Rural Life Is Not Always Climate Friendly

Here in the hills I often remind myself that choosing a rural life does not automatically make one kinder to the planet. Many people imagine that moving to a village will instantly make them climate friendly. It does not work that way. There are real pitfalls that many are simply not aware of. I also arrived here with a city mindset, but with time I am learning, adapting, and slowly reshaping the way I live here.

Transport is one of the places where rural living can quietly inflate a carbon footprint. Here, I try to slow down. I avoid using my car whenever I can. The maximum I travel is usually a short trip between Bhimtal and Natadol. While visiting my friends and neighbours locally, I prefer to walk. Even while buying groceries, I make a single trip and buy everything at one go. Sometimes, I walk up to a nearby shop and buy those last minute items. Life feels better when traveling/movement stays small and purposeful. The comfort of a car can slowly turn into a habit that leads to unnecessary waste. So I have to intentionally try to live with awareness.

When I must travel longer distances which happens once or twice a year, such as going to Delhi, I prefer the train. And I enjoy that journey !

Food has been another meaningful change. I try to eat what the land around me offers. Locally grown vegetables and fruits feel alive in a way supermarket produce rarely does, and have lower food-miles attached to them. No exotic fruits or vegetables for me and definitely no exotic meats, none of the imported canned or packaged food either. Even when I eat meat, I try to choose thoughtfully. I am trying to shift to smaller free-range birds and locally caught fish, creatures that usually have a lower environmental burden than larger animals like mutton or pork. Food becomes a relationship with soil, water, forests and farmers, not just a transaction. A vegetarian diet has a lower carbon footprint, but I am still not there yet. Agriculture already has a heavy impact on the planet, so it seems foolish to grow vast amounts of food only to feed animals that are later to be eaten by humans. The larger the animal, the larger the footprint.

Heating is another major contributor to emissions, here in the hills. Whether it is wood fired or electric heaters, everything leaves a mark on the climate. So, ignoring a bit of family resistance, I have reduced heating inside the home to almost half compared to last few years. Wearing an extra layer, covering the head with a warm beanie, and keeping feet snug in thick socks is far more earth friendly than heating an entire house just to walk around in summer clothing. Thankfully, some of the family already agrees.

Small choices matter too though not as much as the above. Reducing consumer goods, avoiding unnecessary purchases, and cutting down on plastic help in their own quiet way. Minimalism in daily life keeps clutter and waste in check, and it also makes one more mindful. So, small choices help in setting the mindset. Still, to be clear, the biggest impact comes from how we travel, what we eat, and how we use electricity. And that in a nutshell leads to my new year resolution. I want to further reduce my carbon footprint by around a third over the next year.

Rural life teaches humility. It is easy to romanticise nature and dream of a peaceful village existence. True respect lies in living lightly upon the land. I do not claim perfection. I only try to do better each day. I listen to my surroundings. To the hills. To the wind. To the quiet wisdom of trees. And slowly, with patience, I hope to shape a life that gives back a little more than it takes.

Signing off on 31 December 2025, with a smile and a firm resolution to tread more gently on this beautiful planet.

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