TOP 10 THINGS YOU CAN DO
ABOUT CLIMATE CHANGE
As the world warms, extreme
weather events are becoming
more frequent and intense, sea
levels are rising, prolonged
droughts are putting pressure on
food crops, and many animal and
plant species are being driven to
extinction. It’s hard to imagine
what we as individuals can do to
resolve a problem of this scale
and severity.
Here are 10 Ways You Can
Help Fight Climate Change:
1. Push for reduced methane emissions
from fracked gas
• Methane is 84 times more powerful than carbon
dioxide over a 20-year time frame. Leading scientists
estimate this gas alone is responsible for one-quarter
of the observed changes to Earth’s climate.
• Recent research suggests that methane emissions
from the oil and gas sector (mainly fracked gas) is a
much greater problem than reported.
Cutting methane emissions
is one of the cheapest,
easiest and most effective
things that governments can
do right now to tackle climate
change.
If we take action,
reducing methane
emissions can be a big
part of the solution.
2. Get charged up with Renewables
The global push for
cleaner, healthier energy is
on. With costs dropping
every day, renewable
energy is the best choice
for the environment and the
economy.
•No matter what your
experience is or how much
time you have, we’ll show you
opportunities to get charged
up with renewables.
3. Green your Commute
• The many ways to reduce
your transportation
emissions will also make you
healthier, happier and save
you a few bucks. Whenever
and wherever you can:
• Take public transit.
• Ride a bike.
• Car-share.
• Switch to an electric or hybrid vehicle.
• Fly less (if you do fly, make sure you
offset your emissions).
4. Use energy wisely — save
money, too!
•On a per capita basis, Canada is
one of the top energy
consumers in the world! By
getting more energy efficient,
you’ll pollute less and save
money.
• The small changes you make add up:
• Change to energy-efficient light bulbs.
• Unplug computers, TVs and other electronics when
you’re not using them.
• Wash clothes in cold or warm (not hot) water.
• Dryers are energy hogs, so hang dry when you can
and use dryer balls when you can’t.
• Install a programmable thermostat.
• Look for the Energy Star label when buying new
appliances.
• Winterize your home to prevent heat from
escaping.
• Get a home or workplace energy audit to identify
where you can make the most energy-saving gains.
5. Help Put a Price on Pollution
• Putting a price on carbon is one of the most
important pillars of any strong climate policy.
• Carbon pricing sounds boring, but it helps
makes polluting activities more expensive and
green solutions relatively more affordable,
allowing your energy-efficient business and/or
household to save money!
6. Consume less, waste less, enjoy life
more
• “We use too much, too much of it is
toxic and we don’t share it very well.
But that’s not the way things have to
be. Together, we can build a society
based on better not more, sharing not
selfishness, community not division.” ~
The Story of Stuff
• Focusing on life’s simple
pleasures — spending time
in nature, being with loved
ones and/or making a
difference to others —
provides more purpose,
belonging and happiness
than buying and consuming.
• Sharing, making, fixing,
upcycling, repurposing and
composting are all good
places to start.
7. Divest from Fossil Fuels
• Let industry know you care about
climate change by making sure any
investments you and your
university, workplace or pension
fund make do not include fossil
fuels.
• Meet with your bank or investment
adviser and/or join a divestment
campaign at your university.
•Fossil fuels are a sunset industry.
They’re a risk for investors and the
planet. As Arnold Schwarzenegger
said, “I don’t want to be the
last investor in Blockbuster as Netflix
emerged.”
8. Invest in Renewables
• Even if you can’t install solar panels or a
wind turbine, you can still be a part of the
clean-energy economy. Search online for
local renewable energy co-ops to join. By
becoming a co-op member you will own a
slice of its renewable energy projects and
can get a return on your investment.
9. Eat for a climate-stable planet
• “Eat food. Not too much.
Mostly plants.
Michael Pollan
Here are four simple changes you can make
to your diet to reduce its climate impact.
• Eat meat-free meals.
• Buy organic and local whenever possible.
• Don’t waste food.
• Grow your own.
10. Tell your story, listen to
others
• A healthy planet and stable climate
aren’t political issues. It’s all about
families, communities, energy systems
and humanity’s future. It’s important to
get everyone on board, working toward
climate solutions.
10. Tell your story, listen to
others
People are more often influenced by
friends than by experts, so make sure to
talk about climate change with friends
and family. Tell your stories — about
changes you’ve seen where you live,
how climate change has affected you,
and the changes you’re making to
lessen your impact. Encourage friends
and family to explore the top 10 things
they can do about climate change.
In a world of more than seven
billion people, each of us is a
drop in the bucket. But with
enough drops, we can fill any
bucket.
David Suzuki
