When we think of the holidays, we think of over-the-top light displays, carefully wrapped gifts, and escapes to snowy “winter wonderlands.” However, there is a dark side to these cheerful holiday traditions as our global climate continues to change. The weeks between Thanksgiving and New Year’s Eve see a 25% increase in waste products due to our favorite traditions. Between increased food waste, over 2 million pounds in wrapping paper, and thousands of feet in ribbons, the season’s generosity comes at a cost. Not only is waste a concern, but the changing weather patterns of our global climate make winter weather around the country unpredictable, disappointing, and sometimes even dangerous. While you shouldn’t let these changes undermine the joy of your holidays, it is becoming increasingly important to adopt more sustainable traditions that will allow us to continue seeing snow on the ground and presents under the tree.
The unfortunate reality lying behind the shiny wrapping papers is an unsustainable and non-recyclable accumulation of trash during the holidays. Don’t worry just yet, though; if you’ve picked out the perfect present for mom and don’t want to end up throwing away all the wrapping paper, there are many alternatives. Recyclable and reusable options include newspapers, cloth, and fabric wrap like those used traditionally in Japan are a fantastic way to make your gift a little more special and a little more sustainable. On top of this, don’t be afraid to reuse gift bags, ribbons, wrappers, and other crafty materials when the holidays roll around. If everyone consciously decided to be a little more thoughtful about their gift wrapping, the world could see a lot less wrapping paper end up in the landfill.
While one associates the season with a snowy winter wonderland, that experience may look different in the coming decades as our climate shifts and unpredictable weather patterns change what we can expect. Not only can this mean a decrease in snowy winters, but it can also mean an increase. This might seem counterintuitive to the idea of global warming, however, it is essential to make the distinction between long-term climate change and short-term weather patterns when recognizing changes. In the last decade, for example, the US has seen polar vortexes, “snowmaggedons,” and winter freezes. These events are not limited to the typically cold areas and have occurred in places as far south as Texas. There are two factors that scientists at NOAA and other weather organizations around the country believe may contribute to these massive snowstorms. The first is climate change’s effect on the jet stream, a large air current that moves storms and weather throughout the country that has recently dipped much farther south (think Texas, Oklahoma, and Kansas), thus bringing more snow and freezing temperatures to these states. The other factor would be the opposite: a lack of weather pattern movement, were areas still cold enough for snow receive extremely severe and dangerous blizzards because the snowstorms remain stationary for too long.
In the end, there are a multitude of environmentally unfriendly aspects to the holidays. As our Earth continues to change, we will continue to see differences in the seasons we are accustomed to. Regardless of this, there is a glimmer of hope as NOAA’s recent 2020 data set has shown that North Carolina is more likely to have a white Christmas than in past decades. No matter what happens, we must become conscious of these changes not only during the holidays but all the time. As we look forward to the new year, consider making a resolution to be more environmentally friendly and sustainable but most importantly, enjoy the holidays and whatever weather gets thrown our way!