But after raising the plinth, water doesn’t enter our courtyard anymore, and we could now do vegetable gardening there. Photo: Gerardo Pesantez / World Bank Buildings are the biggest sources of greenhouse gas emissionswithin cities because of the energy that’s required for electricity, heating, and water. They also provide multiple benefits to public health, with studies linking green space to reduced levels of stress. 9 things you can do about climate change . Councils are taking action to reduce their own carbon emissions and working with partners and local communities to tackle the impact of climate change on their local area. Infrastructure is also the area where city leaders have the most control. Transcript. If you are in rented accommodation, lobby your landlord to make sure the property is energy efficient. If you don't have direct access to open spaces, this community volunteering charity brings people together to connect to nature, and create healthier and happier communities. To order printed versions of the leaflet, or for more information, contact: grantham@imperial.ac.uk. Trees are only part of the solution. Last modified on Thu 26 Sep 2019 03.02 EDT, Photograph: Tom Vierus, www.livingdreams.tv/WWF-UK, Available for everyone, funded by readers. Small changes to your behaviour at home will help you use less energy, cutting your carbon footprint and your energy bills: Put on an extra layer and turn down the heating a degree or two. This briefing paper and animation highlight the co-benefits of climate action, and why it is particularly relevant for decision-makers in cities and devolved regions. Meat and dairy production is responsible for 14% of global climate-changing emissions. Alternatively, if you only need one for a short time, there are some all-electric car hire companies. Focusing your efforts to spread awareness about renewable energy is the best way … Our actions can create ripple effects that inspire and motivate collective actions, moving us towards the systemic change we need to tackle an issue like climate change. Share it with your local MP. Banks, pensions funds and big corporates often hold investments in fossil fuel companies. Climate change is happening; it is real. Other changes have to be made to reduce global CO 2 emissions and an effective response lies in the hands of world politicians. Print Climate action resources for communities. How do the cost, time and carbon emissions of a single journey from London to Amsterdam by plane, compare to travelling by train? Heating and cooling accounts for almost half your energy bill — about $1,000 a year! Join a social movement or campaign that focuses on environmental activities or gets everyone talking about climate change action, such as the Youth Strike 4 Climate or Extinction Rebellion. Throughout the world, cities are investing in efficiency measures to mak… Scientists, researchers and advocates share the top changes we Although a 1 degree rise in temperature sounds minimal, the effects of climate change are far-reaching, with floods, super-storms and droughts on the increase and seemingly no way to stop them. Whether you want to plant a single tree in your garden, or a whole wood, they have tools and resources to help. How we live and work together in communities and cities can have a huge impact in tackling climate change. For longer journeys, use public transport, or try car sharing schemes. Let brands know if you think they are using too much packaging – some will take customer feedback seriously. Voice your concerns about responsible investment by writing to your bank or pension provider, and ask if you can opt out of funds investing in fossil fuels. Look for the Energy Star label when buying new appliances. Not only do cars contribute to greenhouse gas emissions, but air pollution caused by exhaust fumes from traffic poses a serious threat to public health. As you make these positive changes to reduce your environmental impact, share your experience with your family, friends, customers and clients. Unless we, as an international community, significantly reduce our carbon emissions by the year 2100, temperatures could soar by 4.8°C. Learn how you can help fight climate change, find educator resources, or try the Climate Kids site featuring games, quizzes and facts. Give unwanted items a new life by donating them to charity or selling them on. Over their lifetimes, products in your home that have earned the ENERGY STAR label can reduce greenhouse gas emissions by about 130,000 pounds and save you $11,000 on energy bills. Climate science must be integrated as practical knowledge into society so that understanding the complex physical and biological interconnections are relevant to decision-making in … References. Try to choose fresh, seasonal produce that is grown locally to help reduce the carbon emissions from transportation, preservation and prolonged refrigeration. Here's what you can do to reduce your carbon footprint without changing your whole life. All rights reserved. 54. For leisure trips, choose nearby destinations, and fly economy – on average, a passenger in business class has a carbon footprint three times higher than someone in economy. Climate change can make it more difficult for communities to provide drinking water and wastewater services, protect water quality, and maintain healthy aquatic environments. Turn off lights and appliances when you don’t need them. Here are 10 simple actions you can take to help reduce global warming. Find out who your MP is, and the best way to contact them. Grand Rapids, Mich., stands as tangible evidence of what cities can do to reduce human impact on … Researchers at Imperial have been investigating how people in the Western world can be convinced to eat them. Scientists, researchers and advocates share the top changes we can make to be part of the climate change solution. Check out our blog on going vegan for top tips on making it a success. For some tips on successful climate-based conversations, check out Climate Outreach’s work with climate scientist and communicator Katherine Hayhoe. Climate change is a frightening thing. Climate change Around 230 councils have declared a climate emergency. No matter how fast we reduce emissions, we’re still going to have significant climate … © 2021 Guardian News & Media Limited or its affiliated companies. Power up on plants. Shop around for second-hand or quality items that last a long time. For example, if someone lives in a coastal community, you can explain that climate change is causing sea levels to rise, which has already impacted many coastal communities and the severity of this impact will only increase as time goes on. The powers that be hold conferences and pass memorandums, but it sometimes seems as if there are forces, if … Make simple changes to how you use hot water, like buying a water-efficient shower head. Help to protect and conserve green spaces like local parks, ponds or community gardens. Myclimate also compares the carbon emissions of your particular flight, with the maximum amount of carbon dioxide a person should produce per year in order to halt climate change, and the average amount an EU citizen produces each year. What Can Cities Really Do About Climate Change? Put your purchasing power to good use by choosing brands that align with your new green aspirations. Investigate trading in your diesel or petrol car for an electric or hybrid model. Organisations like Fields In Trust and the National Federation of Parks and Green Spaces have advice and resources on how you can get involved in areas local to you. Published: June 29, 2020. We've put together detailed tips on nine things you can do to cut plastic from your shopping basket. 5. Transport has become the largest emitting sector of the UK economy, accounting for 28% of UK greenhouse gas emissions in 2017. Animals emit methane and other greenhouse gases and so a meat-free diet contributes to a reduction in global warming. Our work on climate change Our world is warming, but taking action on climate change can make all our lives better. The separation has led to the misinformed view that addressing climate change means pursuing either mitigation or adaptation. By The Grantham Institute. Sometimes it can help to talk to people about climate change on a scale they can understand. Climate actions have often fallen into one of two strategies: mitigation efforts to lower or remove greenhouse gas emissions from the atmosphere, and adaptation efforts to adjust systems and societies to withstand the impacts of climate change. 20 Fantastic Ways To Stop Climate Change. There are also a number of ‘ethical banks’ you can investigate. Tell your Member of Parliament, local councillors and city mayors that you think action on climate change is important. There are many benefits to taking action on climate change, such as improved health, growth in the low-carbon jobs market, and reduced inequality. Eat fewer or smaller portions of meat, especially red meat, which has the largest environmental impact, and reduce dairy products or switch them for non-dairy alternatives . When flying is unavoidable, pay a little extra for carbon offsetting. Check the building has proper insulation, and consider draught-proofing windows and doors. Sustainability appraisal can be used to help shape appropriate strategies in line with the statutory duty on climate change and ambition in the Climate Change Act 2008. Over 100 schools have signed up to Meat-free Mondays and are including meat-free options on other days – but there is much more that can be done. 10 Ways You Can Help Reduce the Climate Change. So here’s a toolbox of the most impactful solutions for global warming (in no particular order) that you can do, today – and can pick and choose as you see fit: 1. The enormity of global warming can be daunting and dispiriting. Use your car less, whenever possible, instead use sustainable transportation, such as bicycling, or use public transportation more often. top 100 climate-change solutions. High rises and hotel buildings in Punta Pacifica, Panama City, Panama. Share them with your friends and community — together we can make a big difference. Change to energy-efficient light bulbs. 6. While the international efforts are discussed, local communities can take action, and many are. The Ocean and Cryosphere in a Changing Climate report outlines the impact of climate change on the earth’s oceans and frozen places – or cryosphere – and our options to respond, Thu 26 Sep 2019 02.00 EDT The Woodland Trust are aiming to plant 64 million trees over the next 10 years – and need your help. St Christopher’s School in Hertfordshire is just one of several schools that provide vegetarian lunches for all on a daily basis. Alternative energy - using alternative energy such as solar, wind or tidal can reduce the use of fossil fuels. This briefing paper and animation highlight the co-benefits of climate action, high-fibre, plant-based diet is also better for your health, blog on going vegan for top tips on making it a success, investigating how people in the Western world can be convinced to eat them, a passenger in business class has a carbon footprint three times higher than someone in economy, flying shouldn't necessarily be the default option for international travel, variety of reputable carbon offsetting schemes, poor air quality in the capital leads to around 1,000 London hospital admissions, air pollution in the United States is associated with 30,000 deaths and reduced life expectancy, trading in your diesel or petrol car for an electric, Switching energy supply to a green tariff, important habitats for a wide variety of insects, animals, birds and amphibians, provide multiple benefits to public health, National Federation of Parks and Green Spaces, Integrating green and blue spaces into our cities: Making it happen, ask if you can opt out of funds investing in fossil fuels, the discussion around responsible investment, Conversations are a great way to spread big ideas, Climate Outreach’s work with climate scientist and communicator Katherine Hayhoe, Take our online survey to share your suggestions, Grantham Institute – Climate Change and the Environment, Download a designed, pocket-sized leaflet in PDF. Replace light bulbs with LEDs or other low-energy lights. Climate Resilience Toolkit. (Assumptions: the start and end location are the main train terminal in the centre of each city; travel costs are for the cheapest advance tickets bought in advance and include all connecting journeys; carbon emissions are calculated using UK government greenhouse gas emissions factors for short-haul flights, ferry and international rail travel.). There is a lot you can do to drive down this cost. Avoid single-use items and fast fashion, and try not to buy more than you need. You have probably heard that our planet is in danger. However, the discussion around responsible investment – weighing up environmental, social and governance (ESG) factors and taking them into consideration when investing money – is growing. This view was echoed by others. This will reduce the amount of carbon dioxide released into the atmosphere. The authors have put … Let everyone know that each one of us can make a difference. Hang-dry your clothes when you can and use dryer balls when you can’t. Take Action Toolkit This toolkit, ideal for small groups or classroom settings, walks you through a set of questions and prompts to plan your own climate action project. Our Vision: Healthy People in Healthy Communities . (This animation illustrates that small changes to your home, transport, energy provider and diet can contribute in a big way to the fight against climate change). Adaptation can help reduce the long-term costs of climate change impacts (IPCC 2007). There are plenty of other ways to tackle climate change: Buy and grow local food, use renewable energy and energy-efficient appliances, insulate your home, nurture soils and grasslands, run for office, explore high- and low-tech ways to capture greenhouse gases, support research and organizations that can mobilize more people and resources to find solutions … 1. Conversations are a great way to spread big ideas. Communities can be supported to adapt the ways they shelter and settle themselves. Reduce plastic in your shopping. This guide was produced by the Grantham Institute – Climate Change and the Environment, an institute of Imperial College London. Furthermore, Imperial research shows that poor air quality in the capital leads to around 1,000 London hospital admissions for asthma and serious lung conditions every year, and that air pollution in the United States is associated with 30,000 deaths and reduced life expectancy. Buy local, organic food where possible. Double glazing, insulation and low-energy lights are all good ways to increase the energy efficiency of your home. Go vegetarian. From cleaner air and lower energy bills, to less stress on the NHS. With so many experts on climate change here at Imperial, many people ask us what they personally can do about it? Create your own green space. And have you thought about eating insects? 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