Living sustainably for a week is not for the weak: Here's how I got on

Can one person really make a difference when it comes to tackling climate change? I certainly hope so.

Current consumption habits mean that humanity uses the equivalent resources of 1.6 planet Earths, according to the UN. This means the need to live more sustainably has never been more important.

The UAE aims to become one of the first net-zero countries by 2050, making sustainability part of lifestyle across sectors such as transport, power, waste and agriculture. An element of sacrifice, or at least adaptability, is to be expected with such an ambitious policy, so I decided to spend a week living more sustainably and recorded my experiences to see how big a difference it made to my daily life.

Spoiler alert: it was adventurous, interesting and fun, but it was not easy.

Food never belongs in the bin

Growing up, throwing away food was almost considered a crime in my family home. My dad would never allow us to get up from the dining table unless our plates were cleared. “Not a single grain of rice should be left,” he used to say.

Today, I find myself telling those around me to box up their leftovers instead of throwing it away. I felt vindicated by this when Amruta Kshemkalyani, managing director of AK Sustainability Advisory and Sustainability Tribe, told me that tackling food waste is a serious issue.

“If you're wasting food, cooked or uncooked, all of the organic material you're throwing away is straight greenhouse gas emissions,” Ms Kshemkalyani said. This is because, once food is discarded, it will decompose and emit methane. According to the UN, globally, food waste accounts for up to ten percent of greenhouse gas emissions.

One way of cutting down, Ms Kshemkalyani explained, is by shopping more intelligently and avoiding buying food that perishes quickly. She also suggested positioning your food in your fridge so it is all at the front and visible so you never forget what you have in stock. The hard part, Ms Kshemkalyani said, is cooking just enough to avoid any waste.

This week, I tried not to order out as much, and instead cooked coconut chicken curry and pasta Bolognese while keeping on top of portion sizes. With this approach, I had enough food for two days without leaving any as waste.

Another way to prevent food waste when eating out is to take away leftovers. This week, I went to an Indian restaurant with some colleagues and there was still food remaining after our meal. I brought out my reusable container and, without batting an eyelid, a server helped me package the leftover food.

Similarly, as a coffee drinker, I took my own cup to my local coffee shop, which they encouraged. This prevented my contribution of seven plastic cups into landfill within the week. It may not seem like much, but these small changes produce an accumulative effect that can reduce some of our wasteful habits.

Change your travel options

Eighty-three percent of UAE residents depend on their cars for transport, as revealed in a survey conducted by Road Safety UAE in October 2020. About 54 percent of those people make four or more trips a day.

This week, I explored the different ways I could travel to work. Options included my car, the bus, a taxi or carpooling with colleagues.

Driving to work was by far the most convenient option. I live near my office and it usually takes me no longer than 10 minutes to get to work. When catching the bus and walking in, this journey time extended to about an hour. That said, catching the bus or carpooling are far better options for the environment.

Using public transport should become more appealing in the UAE, as there is significant investment in this sector. The two best examples are Dubai's Metro service and the national Etihad Rail project. Etihad Rail spans all seven emirates, extending to Saudi Arabia and Oman. Currently, freight trains are operational, while the passenger train is expected to be launched by 2030.

Walking or cycling are ways to not only decrease, but erase your carbon footprint. "You can either go to your nearest supermarket walking or by bicycle and have zero carbon footprint ,or go in your car and spend 20kg from carbon dioxide emissions," said Dr Fadi Alfaris, chief executive of SEE Environment Holding. "So this is just a way of thinking, and this is what carbon footprint means for a person and his contribution to the world."

Similarly, electric vehicles are more sustainable than petrol cars. Making this switch, according to the UN, can reduce your carbon footprint by an average of two tonnes a year.

'Be a user, not a consumer'

Buying clothes is my weakness. I find pleasure in exploring different styles and pieces, and with that comes the occasional impulsive purchase. This week, I explored more sustainable options by visiting second-hand shops and learnt a few things in the process:

1. Resisting the urge to buy something you do not need only feels difficult in the moment. Practise walking away.
2. Shopping locally is better for your health and your pocket.
3. Saving something from going to a landfill by giving it a new life is indeed rewarding.

Ms Kshemkalyani explained that "training yourself to be a user rather than a consumer" is a way to better yourself and be more sustainable. The first step is to assess your needs and wants. Your needs are non-negotiable, and are fewer than your wants. The second step is saying no to things you do not need.

Similarly, Dr Sandra Knuteson, sustainability professor at the American University of Sharjah, encourages contemplation before indulging in impulsive buys. "A lot of it is not buying it unless you really need it," she said. "Can you do something in a way with the things that you already have?"

The UN reports that the production of clothing in the past 15 years has doubled and a garment is worn 36 per cent less on average before being discarded for landfill.

"Buying new? That's not going to be the sustainable choice but that's what most of us want to do," Dr Knuteson said. "Buying used and reusing other people's junk, that's the more sustainable choice."

My conclusions

The most important thing I learnt this week is that small changes can yield huge results. Ms Kshemkalyani, Dr Knuteson and Dr Alfaris all agreed that one person can truly make a difference, and so do I.

With simple actions such as being mindful of energy and water use, opting for public transport and being more intelligent with food waste, you can create a positive effect on your health, finances and the world you live in.

So, to answer my earlier question: Yes, one person really can make a difference.