Words by Smiley Team
In 2018 the UN warned we had just 12 years to avoid the worst of the climate crisis so we have just under 10 years now. But the good news is that there’s plenty you can do to help protect the planet. To drive the radical changes we need in this crucial period in human history, here are our top suggestions for positive actions you can take as an individual.
As climate scientist Michael Mann has explained, the climate crisis is a systemic problem. This means it is much broader than something individuals alone can change and the emphasis on lifestyle changes is secondary in importance to the impact we can have en masse. If you’re not working in politics or for a highly influential company, the best way you can drive positive change on a larger scale is to join the environmental movement. In the UK this includes Campaign Against Climate Change and Extinction Rebellion among many other groups.
Although it’s a deeply personal choice, having fewer children is the most effective way to reduce your carbon footprint as an individual, taking 58.6 tonnes of CO2 from the atmosphere each year.
While we humans drive the climate crisis by emitting CO2 into the air, plants and trees are busily soaking it back up again. So campaigning to protect our ancient woodlands or planting new trees, are two ways you can help keep carbon in the ground. It’s best though to sustain existing forests because the natural dispersal of seeds from larger trees is more effective at replenishing biodiversity than human-led planting.
Having one less child dwarfs the second most impactful action you can take as an individual, to live car-free, which would only reduce your carbon emissions by 2.4 tonnes a year. However, it is a necessary step to protecting the planet and so something we should all consider.
Third on the list of most effective steps you can take as an individual, taking fewer flights can significantly reduce your carbon footprint. But avoiding one two-way transatlantic flight a year, you can reduce your CO2 emissions by 1.6 tonnes on average. So take the opportunity to explore your home country for a guilt-free holiday post-lockdown.
Reducing your carbon footprint by an average of 1.47 tonnes a year, a switch to green energy is another positive contribution you can make to averting the climate crisis. To help you make this change, The Green Energy Foundation supports communities and businesses to become more sustainable.
Eating a plant-based diet can reduce your carbon emissions by 0.82 tonnes a year. There are plenty of healthy, balanced recipes available. You can find advice on the British Nutrition Foundation’s website and the BBC is one source of tasty vegan and vegetarian recipes.
Minimalism is said to make you happier, as well as having a positive impact on the environment. There is only a small element of truth to this, but studies suggest that experiences trump material possessions at bringing us joy. Most importantly though, by buying fewer things, you can reduce the devastating toll of consumerism on the planet.
Being a good citizen and doing your recycling is a basic step you can take, and something we are all taught in school these days. But the process of recycling does require a lot of energy in itself. Going zero waste is more effective at chipping into the 3.5 million tonnes of plastic and other solid waste the world generates every day.
Lastly, a small and very easy step you can take is to share information about the climate crisis, make sure everyone knows about it. From posting this article on social media to having a chat with friends, there’s a multitude of options for you to keep the momentum going and inspire others.
