Top 23 actions against climate change we can take as citizens
Do you know the top and most effective actions you can take to mitigate climate change? Here's an inspiring selection!
Vote and use your vote wisely
Make sure to vote whenever possible and choose candidates that can bring the right changes, or at least not deny climate change.
Put pressure on companies and politics
Writting a letter, sending an email or a tweet are simple ways to let organizations and political parties that you care, and support them (or not), while providing a chance for constructive criticism.
Spread the word and convince others to act
Make sure friends and family are aware of what can be done and achieved. Talking about it matters, since people often trust their peers more than politics or even scientists.
Get involved or support projects and NGO activities
Find a project you care about, or a local movement in your city and get involved! Support can be time or money, and you can make sure to see its impact.
See on rebellion.earth
Support other in their actions
You might know kids, teenagers or adults getting involved with emerging climate movements, friends making a meaningful career change? Support them in their initiatives, and help them achieve more!
See on fridaysforfuture.org
Use public transportation
Maybe one day we'll get clean cars (to produce and to use), until then, public transportation is a great way to reduce the number of active cars on the roads.
Ride your bike to work
If your work can be reached by bike on safe roads, why not make the switch and take that chance to get a little physical exercise?
Commute by car-sharing
If you absolutely need a car to get to work, why not get together with colleagues or neighbors and create a car-pooling schedule.
Unplug unused electrical devices
Not using your microwave, just unplug it. Not in the room, turn of the TV and the lights! Those small habits changed by each one of us can make enormous changes.
Use low-energy light-bulbs
Are you light-bulbs all energy efficient? If note, it's time to replace them with energy-saving LED lights.
Recycle as much as possible
Check for recycling spaces in your neighborhood. Take the habit of separating waste as needed (glass / aluminium / plastics / paper / organic / electronics...)
Reuse things for other pruposes
Instead of throwing away, why no repurpose?
Use solar panels on your roof
Advances in technology, drops in manufacturing costs, and economies of scale have made solar panels available to nearly the entire world.
Shift to plant-rich diets (low-meat), organic whenever possible
Did you know that if cattle were their own nation, they would be the world’s third-largest emitter of greenhouse gases? Shifting away from the Western meat-centric diet can drastically reduce emissions, while proving beneficial for human health.
Reduce food waste
Food waste accounts for 8% of global emissions. It happens all along the food supply chain — from cultivation to storage to consumption. We can play our part by not buying / cooking more than we need.
Buy the right labels
Eco-conscious product labels exists for most products from food to electronics and paper. Choosing the right products as consumer means you push companies that don't respect them to adapt.
Control your house's temperature the right way
Winterize your home to prevent heat from escaping, install a thermostat to regulate heat. In summer try to keep it cool without an air conditioner by leaving hot air out during the day and letting cool air in at night.
Buy from your local community
Food, clothes, gifts - try to prioritize and support the local economy instead of imported goods travelling the world by air mail or international highways or by the sea.
Avoid plastics whenever possible
Almost every plastic is produced from fossil fuels - and in every single phase of its life cycle, plastic emits greenhouse gases. Avoid one-use plastics, stop buying bottled water, and replace with reusable materials!
Shrink your digital footprint
By 2018, the use of digital technologies had overtaken even the aviation industry in terms of CO2 emissions. Video streaming services, emails, search engines use power for servers and communications. Download instead of streaming frequently the same tunes!
Avoid flying whenever possible
Keep flying for long distance travel, and try to think your travel needs wisely. For those few flights you simply can't avoid, you can always offset your emissions with non-profit MyClimate or Atmosfair.
Choose a good bank
Your money is used by your bank, so better choose one that includes sustainable investment plans, promotes transparency and local development. The GABV (Global Alliance for Banking on Values) lists sustainable banks.
See on Member banks of the GABV
(Help) plant more trees or fight deforestation
Scientists at ETH Zurich have shown 2/3 of man-made CO2 emissions could be removed from our atmosphere by planting 900 million hectares of forests worldwide.
