How to fight climate change: 6 ways to take action at home

One of the most impactful things you can do if you’re wondering how to fight the climate crisis from home is to consider using a renewable energy provider. We urgently need to transition away from globalburning fossil fuels (oil and gas), which release more CO₂ into the atmosphere, i.e., the leading cause of climate change. As a global warming solution, clean energy sources, such as solar and wind, are paving a more sustainable way forward. As an added bonus, the cost of renewables has plummeted over the last decade — even undercutting the cheapest coal-fired power plants. Most utility companies now offer green energy options, and making the switch could be as easy as contacting your existing provider.

2. Optimize clean energy usage in your home

Aside from converting to renewable energy, there are ways we could all limit our energy consumption at home. Firstly, by making simple adjustments such as air drying your laundry outside instead of using a drier, using a cold-water cycle in your washing machine, turning off lights when not in use, or wearing a jumper inside instead of reaching for the thermostat. Secondly, other than using less energy you might also consider increasing energy efficiency in your home. You can achieve this by investing in roof insulation, which traps warmth and reduces the need for heating, or energy-efficient lightbulbs like LEDs. These climate change fighting measures might seem small, but if enough people make these adjustments, they can have a real impact. For more ideas on how to tackle climate change in your daily life, check out our carbon footprint calculator.

3. Adjust your diet for sustainability, try the plant-based diet

In its 2019 report, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) reported that food generates up to 37% of man-made emissions. As you might have heard, eating meat increases our ecological footprint significantly. Livestock, such as cows, generate a huge amount of methane — a natural gas that’s twenty-five times more potent than CO₂. The meat industry also requires enormous quantities of land, and not only do we need forests for nature-based carbon removal, but when trees are cut down for farming, they release any carbon dioxide they’ve soaked up back into the atmosphere. That’s why adjusting your diet is such an impactful way to fight against climate change from home. So where should you start? You do not need to go vegan all of a sudden. You could start by reducing meat consumption from your diet. Additionally, you could commit to buying local and seasonal fruits and vegetables where possible — this cuts greenhouse gas emissions from food transportation.

4. Reduce food waste, start composting, recycle

Another action to reduce emissions (your food-based emissions) is to cut down on waste. Too often, we visit the grocery store, buy plastic-wrapped foods, stock our fridge, discard the packaging, forget what we’ve bought, and end up throwing away expired goods. This cycle of waste is seen by many as another cause of global warming. Firstly, plastic packaging requires a lot of energy to be manufactured and even recycled. Secondly, discarded food waste ends up in landfills, where it slowly breaks down and releases greenhouse gases. You can make a difference by avoiding plastic where possible and implementing food shopping more consciously, only buying what you need. Another way to do your bit for the climate is to use any unavoidable food waste for compost. Decaying food enriches soil which can soak up and store CO₂ — i.e., a carbon removal solution in your back garden!

5. Review your buying habits and only shop out of necessity

If you enjoy retail therapy — this one could prove tricky! Let’s take fashion as an example: this industry accounts for about 8-10% of global carbon emissions. Though you may have heard of the impact of recreational flying on the environment, shockingly, fashion uses more energy than both aviation and shipping combined. So, how can we consume more responsibly? It starts by leaving your credit card safely in your wallet. Always repair, reuse, and repurpose your clothes and belongings where possible. A great New Year’s Resolution suggested by one of our Climeworkers was to set “no buy targets” throughout the year so you can keep yourself accountable. But if you do need to buy something new? Why not choose to shop with sustainable brands or support the local community shops?

6. Stay engaged, keep learning, and start conversations on climate action

How can we reduce the impact of climate change? Ultimately, one of the best things you can do as an individual is quite simple: stay engaged, keep learning, and start conversations with your friends, family members, and colleagues. And even if you’re not able to tick off everything on this list — we don’t need perfect people, we just need more people to do what they can. With a few small adjustments, every individual can help fight climate change from home and also help restore our planet by limiting global warming.

Interested to learn more?

• What are carbon footprints, and what can you do about yours? Find out more in: Our guide to carbon footprints.

• Discover how we’re using technology to fight climate change in: Direct air capture: our technology to capture CO₂.

• Inspired by the wild? Us too. Read more about our connection to nature in: The story behind our Orca plant.