Date: October 24
Save energy at home
Much of our electricity and heating is powered by coal, oil, and gas. Use less energy by reducing heating and air conditioning, switching to LED light bulbs and energy efficient appliances, washing clothes in cold water, or hanging wet clothes instead of using the dryer. Improving the energy efficiency of your home through, for example, better insulation or replacing your oil or gas furnace with an electric heat pump, can reduce your carbon footprint by up to 900 kilograms of CO2(equivalent) per year.
Drive less, Get around on foot, by bike or by public transport
The world’s roads are saturated with vehicles, most of which use diesel or gasoline. Walking or cycling, instead of driving, reduces greenhouse gas emissions and is beneficial to health and fitness. For longer distances, consider traveling by train or bus. And carpool whenever possible. Living without a car can reduce your carbon footprint by up to 2 tons of CO2 (equivalent) per year compared to a car-based lifestyle. Switching from a mixed diet to a vegetarian one can reduce your carbon footprint by up to 500 kilograms of CO2 (equivalent) per year (or up to 900 kilograms if it’s a vegan diet).
Eat vegetable products
Eating more vegetables, fruits, whole grains, legumes, nuts and seeds, and less meat and dairy products, can significantly reduce your environmental impact. Plant-based food production typically generates fewer greenhouse gas emissions and requires less energy, land, and water. Switching from a mixed diet to a vegetarian one can reduce your carbon footprint by up to 500 kilograms of CO2 (equivalent) per year (or up to 900 kilograms if it’s a vegan diet).
Consider your commute
Airplanes use large amounts of fossil fuels, and produce significant greenhouse gas emissions. This makes flying less one of the fastest ways to reduce your environmental impact. When possible, meet virtually, travel by train, or skip a long-distance trip if you don’t have to. Taking one less long-haul flight can reduce your carbon footprint by up to almost 2 tons of CO2(equivalent).
Throw away less food
When you throw away food, you also waste the resources and energy that went into growing, producing, packaging, and transporting it. And when food rots in a landfill, it produces methane, a potent greenhouse gas. So, use what you buy and compost the leftovers. Reducing food waste can reduce your carbon footprint by up to 300 kilograms of CO2(equivalent) per year.
Consume less, reuse, repair and recycle
The electronics, clothing and other items we buy generate carbon emissions at every link in the production chain, from extracting raw materials to manufacturing and transporting products to market. To protect our climate, buy less, buy second-hand, repair what you can, and recycle. Each kilogram of fabric produced generates approximately 17 kilograms of CO2 (equivalent). Buying fewer new clothes (and other consumer goods) can reduce your carbon footprint, as well as waste.
Change the type of energy in your home
Ask your electric company if the energy in your home comes from oil, coal or gas. If possible, check if you can switch to renewable sources, such as wind or solar. Or install solar panels on your roof to generate energy for your home. Switching your home’s power from oil, gas or coal to renewable sources of energy, such as wind or solar, can reduce your carbon footprint by up to 1.5 tons of CO2 (equivalent) per year.
Switch to an electric vehicle
If you plan to buy a car, consider the possibility of purchasing an electric model, since more and more models are being marketed at a lower price. In many countries, electric cars help reduce air pollution and cause fewer greenhouse gas emissions than gas or diesel vehicles. However, many electric cars are still running on fossil fuels, and batteries and motors require rare minerals that generally come at a high environmental and social cost. Switching from a petrol or diesel car to an electric one can reduce your carbon footprint by up to 2 tons of CO2 (equivalent) per year, while a hybrid vehicle can save you up to 700 kilograms of CO2 (equivalent) per year
Choose organic products
Everything we spend money affects the planet. You have the power to choose the goods and services you want to support. To reduce your environmental impact, choose products from companies that use resources responsibly and are committed to reducing their gas emissions and waste. If you have money that is invested for you, for example through a pension fund, you may be supporting fossil fuels or deforestation. Ensuring that your savings are invested in environmentally sustainable businesses can greatly reduce your carbon footprint.
Express your opinion
Express your opinion and get others to join the change. It is one of the fastest and most effective ways to make a difference. Talk to your neighbors, colleagues, friends and family. Let business owners know that you support courageous change. Call on local and global leaders to act now. Climate action is everyone’s task and concerns us all. No one can do it alone, but we can all do it together.
Source: United Nations
