Do you ever wonder where to start when it comes to fighting climate change? It is a pressing subject, but often, all the news can be so overwhelming that people don’t know what actions are within reach.

‍

Here are 17 straightforward steps that will help reduce the impacts of climate change:

‍

‍Educate yourself: How best do you take in information? Reading articles, listening to podcasts, watching documentaries? Whatever it is that works for you, keep doing it. It’s important to do this as it enlightens you on effective ways to act against climate change.

‍

Educate others: This is where you have to be an advocate for climate action and an encourager of the people. Many people just seek guidance on how to take the first steps. If you have tools or material that has been useful, please share them. Count Us In noted that if 1 billion people decided to act now, we could reduce global emissions by 20%. We are powerful when we work together.

‍

Policy Change Matters: We have to apply pressure to see legislative change. Believe it or not, petitions & letters can make all the difference. Join local communities and work with them to stress the importance of political change.

‍

Review how you travel: Did you know that transport accounts for up to one-quarter of global emissions! Yes, one quarter. What does this mean? We need to completely shake up the transport industry and seek more sustainable alternatives. In the meantime, we can get ahead of it all by walking where we can, Switching to an electric car if possible and reducing the number of flights taken.

‍

How you power up matters: Thankfully, there are several incredible renewable energy & zero carbon energy providers, so this is your cue to research this. You will probably be shocked by how much you can save. The next thing is to become conscious of your energy consumption & switch off appliances when you’re not using them.

One great hack is to insulate your roof or loft! Believe us, your home will be warmer in the winter months and much cooler in the summer - who doesn’t love saving money.

‍

Balance out your diet: Have you seen how many incredible fruits & veg there are out there! We aren’t just saying this, we need all the vitamins and natural goodness we can get, and by adjusting your diet, you can help the planet and feel better inside. Sadly, meat consumption is through the roof, and the demand is negatively impacting the planet as over 60% of agricultural land is used for livestock grazing. We aren’t telling you what to eat or to become vegan (we know it’s all a process), but we do encourage you to try adopting a more plant-rich diet.

‍

Stick to seasonal food: This is a perfect way to cut down your carbon footprint! By opting for seasonal food, you help cut down on the emissions associated with things like the transportation of goods. When you choose sustainable agriculture, you support a system with 56% less energy consumption & 64% fewer carbon emissions.

‍

Shop local: Have you ever gone way out of your area to buy food or ordered from somewhere completely out of the way? Unless you literally live in the middle of nowhere, we want to encourage you to go somewhere local. You don't only support a local business, but you keep that carbon footprint low.

‍

Grow your own: This follows on from the advice above about food. To be even more sustainable, you could look into growing your own fruit, veg & herbs! If you have a garden, then perfect! If not, you can explore getting a patch at an allotment or joining a community garden.

‍

Waste not: Did you know one-third of all food is wasted?! Sadly, over 1 billion tonnes of food is disposed of annually, contributing to around 10% of Greenhouse Gas Emissions. This may sound funny, but it may be time to call up an older relative like a grandmother or great uncle to ask how they managed food all these years ago. It’s time to become more measured. Try to cook what you’ll eat and freeze the rest.

‍

Compost: This is a great fertiliser for your garden/green space! If you have any inedible food left over, use it to make compost. It’s great for the environment.

‍

Slow down on fashion: We owe 10% of our global emissions to the fashion industry. This new ‘throwaway culture’ has people shopping for clothes when they don’t need them or even buying things to wear once and never again. The sad thing is the quality is decreasing as the demand increases, and the landfills are full of them.  Try not to buy what’s in ‘season’- instead, think of clothes as things that should last and be wearable most times of the year. If you have something special coming up, you can use rental services or even borrow from friends. We have to redefine our relationship with clothes.

‍

Find out your carbon footprint: Do you have a good low down of what your emissions consist of? If not, this is the time to download Yayzy so you can get insight that may change your life forever. It’s always useful knowing which purchases have the higher footprints and then adjust based on facts.

‍

Bank green: The financial institutions you put your money and savings into matter because many of them invest your money in carbon polluting industries. Your money is one of your most powerful tools, and by being selective about where you put it, you send a message out that ethical investments matter to you.

‍

Be mindful when on holidays: There has been a decline in healthy coral reefs; these are an essential part of our ecosystem that deserves protection. There are millions of people worldwide that need coral reefs for food, recreation, culture and protection! We must help preserve them. How can you save them? Slip any toiletries or sunscreens that contain damaging chemicals like oxybenzone, and go for vegan options. Also, avoid taking any single-use plastic with you as they usually blow away and go straight into the sea.

‍

Ditch buying things for the sake of it: it’s time to think green when making purchases. It’s so important to ask yourself whether you actually need it. All the advice given for slow fashion applies to appliances & other stuff.

‍

‍Be realistic: there isn’t any point in starting all guns blazing as it may fizzle out! The important thing to do is assess where you are and make small manageable changes over time. Remember, don’t just stop at one or two steps; keep positively challenging yourself and get your family involved too to make it easier.