WHAT CAN I DO ABOUT CLIMATE CHANGE?

Major changes in our lifestyles are required to reduce the degree of global warming caused by our actions on Earth. Any significant reduction in our greenhouse emissions will need a combined effort at change at individual, industrial and political levels.

People are sometimes discouraged from making changes to their lifestyle when they still see the majority of society living a high-consumption lifestyle that results in tonnes of greenhouse emissions each year. However, history shows that the combined choices of many individuals has always played a major role in any important social change such as the fight against slavery, people power against dictators, women's rights or protecting the environment.

around the house

There are many easy cost-effective ways to reduce greenhouse emissions and save money as well:

• Switch over to energy-efficient light bulbs

• Use less heating in winter and simply wear a jumper

• Open windows in summer and only use less air conditioning on very hot days

• Use a clothes line for drying clothes and avoid using clothes dryers where possible

• Move to a smaller house or unit (inner city, high rise unit dwellers typically use far less energy)

• Pay bills and conduct business online as much as possible

• If your old hot water system feels warm to the touch, wrap it in a thermal blanket

• Say 'no' to plastic bags when shopping and take your own reusable ones

• Use natural composts in your garden - store-bought fertilizers release more greenhouse gases.

reduce our consumption to reduce global warming

'Greenwashing' is the process where people make small changes in their habits but ignore the strategies that really count. For example, a shopper may feel self-righteous about using recycled shopping bags yet carries them out to their brand new eight cylinder car.

Every service and product we buy has generated greenhouse emissions along the way. Whether it is a toaster or a car, huge amounts of energy are involved in mining, transport of raw materials, processing, assembly, packaging, freight and retailing. One of the major contributions we can make to reduce our role in climate change is to ask:

• Do I really need this product or service?

• Can I recycle an existing product?

• Can I buy a secondhand product?

A good example of this is a family wanting a second car. Is this second car really needed, or can public transport resolve the issue? If a car is needed, will a secondhand car suffice? A brand new model, even if an economical model, will probably never save enough fuel to account for the huge amount of greenhouse gases generated in creating it. You can choose to 'rescue' an older car from the scrap heap and make a project of extending its useable life.

The ideal lifestyle simply avoids buying things that aren't needed; cutting down on the relatively useless products we use around the home, especially electric gadgets, can have a huge effect on overall emissions. A perfect example is the fossil fuel-powered 'leaf blower'. While it is faster than using a rake, it creates noise for the neighbors, creates greenhouse gases in it manufacture and everyday use and cuts down on exercise that you probably need.

what you eat and greenhouse emissions

The meat industry is a major culprit for greenhouse emissions, generating 18% of the total according to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Try cutting down on meat or even becoming a vegetarian.

Buy locally produced foods where possible. A lot of fossil fuels are burned in transporting produce across the country or even from overseas in many cases.

smarter shopping and climate change

By making smart consumer choices, one can reduce the production of greenhouse gases. Purchasing energy-efficient products helps reduce the release of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. For example, aluminum packaging has a much more energy intensive production process than plastic packaging, and therefore higher greenhouse emission.

Also, many goods are not designed to last for long. Where possible, pay the extra for goods that will last and can be passed on or sold when you no longer need them.

Discuss climate change with others

Very few people enjoy being encouraged to convert to a particular religion by a fundamentalist. The same principle usually applies to environmentalists. People who make significant changes to their lifestyle to reduce global warming can be tempted to 'convert' others and simply drive them away. However, global warming is topical and it can be helpful to encourage discussion of the issues. In most cases, there is a gradual increase of awareness of climate change before any changes to lifestyle are considered.

Recycling to reduce global warming

Recycling is basic principle that apply not only to waste minimization. Buying products that are reusable or recyclable, or contain reduced packaging, means saving a significant part of the energy and resources required for manufacturing new goods. By recycling paper, cardboard, glass or metal, an average family could reduce their carbon dioxide emissions by up to one ton annually.

transport and climate change

More frequent use of public transportation helps the environment by reducing the time spent in cars. Boats and ferries are the most efficient method of fossil fuel transport, followed by trains, then buses. Airplanes can be more than ten times less efficient than cars.

Walking is the least impactful mode of transportation, followed by the bicycle, whose usage produces no carbon emissions. However, the manufacturing of bicycles emits carbon dioxide and other pollutants so it worth looking at restoring an old bicycle or buying a secondhand one.

Cars are a major source of greenhouse emissions. As mentioned above, the ideal is to avoid buying a new car due to the huge amount of emissions in creating a new car. If you do buy a new car, aim for an energy-efficient vehicle to reduce emissions of carbon dioxide. But remember the energy put into making the car- often buying a used car with lower mileage will use less energy over the lifetime that you have it than a new car with higher mileage. If you must drive to work, look at carpooling with others and keep your tires well inflated.

protecting and planting trees

Protecting forests and planting new trees contributes to the absorption of carbon dioxide from the air. There are many opportunities to plant trees in the yard, along roads, in parks, and in public gardens. In addition, some charities plant fast-growing trees to help citizens in tropical developing countries restore the productivity of their lands. Conversely, clearing old-growth forests adds to the carbon in the atmosphere, so buying non-old-growth paper is good for the climate as well as the forest.

energy efficient products

The Energy Star label can be seen on many household appliances, home electronics, office equipment, heating and cooling equipment, windows, residential light fixtures, and other products. It is a symbol of energy efficiency that means the Energy Star products use less energy, save money and help protect the environment. However, before purchasing, ask yourself if you really need the product, or whether you could buy one secondhand. Changing all the light bulbs in your house to the new energy-efficient ones not only saves you money but reduces greenhouse gases emitted by the coal burning power stations. These bulbs are more expensive than your old incandescent ones but last a lot longer so it's a win-win situation in the long term.

renewable energy and climate change

The use of alternative energy sources, such as solar, wind, geothermal, and hydro energy, is gaining increased support worldwide. The wind energy produced in Denmark, for example, provides about 10 percent of the country's total energy needs. These methods of energy production emit no greenhouse gases once they are up and running. Many energy suppliers in various countries worldwide have options to purchase part or pure "green energy." Installing a solar hot water system is one of the best solutions to reduce domestic greenhouse emissions.

Carbon offsets and global warming

The principle of carbon offset is fairly simple: you decide that you don't want to be responsible for accelerating climate change, and you've already made efforts to reduce your carbon (dioxide) emissions, so you decide to pay someone else to further reduce your net emissions by planting trees or by taking up low-carbon technologies. Every unit of carbon that is absorbed by trees — or not emitted due to your funding of renewable energy deployment — offsets the emissions from your fossil fuel use. In many cases, funding of renewable energy, energy efficiency, or tree planting — particularly in developing nations — can be a relatively cheap way of making an individual "carbon neutral".

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This information is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation. It is derivative of articles on Climate Change, Global Warming and related environmental issues at http://en.wikipedia.org