Personal Actions

What can WE do ourselves to help reduce the effects of climate change

The aim is to lower the amount of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. They are produced by burning fossil fuels, particularly carbon (co2), methane and natural gas. It is the long-term build-up of these gases that is causing the earth to heat up. This then affects the whole climate, causing wildfires, hurricanes, flooding, tsunamis which in turn lead to islands sinking into the sea, destruction of infrastructure including whole towns, mass migration of animals, insects and people, and to extinction of species. It has been said that the biggest threat to the earth is thinking that someone else will save it.

•  Switch to an energy supplier that buys and supplies 100% renewable electricity, like Ecotricity and Octopus.

• Is your Bank/Building Society aligned with your ethics? Bank Green

• Subscribe to the Ethical Consumer on-line.  https://www.ethicalconsumer.org/ethical-consumer-magazine They have done much of the legwork, making it easier for you to find ethical energy suppliers, ethical banks, ethical supermarkets, ethical tea/coffee/cleaning products, and much more. 

• Write to your M.P. to press the government to move away from fossil fuels: coal, petrol, oil, natural gas. These are major causes of global warming. (Methane gas is also used in fracking). https://members.parliament.uk 

• Also ask your MP (and candidates in any future election) to support the Climate and Ecological Emergency Bill https://www.zerohour.uk/

• Vote for a Party that will do the most to combat climate breakdown.

• The ongoing production and consumption of ‘things’ is said to be the biggest underlying problem. This is particularly true in the western materialistic world where we have all been conditioned that having more/bigger/better things is a sign of success. So we can try to live with less, and be successful at saving the planet.

• Eat less meat, cheese, butter & milk. According to the United Nations Food & Agriculture Organisation farm animals are responsible for 14.5% of global greenhouse gas emissions (through burping and farting)!

• Become a vegan.

• Join, support, sign petitions, and donate to climate change organisations and/or invest in them. Friends of the Earth, Greenpeace. See (The Climate Coalition) for a fuller list.

• Invest in renewable energy companies. There are many small ones using energy from wind and sun

• Check out the circular economy at https://climatepromise.undp.org/news-and-stories/what-is-circular-economy-and-how-it-helps-fight-climate-change

• Write to the embassies of the most polluting countries for greenhouse gases. (China, USA, India, Russia, Japan).

• We can put pressure on county and local councils to increase and improve electric car charging points then convert to electric vehicles ourselves.

• Walk, cycle or travel by bus or train when possible, this would cause less vehicles to be on the road giving out CO2 (carbon) emissions. Practise lift sharing when possible.

• Limit travel by plane as this form of travel is said to cause an average 6% of the CO2 gas in the air. If you must fly look into how you can offset your emissions.

• Save water because increased heat will evaporate it. Collect water in a water butt, and/or water plants with bath/shower water. Don’t flush the loo every time you pee.

• Write to your local council or to the Dept. for the Environment asking them to discourage unsustainable agricultural practices. http://www.globalplanofaction.org/unsustainable.html

• Buy locally produced food. Throw less away.

• Encourage your council to not cut down trees, but to plant more of them, or plant them yourself if you have the room. Loss of the world’s forests is said to be the main culprit in greenhouse gases entering the atmosphere, because green plants absorb CO2.

•  Use a washing line instead of a tumble drier to save energy.

• Do non white washing at 30 degrees

• Support the idea of wind turbines. Wind is proving to be possibly the most successful of alternative energy resources.

• If you can afford to – install solar panels on your roof as a source of energy capture. If you capture enough, you can sell it to the grid. And insulate your house indoors via a loft insulation.

• Spread the word about all of this via social media sites or even by word of mouth.

• Again, if you can afford to, change your gas boiler to heat pumps (possibly via the government’s Domestic Renewable Heat Incentive Scheme)

• Pressure your pension provider to stop investing in fossil fuels

• Go on climate protests (ensuring the intention is non-violent protest).

• Use recycled toilet rolls and kitchen rolls

• Use compost that doesn’t contain peat. (Peat is extremely useful cos it stores carbon and holds lots of water so helps to prevent floods).

• Remember what the earth does for us: It gives us food, water + air. You might want to give gratitude and say “I Love You Earth”.

• Write to your local council about getting more electric vehicle charge points in your area. On behalf of those who can’t fit one in their own garden/driveway.

•  Stop buying products from Companies that are linked to fossil fuels or fossil fuel investments.

This list is only a small proportion of changes people can make. Ask Google what else you can do to help fight the climate crisis.