As the IPCC issues its starkest warning to date about the climate crisis, many people are asking — what can I do about climate change? Perhaps there is more to it than you realize.
The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) has today issued its starkest warning to date about the state of the climate — an unwelcome but necessary reminder that we are in an epoch of converging crises.
Publishing the second part of its latest climate assessment reportThe IPCC warns climate collapse is fast approaching and that many of the effects of global warming are irreversible.
The good news — if you can call it that — is there is still a small window in which we can act to keep warming to 1.5C above pre-industrial levels. But, this window is closing. Even though the temperature is rising, it won’t stop extreme weather events becoming more common and more severe. It would however ensure that Earth is mostly habitable.
Scientists agree that there is no time for complacency. Radical action — the kind we’ve seen from governments during the pandemic — is urgently required. Many politicians still approve fossil fuel projects and are being urged by the public to change their mind and to introduce radical legislation to reduce emissions.
People can do their part to reduce global warming. Here are 14 things you could do to reduce your carbon footprint and hold polluters responsible.
1. Switch to a Green Bank
You don’t even have to get off the sofa for this one. It’s easy to make a big difference by switching to a bank of green.
“A significant amount of finance for the fossil fuel industry actually comes from the banking sector, with many UK household banking names among the worst perpetrators,” explains Adam Scott, corporate partnership manager at Friends of the Earth. “As of September 2019, nearly £150bn had been invested in fossil fuels by UK banks since the Paris agreement.”
Fortunately, upstart financial firms like TriodosEcology Building Society, and others are helping to put the banking industry on a more sustainable path. Rather than using depositors’ money to fund fossil fuel projects, they bankroll green initiatives.
“We’re not going to make significant inroads on issues such as climate change unless we rethink the role of banks in society,” says Bevis Watts, CEO of Triodos UK.
You can make a significant impact by moving your money to sustainable financial companies. Image: Andre Taissin
2. Change your diet
Research suggests that cutting down on meats and dairy is the best thing anyone can do to lower their impact on Earth.
There seems to be a growing interest in plant-based diets. No Meat May is a charity that encourages people not to eat meat in May. It reported that a record number made the pledge in 2021.
Veganuary, a campaign to make January vegan, is a similar effort. They reported a record-breaking uptake in this year’s recruitment and claimed that the surge in interest was partly due to supermarkets, who helped recruit new members with vegan recipes and products on their websites.
“The way British supermarkets have embraced Veganuary this year is truly gamechanging,” says Veganuary’s Toni Vernelli.
Research shows that eating a plant-based diet can have a significant impact on emissions. Image: Ella Olsson
3. Join an environmental group
The old saying is that numbers are stronger than individuals. Consider joining a campaign group to help you lobby policy makers to reduce emissions.
Share Action and other groups are always looking to recruit new members. The responsible investment charity buys shares from companies so its volunteers can attend board meeting and pressure companies inside to adopt green business models.
Power for People is another powerful campaign group. It lobbyizes politicians to speed up the transition to renewable energy and has been successful. some good adviceGet your MP to take climate action seriously.
Or, you could start your own group with friends and neighbors to explore how green initiatives might be better supported in your community.
4. Choose a green energy provider
Another simple, but effective way to reduce your carbon footprint is to switch to green energy providers. One example is Good Energy, which buys 100 renewable power from independent generators and then sells it off to customers.
Ecotricity is another, which invests profits to build new sources of clean electricity. An increasing number of energy companies are also claiming to provide 100 percent green electricity.
Emissions from homes are a major source. Make sure your home is powered by renewable energy. Image by Jimmy Dean
5. Energy wisely
Another way to reduce your carbon footprint is to use energy wisely. “Being a smarter consumer can make an awful lot of difference,” says Matthew Clayton, managing director of Thrive Renewables. “It’s not just how much energy you use, it’s when you use it.”
It is possible to set timers so that appliances run through the night or when there is less demand to make use of solar power. Other ways to conserve electricity include turning off TVs when not in use and turning off the heating when leaving the house. A smart meter can help you monitor your energy consumption.
6. Embrace active travel
According to figures, 60 per cent of journeys between one and two miles long in England are made by motor vehicle. With transport accounting for a third of the UK’s emissions, substantially reducing car use — especially for short journeys — would have a dramatic impact.
Walking and cycling can be good for your body, as well. Take the train for longer distances. Contrary to popular belief, the train is more expensive than driving in the UK. This is something the government needs to address. Consider purchasing a rail card to unlock reduced fares.
Active travel is good not only for the planet but also for you. Nick Page
7. Shut the skies
Aviation is a major obstacle in the race for net zero. Although it accounts for just three per cent of global emissions (pre-pandemic figures), it’s one of the world’s fastest growing sources of emissions. What’s more, the sector is one of the hardest to decarbonise.
Until battery and hydrogen planes bring us the possibility of guilt-free air travel, consider flying less — or not at all. New no-fly companies that make it more attractive to fly overland are helping to ease this decision. Europe’s night trains, meanwhile, are being rebooted amid rising demand for low-carbon travel.
8. Find out what’s going right
There are still reasons to be optimistic amidst all the doom and gloom. Everywhere you turn, renewable energy records have been broken emissions are showing signs of shrinking in some regionsSustainable innovations and cleaner air are bringing many other benefits to society.
It is important to keep up with the good news and be positive. Subscribe to Positive News magazine to receive a quarterly dose uplifting stories and our newsletter to receive a weekly roundup on progressive developments.
Find financial firms that invest only in green energy and not in fossil fuels. Image: Karsten Wurth
9. Buy local, seasonal, and organic.
You don’t need a climate scientist to tell you that seasonal produce, grown locally, and to a high environmental standard is better for the planet than items shipped halfway around the world from companies with murky supply chains.
If you can afford to go organic, it’s a worthwhile investment — organic farms support much more wildlife than those relying on fertilisers and pesticides.
10. Grow your own
Growing your own herbs and vegetables is possible regardless of whether you have windowsills or smallholdings. Not only are the plants beneficial to pollinators that can feed off them, but so is your mental well-being. Sure, cultivating a garden isn’t going to absorb much carbon. But it will help you reconnect with nature, which research suggests is good for our mental health — particularly amid dire news about the climate.
For our mental health, it is beneficial to connect with nature. Filip Urban
11. Buy secondhand
The manufacturing of products is often a carbon-intensive process and takes up precious natural resource. Happily, options abound when it comes to buying ‘pre-loved’ goods. The DepopApp is a very popular marketplace for secondhand fashion. There’s also a burgeoning movement to borrow rather than buy appliances, through initiatives like the Library of Things.
People are realizing the benefits of repairing or refurbishing defective products rather than purchasing new. This area is the forefront of innovation. Restart Project, which allows people to repair electronic items. Then there’s Sojo, dubbed the ‘Deliveroo of clothing repairs’, which allows people to get their clothes altered or fixed in just a few clicks.
12. Choose a sustainable pension fund
“Investing in your pension more sustainably could be 27 times more powerful than going vegan and stopping flying combined,” says Henna Shah from Make My Money Matter, a campaign group that highlights what people’s pensions are funding.
The Resolution Foundation calculates that private pensions are the largest component of household wealth in the UK, totalling over £6.1tr. While a study suggests that 68% of the population wants to invest in companies that place the planet first, it is possible for pension funds to support fossil fuels and even weapons.
“Speak to your employer and your pension provider and say, ‘actually, I want an option where I’m not investing in these things,’” advises Shah.
13. Change insurances
Insurers are the second biggest investors after pension funds, so choosing an ethical insurance company will ensure your money isn’t propping up the fossil fuel sector. NaturesaveFor example, donating profits to environmental projects is a way for GE to campaign for an industry that will stop using fossil fuels.
14. Vote for parties that have strong environmental policies
Elections don’t come around often. When they do, take some time to read the manifestos of all the parties. Examine their environmental record and the policies they support. Vote in the candidate or party you believe has the most credible plan to net zero.
Main image: Sandro Gonzalez
This is an updated version of an article published on 11 August 2021.
