PRACTICAL ACTIONs

So, what should I actually do?

In this section, we will have a look at the global factors that led us to the current situation we find ourselves in. To start, there a couple of great resources that are worth sharing. The United Nations Environment Program, which suggests climate actions in 16 broad categories and links to the friendly looking Count Us In program which helps to simplify and quantify actions.

Project Drawdown summarizes an impressive amount of research and includes a number of initiatives including a table of solutions. Invaluable in policy making and higher level strategies.

This 2017 study ranked 148 individual actions and came away with four recommendations of reducing GHG emissions at a personal level, namely: having one fewer child, living car-free, avoiding airplane travel, and eating a plant-based diet. The UN published their top 8 individual actions in 2021 on Earth Day! Our very own Canadian government published their own helpful list, as well.

My personal thoughts and recommended actions are:

1. Connect the dots. Try to be really conscious that action and choices of over 8 billion individuals have and will continue to have a huge impact on the planet. There is always a better choice and a worse choice and try to identify these in your daily lives and routines.

2. Be happy with less. We tend to connect consumption with happiness. Let's be happy with the free things we already have, break the cycle of buying and using. This is a mindset change.

3. Transportation. How we move about for work, day to day living and for fun has a huge impact, around about 20% of our global emissions. However, we have choices and many, if not most of them are win-win scenarios.

Fly when if you absolutely have to but make this a special, once every couple of years treat, not a regular essential. You will save money, spend less time at airports and traveling, be less likely to get sick and discover new places closer to home.
Ditching the car and walking or biking will be quicker in many city journeys, give you free exercise and help you appreciate where you live. This helps with stress.When you do drive, perhaps try and bundle a few different chores and activities together, so save time, money and reduce emissions. Consider car sharing. Switch to an electric car as soon as you can, they are greener, cheaper to run and just better !

4. Money talks. This is one of UNFCC's recommendations and I like it as there is very little effort involved and it can make a big impact.

Do you know what your bank is doing about climate change? Have you asked? Have you told them that it is important to you.
When making purchases where you have a choice, particularly large and/or long term choices, go ahead and ask those awkward questions or do your research from published commitments. For regular purchases, this only requires looking into once. One of my personal favorite clothing brands is Patagonia, who make long lasting high quality clothing and aim to make a positive impact.

5. Green power. If you do own a home, solar panels on the roof can cost a small fraction of the cost of the house. They are silent, almost entirely maintenance free, can often benefit from local subsidies and will save you money each month. The cost could be added to a mortgage and be a relatively tiny increase. If you do not own your home, you can switch to a green power supplier.

6. Think about what you eat. For now, please read what the World Economic Forum has to say about this but comes down to eat less meat, eat local produce and eat as much as you can to reduce food waste.

7. Make your opinions known. Make sure your political representatives know that climate action is important to you. Send them messages asking for evidence of specific action. You can do the same at work, at school or with any other organization that you are part of.

Thank you for reading this, your opinions would be welcome as this section is expanded and improved. Feel free to get in touch.