reduces the energy consumption and costs for businesses by up to 60%. Since most businesses are connected to an electrical grid network that generates their power by burning fossil fuels, switching to this technology will significantly reduce energy demands, thus lowering the amount of carbon emissions being sent into the atmosphere.

Investing in energy-efficient equipment costs more than traditional lighting, but it is more cost-efficient and eco-friendly over the long-term.

The world is in a race against time and people really need to see the value in adopting a more eco-friendly approach to the environment.