For Canadians, snow is a significant part of our culture and identity. Whether you ski, snowboard, play hockey, figure skate, build snowmen, go ice fishing or live in an igloo, without snow these activities wouldn’t exist. With the holiday season now in full swing, we wait with anticipation for our winter wonderland to show up. But what if one day, it didn’t?

Here in the Canadian alpine, areas like the southern Rocky Mountains have experienced nearly three times the global average increase in temperature. Scientists are predicting average global temperatures will rise 1.4°C to 5.8°C over the next century; two to 10 times what it has already (David Suzuki Foundation). As more snow and ice melt in the mountains, less sunlight is reflected back into space; where there was once snow to reflect off of, now there is uncovered ground and rock, absorbing more heat and melting more snow!

Here’s what you can do to reduce your impact on the environment this holiday season:

Buy fewer gifts. Instead of breaking the bank to buy something for everyone in your family, have your relatives all buy for one person each. This way you get to spend a little more and everyone gets one really great gift rather than a bunch of stuff they didn’t really want.

Give the gift of your time. Give your friend free skiing lessons or a weekend to help paint their living room – not only will they love the help but you will be spending time together in the process!

Buy earth-friendly, ethical gifts. If they have to have stuff look for products made from recycled or renewable materials, are fair trade and toxin-free. Pick items that will stand the test of time – quality over quantity.

Give the gift of an experience. A massage, dinner gift certificate or yoga membership are all great ways to show someone you care without the extra waste and will create good memories at the same time.

Give the gift of choice. Some people find gift certificates unsentimental but if you pair them with a homemade card and a thoughtful message you’ll be sure to get your gushy feelings across. This way your friend or relative can be sure to get what they want.

For the person who has everything? Share the love by donating to a cause they care about in their name. The world will thank you.

Wrap with care. Get creative with your gift wrapping this year and ditch the wrapping paper. If you must (yeah, we know it’s pretty), make sure it’s made from post-consumer recycled paper and recycle it after its use. Better yet, use re-usable gift bags (still pretty, but you can use them year after year, consuming less energy than recycling all that paper).

Even better, hunt around your house for these options:

  • The comic section of the newspaper or funky magazine pages
  • Old maps or concert posters
  • Scarves, bandannas, decorative hand towels or scraps of fabric. Check out the illustrated guide to wrapping items in a furoshiki, a Japanese method of carrying items in a tied square cloth.  http://www.env.go.jp/en/focus/attach/060403-5.html
  • Children’s artwork
  • Shoe boxes wrapped in gift wrap or fabric (wrap the box and lid separately and you can re-use the box year after year!)
  • You can also make the wrapping part of your gift such as a bamboo bowl, weaved basket, or cloth shopping bag.

“Christmas is not as much about opening our presents as opening our hearts.” ~ Janice Maeditere