Climate change is happening all around us. We see in the news but don’t want to admit to it. We like to be concerned about it but feel helpless about – what would an action of an individual matter to help planet face this crisis?
2020 was hottest year on record and last seven years have been the warmest seven years ever. Global warming is not just a theory anymore, we are living it. And if nothing is done than sadly it’s only going to get worst.
But instead of talking about problems, let’s discuss solutions. Here are 7 key areas we can look to fight Climate Change together. Each one has steps, easy everyday things you can try to help tackle Climate Crisis.
Check out facts behind each step by clicking on individual item to find out more details.
1. Transport
Walking and cycling emits no greenhouse gases, reduces noise pollutions and congestion.
Walking or cycling to nearby places not only saves you money but also improve your health both physical and mental.
Electric car are much better than normal Petrol or Diesel ICE cars as they emit no Co2 where people reside. Taking everything in account, from production to energy it uses over years an EV generates 28 metric tonnes of C02 whereas ICE cars generate 57 metric tonnes.
Electric Cars are not the complete solution to Climate Crisis but they surely help. What is really needed for Climate Change is whole transportation system overhaul from Public Transport, shipping vehicles including Trucks, Vans and Ships etc.
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Public transport moves people efficiently while producing significantly less air pollution compared to moving a single person in car. Buses emit 20% carbon monoxide per passenger mile as a single-occupant car.
If number of passenger traveling is less than the seats in a car than public transport makes perfect sense. You get time for your own to read, listen to music or just see places go by out of window.
Research shows flying in plane journeys is more polluting than travelling through normal fuel car (compared to 2 passengers in car). And if you substitute it with electric car or train than pollution is negligent.
Its estimated that a typical flight from London to Madrid emits 118 kg of CO2 in atmosphere and 147kg of non-CO2 emissions. Compare that to an Train emmits 43kg CO2. [1]
Future of transportation may mean not owning a car at all, at least in cities to begin with. Autonomous robo taxis will arrive sooner than we think. See upcoming California trialled Zoox.
Try Carpooling or Ride-sharing schemes are flourishing in cities some facilitating electric bike, scooters and in UK there is even an electric car-sharing company called Zipcar.
2. Energy
Don’t try to fight with temperature. Wear layers according to weather and try to adjust with local climate. Insulate house if in cold region. And in hot places open windows and door to allow ventilation to use less air conditioner.
Dier state of old infrastructure in old building and many offices where there are radiator to heat and air conditioner to cool. In Spring and Autumn seasons both can be working at same time. These can be updated with single HVAC (Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning) system.
Solar panels generating clean electricity. Generating your own renewable energy for your heating, hot water and electrical supply saves carbon and can also feed back into the grid.
And if you have sufficient outside space, you can look at installing mini wind turbine or just more solar panels if land is not suitable for agriculture use.
There are increasing number of 100% renewable energy providers startups like Octopus Energy in UK and many others around the world. And they are most likely be cheaper than traditional ones which used Coal power plant.
In next decade most energy companies will have to transition to 100% renewable energy providers. As it becomes evident that traditional methods of burning coal to generate energy is becoming more expensive and unsustainable.
Latest LEDs bulbs are the most efficient light bulbs on the market. They use up to 85 percent less energy and lasts 10 to 50 times than traditional incandescent bulbs, the ones with a thin wire filament inside
Old refrigerators, washing machine, vacuum cleaner or computer can suck considerable about of electricity than the latest energy efficient ones. Dry clothes on airing instead of a tumble dryer which can raise electricity bill.
3. Food
Around one third of the food produced in the world for human consumption, or about 1.3 billion tonnes of food, is wasted. Food thrown away ends up in landfill which releases methane gas, speeding up the impact of climate change.
Throwing less away makes economic as well as environmental sense. Don’t overbuy food that can expire before consuming. Make shopping list for recipe planning. Before buying starve-up your pantry and freezer until all items are cleared off.
Research released in 2018 about the damage done by farming revealed meat and dairy uses 83% of farmland and produces 60% of agriculture’s greenhouse gas emissions.
Reduce eating meat especially red meat which has the largest environmental impact. Try plant-based meat alternatives and switch to non-dairy alternatives where possible.
Food that’s grown locally and in season, will travel fewer ‘food miles’ before it makes it to your plate. Check the label for country of origin. And can try to grow simple veg or fruits from throw away seeds. For e.g. tomato, apple and all kinds of leafy and herbs can easily be grown in backyard or communal gardens.
4. Water
Every minute under shower equates to 9 liters of water and average person shower last around 8 mins. Cutting back your shower time by just a minute could save near to 15,000 liters of water an year.
Spending one minute less in the shower each day could save £11 off annual water and sewerage bills. If a household of four did this, it would be a total saving of £75 a year.
Some water saving shower-heads claim saving 30% water.
If you live in region that gets regular rain than fitting a rain harvesting system makes perfect sense. Even a DIY fitting a tak to existing roof gutter can give to even to water entire garden.
For each square metre of area, on average we can collect about 1,000 litres of water per year. A house of 200 square metres area of roof has potential of conserving 200,000 litres of water every year.
It estimated that using a dishwasher could reduce greenhouse gas emissions from washing up by 72% compared to doing them by hand. Every modern dishwasher and washing machine has a special energy-efficiency setting that can save up to 20% of energy by using less power to heat the water.
Consider using cold cycle opposed to setting up at high temperature at all times. Wait until your dishwasher is full before putting it on. Washing a half load of dishes simply wastes half the energy produced by your dishwasher.
5. Waste
This goes back more to self-control not just to save money but also the whole cycle of product being manufactured, packaged, transported, brought by customer either in shop or delivered both consume more transport resources.
And if the product is not good enough and customer returns it, the real expense is often not free and costs item to go back to reverse the cycle or goes in landfill. Hence the easiest option is if we buy only the essentials.
Some items dont even need packaging. Like hard vegetables and fruits for e.g. Apples, Potatoes etc. Its just done for store’s convenience to scan a barcode. But most store have sell same as loose items you can buy instead.
Each form of packaging uses a lot of resources like energy, water, chemicals, petroleum, minerals, wood and fibers to produce. Its manufacture generates emissions including greenhouse gases, heavy metals and particulates, as well as wastewater and/or sludge containing toxic contaminants.
The energy used in making that product will almost certainly have caused some carbon emissions. And depending on the product, the process of manufacture can also cause damaging carbon impacts.
One way of reducing emissions from products of all types within the home is to reduce the amount you consume, re-use wherever possible and recycle when you no longer need something.
Try Upcycling old products into recycle projects. And even if it doesnt work out the way you wanted atleast you had fun in the process at negligent expense.
Rather than purchasing craft stuff from shop, look around for bottle caps, corks, loo rolls, waste cardboard all designated to bin. Can be enjoyed in building something fun atleast with kids.
6. Trees
Planting trees in your back garden may sound good idea to fight climate change but according to a 2007 study, the best place to plant new trees is the tropics, where trees grow fastest and thus trap the most CO2. [2]
In contrast, planting trees in snowy regions near the poles is likely to cause a net warming, while planting them in temperate climates – like that of the UK, much of Europe and parts of the US – may have no net effect on climate.
Forest and green spaces take time to grow an ecosystem, which cannot be substituted to planting same number of trees elsewhere to make it as development strategy.
Hence its important to respect existing forest, protect their boundaries and save their exploitation by development projects. Planting more trees in deforested areas and soil erosion makes more critical.
Buy wood stubitute or wood sourced from sustainably managed forests is considered sustainable. It is renewable because the forest is constantly monitored to ensure damage to the ecosystem and wildlife is prevented, both over the long and short term.
7. Support
Vote for climate-conscious representatives in every election and urge them to commit to setting science-based targets to reduce emissions, implement clear-eyed plans for addressing climate change, and shift to a clean-energy economy.
Be as ecological as possible whilst having fun. Adapt a suitable lifestyle that helps fight climate change rather than impact it. Share your ideas and thoughts with others. Let others get influenced by your ideas, thoughts or lifestyle.
Aim to be as “Climate Neutral or Climate Negative” meaning that carbon emissions are caused by individual are equal or balanced out elsewhere by either investing in renewables or companies that help do it.
Doing your bit for the planet is all good. But one thing that works the most it to discuss such Climate Change Solutions with someone else. Like your family, friends and colleagues. Teach your kids about Climate Change before it becomes Climate crisis.
8. Bonus (optional)
The continuous cycle of buying stuff is not healthy for anyone. Sell stuff you don’t need and earn money. Or give things to those in need. Stop that Amazon Prime subscription for earth sake! You can do without next-day delivery – and it’s mostly free. Will give your twitchy shopping thumbs some rest. LOL
Donate to non-profit organisations who support the cause like saving forest or wildlife. If you don’t want to do none of that but still want to see your money grow then put it in companies that do it. Invest in Stocks and ETF that support future in renewable Clean Energy revolution.
Revolution Electrified's Thoughts
If you practice already some of these actions, you will feel much more happy and content that you are doing your part to help mother nature recover. Surprising thing is, doing all these not only saves the planet but your wallet too.
But doing your own bit to save the planet is easy! Convincing others to join is hard. We can’t fight Climate Change in singularity. In order to survive Climate Crisis we have to work together on these solutions and share ideas.
If you managed to read through all above, then thank you very much! You do really care about our planet. But wouldn’t it be great, if you could take this knowledge and share it with people around you. And if you find this article useful please share it with everyone you know.
Most importantly what really works is, opening that conversation and having a discussion to solve Climate Change. Discussing about solutions rather than problems and spreading the idea of responsibility towards our planet is the only way we together can avoid this Climate Crisis.
Hint – There is a Climate Crisis Clock ticking at bottom of this webpage.
