It Starts With Us: How Small Actions Make a Big Difference to the Air We Breathe

Environmental changes often take the form of large-scale solutions, including global initiatives, policies, and major shifts led by industries and corporations. But the most meaningful impacts start close to home. While it may be convenient to swipe and order items online, too much of it can make a great impact. The choices we make every day, what we buy, and where we eat play a role in the world around us, including the air we breathe. 

One of the simplest ways to make a difference is by shopping locally. Choosing locally sourced items and supporting nearby businesses helps reduce the distance products travel before they reach you. This reduction in transportation means fewer emissions in the air.  When an order is placed online, after the company creates the item and prepares it for shipping, it is transported to your front door by planes, trains, and vehicles. 

Long-distance deliveries can generate significant air pollution, with studies finding that a single truck can emit 40 tons of carbon dioxide annually. Large amounts of carbon dioxide added to the atmosphere act as a greenhouse gas, trapping heat and leading directly to global warming and deteriorating air quality. 

The quality of air is deteriorating, creating a risk of rapid respiratory infections, heart attacks, and triggering

asthma. And while the Earth's atmosphere can clean itself by breaking down pollutants, increased air pollution shortens the time it can do so.  What could take weeks to six months can expand over centuries, resulting in increased health problems for all inhabitants, including plants, which are suppressed in photosynthesis and stunted in growth. 

Choosing to shop locally also supports a healthy local economy by investing in smaller businesses. Small businesses are the backbone of communities, providing essential goods for everyday needs. And for college students, this adds a level of convenience to everyday life, eliminating the need to travel far to get exactly what they need. 

It is also important to recognize that sustainability doesn’t require perfection; no one is perfect. It’s about intention, being aware, and making the best choices when you can. As students, we have power in collective action. We can’t do it alone, and taking the step together can influence systems, leading to long-term change.