What can I do?

What can I do?

We can all play a part in tackling the climate crisis. There is a great deal that each of us can do in our everyday lives. This page contains some specific goals to focus on and some options for achieving them.

In some of the sections below there is a single general pledge. In other cases there may be several pledges each of which can help towards achieving the goal. The more specific pledges are intended to help us to focus our efforts.

Each section has a link to the corresponding section in Why does it matter?, which outlines why the action is so important.

The emphasis at present is on those pledges that contribute the biggest savings in greenhouse gases and that we can also achieve. These are some of the priorities. More pledges will be added later.

Some pledges are not applicable to all of us, and some pledges will be better suited to some of us, according to our circumstances. There should, however, be pledges for everyone to achieve something.

If you intend to make a specific pledge when circumstances allow, then please remember to return to pledge when you are able.

If you have already made the change specified in a pledge, please pledge anyway.

Please remember to post your pledge certificates on social media or elsewhere, along with pledge counts, when they become available, and posters. Remember that a key part of our role is in spreading change through our actions becoming known to others in our social groups and online.

If you just want to make pledges or if you want to modify your pledges, you can do this by going directly to the Pledges page. To view just the pledges you have made, go to Pledge Certificate.

expand all ▼ collapse all ▲

Waste

Action on food waste ▼

In industrialized countries food is plentiful, and it seems many of us can afford to waste it. But when we, as consumers, throw out the yoghurt that has passed its use-by date, the limp spinach that we have left to wilt, or the chop we didn’t have time to cook, there are repercussions that go well beyond ourselves and the money we have lost. For more on this see What has food waste to do with climate change?

Food often past its use-by date

Since consumers contribute so much to food waste in higher-income countries, we have the power to produce real change. So how can we avoid wasting food? Some ways to reduce waste in common situations are in the expandable link below (also see Love Food Hate Waste).

It will probably need a bit of effort, and we each need to consider how a food item has reached the point of being thrown out, and find ways to avoid that happening again. So please pledge to take action if you want to reduce waste.

 
Waste: End my food waste
Ways to reduce food waste ▼

When buying: ▼

  • Tailor a shopping list to what is actually needed each time, whether online or in store. Avoid using the same regular order or list that duplicates food we still have left.
  • Ensure there is time to eat or cook the food before an expiry date.
  • Try to avoid buying too much, since this often results in food passing its expiry date or simply degrading. Have a small reserve of dried or frozen food so there is always something to eat if the regular shop runs out.
  • Buy fruit and vegetables direct from farms, markets, local vegetable shops, or online fruit and vegetable boxes. Why? Supermarkets reject a large quantity of good food after harvest simply because it is not the ‘right’ size, shape or colour, so it never reaches the consumer.1
  • Try to buy less processed food. During processing a lot of edible parts of foods are lost. For example, this can occur during the trimming of french fries to make them the right shape and size. Their delicate shape also means they are often damaged during transport and discarded.2 Also the greater the extent of processing the more greenhouse gases have been emitted to produce it.

Close section ▲

When storing: ▼

Ending food waste: organizing by use-by dates
  • Check use-by dates (perhaps all family members could participate). It might help to have a system where items close to expiry are brought to the front of the fridge (or cupboard), and young climate activists could play a role by writing the use-by dates on with a thick marker pen. This is especially important for items you tend to forget, or just never get through.
  • Keep the fridge temperature below 5°C to ensure food lasts.
  • Keep fresh vegetables at the bottom of the fridge or another cool place, such as a garage. (Potatoes like cool dark and dry places.) Around 15-30% of fruit and vegetable purchases are thrown out by consumers in industrialized regions.4
  • Keep bread in the freezer to avoid discarding stale bread, and defrost slices as needed. In industrialized countries around 40-50% of the waste of cereals, such as wheat, is by consumers.3
  • Refrigerate or freeze leftover cooked food. Cooking too much food for a meal can be a source of waste.
  • Check out the A-Z of Food Storage at lovefoodhatewaste if you want to know how to store specific foods. For example, it indicates whether you can freeze something that is close to its use-by date. It also outlines how to make use of food that is not at its best, like using stale bread or wilted spinach.

Close section ▲

When using: ▼

Ending food waste: Cooking creatively to use food close to expiry
  • Avoid discarding edible parts, such as potato skins or cauliflower leaves. See Compleating for a guide to food parts that are edible but are usually discarded.
  • Be creative. Try mixing food you have left and food that is close to expiry, rather than opening or buying new items. Sometimes we throw away food because we simply prefer a different meal on that day, but a quick creative mixing of foods can provide something unusual and interesting.
  • Cook anything that is about to expire, even if it is left to eat until another day. Sometimes after getting home we might feel too tired or hungry to cook food that we defrosted the day before, or food that is close to expiry. However, it doesn’t take much to put food in the oven or in a casserole to cook while we eat the quick and easy meal.5

Close section ▲

Footnotes ▼

i The ‘appearance’ criteria used by supermarkets means that food that is nutritious and tasty is deemed not fit for human consumption and discarded. For example, a carrot that isn’t straight, a bright enough orange, and blemish free, is thrown out. Ref: Section 4.Causes and prevention of food waste. p. 17-18 in: FAO. 2011. Global food losses and food waste – Extent, causes and prevention. Rome

1. i The ‘appearance’ criteria used by supermarkets means that food that is nutritious and tasty is deemed not fit for human consumption and discarded. For example, a carrot that isn’t straight, a bright enough orange, and blemish free, is thrown out. Ref: Section 4.Causes and prevention of food waste. p. 17-18 in: FAO. 2011. Global food losses and food waste – Extent, causes and prevention. Rome

Section 4.Causes and prevention of food waste. p. 19, in: FAO. 2011. Global food losses and food waste – Extent, causes and prevention. Rome.

2. Section 4. Causes and prevention of food waste. p. 19, in: FAO. 2011. Global food losses and food waste – Extent, causes and prevention. Rome.

Section 3.2 Extent of food losses and waste. p. 12 in: FAO. 2011. Global food losses and food waste – Extent, causes and prevention. Rome.

3. Section 3.2 Extent of food losses and waste. p. 12 in: FAO. 2011. Global food losses and food waste – Extent, causes and prevention. Rome.

Section 3.2 Extent of food losses and waste. p. 14 in: FAO. 2011. Global food losses and food waste – Extent, causes and prevention. Rome.

4. Section 3.2 Extent of food losses and waste. p. 14 in: FAO. 2011. Global food losses and food waste – Extent, causes and prevention. Rome.

i Consumers, especially those in Europe and the US, are responsible for about half of all meat wasted and a high proportion of fish. Consumers also waste 40-65% of the total milk that is wasted. In: Section 3.2 Extent of food losses and waste. Ref: Page 15-16 in: FAO. 2011. Global food losses and food waste – Extent, causes and prevention. Rome.

5. i Consumers, especially those in Europe and the US, are responsible for about half of all meat wasted and a high proportion of fish waste. Consumers in industrialized regions also waste 40-65% of the total milk that is wasted. Ref: Section 3.2 Extent of food losses and waste. Page 15-16 in: FAO. 2011. Global food losses and food waste – Extent, causes and prevention. Rome.

Close section ▲

Close section ▲

Electricity

Reduce emissions from electricity ▼

Electricity generation is a major source of greenhouse gas emissions. These emissions have been steadily increasing, despite us having the technology to change it.

Fossil fuels power much of our electricity supply

So when we switch on our kettle, television or lights, recharge our phones, or wash our clothes, many of us are likely to be pumping greenhouse gases into the air. For more background information, click this link: What has our electricity to do with the climate?

There is hope for a world where renewables supply most of our electricity

So what can we do?

We may feel there is nothing we can do, but we do have options. Some of us can choose a 100% renewable electricity plan from our energy supplier. Some of us may even be able to choose our energy supplier.1 For those of us who do not have these choices, there are still options as we shall see in the expandable section below.

Collectively, we can have a big impact on electricity emissions: hundreds of companies globally have joined forces to increase the demand for, and growth of, renewable energy.2 Their collective renewable energy demand is similar to the consumption of a major country. There are many more individuals than companies, so we too can exert a powerful influence.

Some options for making our electricity supply fossil free

To pledge to act, and for more information on ways to reduce emissions from our electricity, expand the section below. There are several possible pledges under Sources of electricity, and we may need to make more than one pledge. For example, we may choose a 100% renewable energy plan, but also switch to another supplier. Regardless of which options we select to reduce our emissions, we can also act to maximize our use of renewable energy (the final pledge). If you have already chosen to act in any of the ways described, please pledge your commitment to inspire the rest of us.

Options to reduce emissions from our electricity ▼

Sources of electricity

  • 100% renewable electricity plan ▼

Our energy supplier may offer a 100% renewable electricity plan. This means that when we choose this plan, the money that we pay for our electricity must go towards renewable energy, not fossil fuels. These plans can be as affordable as some of the tariffs based on fossil fuels, or even more so. However, not all plans are as renewable as they are claimed to be, so it is important to choose your supplier (see below).

A note for Australian energy customers ▼

According to the Australian consumer group Choice, the renewable energy equivalent ‘GreenPower’ can be much more expensive (20-50%) than the other tariffs. They point out a cheaper alternative is to purchase certificates direct from a community-owned wind farm.3

 
Electricity: Choose 100% renewable plan

Close section ▲

  • Switch energy supplier ▼

It may be necessary to change supplier to get a 100% renewable electricity plan, and one at a good price. In the UK and US some renewable energy tariffs are cheaper or the same price as nonrenewable energy. But there are other reasons we may want to switch.

It is useful to be able to switch since the large traditional suppliers, which service the majority of customers, often have a large proportion of fossil fuels in their fuel mix. And they are slow to make changes.

While there are signs of change in the old suppliers, it is not easy to see which ones are genuinely trying to proceed rapidly, since they all want to appear ‘green’. Conversely, the positive commitment shown by newer suppliers gives some reassurance that profits from our custom will maximize the growth in renewable energy.

The more committed suppliers may supply only renewable electricity (e.g. in the US and UK). Minimally, suppliers would own only renewable assets (no fossil fuels). Some may also generate renewable electricity.

Links to green suppliers in U.K., U.S. and Australia ▼

In the U.K. customers can choose their supplier (check this list for top-rated green suppliers), but elsewhere choice can be restricted. For instance only some states of the U.S. allow customers to choose their supplier. For which states, along with links to find suppliers, see How do I find competitive greenpower products?4 Australians who want to support a supplier that shows some commitment to tackling climate change (e.g. they do not own assets in fossil fuels) can find a few from the green electricity guide in a list compiled by Greenpeace and the Total Environment Centre.

 
Electricity: Switch energy supplier

Close section ▲

  • Shared renewables (community energy) ▼

Another option to reduce our emissions from electricity is to participate in a community energy project. This can be as easy as selecting a 100% renewable plan.

I’m renting these three panels

For example, in the U.S., individuals can buy, lease or subscribe to, one or more solar panels in a community project. Cost can, therefore, be adapted to what is affordable and there is no need for capital outlay. Your utility bill is credited with money for the power generated from your share of solar panels.

Links to U.S. community projects ▼

For a project close to you look on the energysage: Community Solar Marketplace, but not all states have them. For general information on shared solar in the U.S. see Community Solar Access. Some initiatives help lower-income communities to access clean energy in community projects (such as the non-profit organisations listed here), and some provide access at reduced rates (for example Groundswell and Energy For All Program).

Community energy projects in Europe and elsewhere ▼

If this is of interest, and if you live in Europe, then new EU legislation in 2018 gives new rights for communities to generate and sell renewable energy. The booklet ‘Unleashing the Power of Community Energy‘ provides resources and practical steps for generating and selling renewable energy and is available from Friends of the earth – Europe

Elsewhere in the world there are plenty of community energy projects. Some may provide electricity directly, others may sell it to the grid and reduce energy bills, but there are many different models. Many of these projects require some capital outlay at the start.

 
Electricity: Participate in community energy projects

Close section ▲

  • Self-supply ▼

There are a few options for generating our own electricity, the most common being rooftop solar panels. For many of us these options are not viable with the large capital outlay, time to recoup the costs, and lack of government incentives (even if we have suitable conditions5). However, in some regions where sun is plentiful and there are grants, it may be a good option.

Self-Supply in Australia and the U.S. ▼

Residents in Australia might want to check Choice for resources on solar PV, and for the relative benefits of solar PV to ‘GreenPower’. For U.S. residents, Using Solar Electricity at Home contains links for installing your own solar system including a link to A Database of State Incentives for Renewables and Efficiency (DSIRE) operated by NC Clean Energy Centre.

 
Electricity: Supply some of my own electricity

Close section ▲

Making the most of renewable sources

  • We can all maximize our use of renewable energy ▼

When it is very sunny or windy there is sometimes more renewable energy than we can use. The surplus energy is wasted because we do not currently have the capacity to store it.6

Off-peak use of electricity

But if we switched some of our energy use to parts of the day when the supply of renewable energy is high relative to demand (away from peak periods), we could maximize the use of renewable energy. By lowering demand during peak periods, we use less of the energy supplied by fossil fuels that is normally needed to meet demand. (Fossil fuel reserves may still be used to meet peaks in demand even when we have 100% renewable energy plan.)8

Some ways to shift usage ▼

  • What usage can we shift away from peak periods? How can we do it – manually or automatically? We can start by trying to avoid the worst daytime peak period for usage that is easy to alter. This includes dishwasher and washing machine loads, heating the water, or changing a heating thermostat to use more electricity away from peak periods. Maybe evening meal preparations could be done after the peak period for the next evening or cooked overnight in a slow cooker. We can do much of the above manually, but some could be automated with a timer or smartplug (providing the appliance’s safety instructions allow it).
  • How do we know which are peak periods? The worst peaks in demand are often the period when people come home from work or school, but this can vary by country – so check with your supplier or grid operator.

Close section ▲

Shifting usage can lower electricity costs ▼

While distributing our use of electricity benefits the climate, it also benefits countries and utilities: both want a more even demand for electricity in order to provide a reliable supply. This is especially true now with the increased demand on supply from more electrification, such as electric vehicles. The more electricity consumption can be flattened (moved away from peak times), the less need there is for utilities to invest in extra power stations to cover peaks. This lowers costs to the supplier.

In some countries, the savings are passed on to us, the consumer, when we shift some of our electricity usage. For this we need a smart meter, so the supplier knows when we are using electricity. But we also need a supplier that charges lower rates in off-peak periods. These special rates are known as time-of-use tariffs. The tariffs vary significantly in how useful they are to the customer. For more on this expand the section below.

Benefitting from lower rates ▼

  1. Time-of-use tariffs can vary in many ways, including: the extent of price reduction for off-peak use; the number and timing of periods (e.g only day and night versus every hour), and how often the tariffs change (e.g. every evening following wholesale price updates, or every 3 months). See details in this article from Smart Energy on the state of time-of-use tariffs in India, Sweden, UK, Italy, Canada and the U.S.
  2. Globally we are not yet at a stage where we can take advantage of variable hourly rates automatically: we do not yet have thermostats that adjust the heat setting up or down depending on hourly rates. But smartphone apps are starting to be developed.9
  3. So, at present, to benefit we need to manually shift as much use as possible away from peak times by setting a timer or smartplug, or simply switching things on and off at appropriate times.

Close section ▲

 
Electricity: Move a lot of electricity use away from peak times

Close section ▲

Footnotes ▼

i The option to choose our supplier can be an advantage because some suppliers seem more committed to making a rapid transition to clean energy, and often do not profit at all from fossil fuels. So our custom can support their efforts.

1. i The option to choose our supplier can be an advantage because some suppliers seem more committed to making a rapid transition to clean energy, and often do not profit at all from fossil fuels. So our custom can support their efforts.

i The RE100 is a group of companies that use their collective power to increase demand for, and ultimately supply of, renewable energy (and to influence the policies of governments and utilities). This has contributed to the 7% growth in renewable energy.

2. i The RE100 is a group of companies that use their collective power to increase demand for, and ultimately supply of, renewable energy (and to influence the policies of governments and utilities). This has contributed to the 7% growth in renewable energy.

i An alternatives to GreenPower are ‘Large Scale Generation Certificates. These can be bought directly from a generator, which you can find on Choice-alternatives.

3. i An alternatives to GreenPower are ‘Large Scale Generation Certificates(LGC). These can be bought directly from a generator, which you can find on Choice.

i Sometimes the search sites (for suppliers) have a filter so that you can search for 100% renewable plans, but defaults often need resetting e.g. to see variable rate plans. More…

4. i Sometimes the search sites (for suppliers) have a filter so that you can search for 100% renewable plans, but defaults often need resetting e.g. to see variable rate plans. Variable rates can be cheaper when electricity prices are low – we do not pay a higher ‘fixed’ price with these plans. Providing we set aside a little money for a rise in cost occasionally, we can benefit with a variable rather than fixed cost. After all, with fixed-cost plans, the suppliers want to ensure they charge enough for price variation.

i Prerequisites for installing rooftop solar panels include ownership of the property, an unshaded roof, and a roof that faces in the right direction.

5. i Prerequisites for installing rooftop solar panels include ownership of the property, an unshaded roof, and a roof that faces in the right direction.

Vox Roberts, d. (2019) Getting to 100% renewables requires cheap energy storage. But how cheap? Online resource.

6. Vox Roberts, d. (2019) Getting to 100% renewables requires cheap energy storage. But how cheap? Online resource.

i Flattening demand for electricity can also help reduce emissions by reducing the extra energy needed just to turn the gas power generators on and off so frequently to meet peaks in demand. Ref: Laura Mørch Andersen, Lars Gårn Hansen, Carsten Lynge Jensen, Frank Wolak (2019) Paying consumers to increase their consumption can reduce the cost of integrating wind and solar electricity production into the grid Online resource.

8. i Flattening demand for electricity can also help reduce emissions by reducing the extra energy needed just to turn the gas power generators on and off so frequently to meet peaks in demand. Ref: Laura Mørch Andersen, Lars Gårn Hansen, Carsten Lynge Jensen, Frank Wolak (2019) Paying consumers to increase their consumption can reduce the cost of integrating wind and solar electricity production into the grid Online resource.

Alberini, l. (2019) Norway utility pilots mobile app for consumer DR capabilities Smart Energy International. Online resource.

9. Alberini, l. (2019) Norway utility pilots mobile app for consumer DR capabilities Smart Energy International. Online resource.

Close section ▲

Close section ▲

Finance

Switch to fossil-free ethical banking ▼

Most of the world’s main established banks finance, and invest heavily in, the fossil fuel industry. As well as contributing to greenhouse gas emissions, this also contributes to negative impacts on rainforests, people and wildlife. For more detail on the impacts of the banking system see: What does our money have to do with the climate?

Switching to a bank that puts values before profits.

When confronted with the detail of the banks’ operations, most of us do not want our money to support those institutions. Fortunately, there is something we can do. Since the vast majority of us bank with the established banks, we can have a powerful influence by moving our money elsewhere. More than that, just by storing our money in the right place, our money can be a force for good.

Expand the section below to see some ways to find a good place for your money.

If you have already moved money to a better place, as always, please pledge anyway, since it is good to know and it emboldens and motivates each of us to know we are part of a larger group with shared values.

 
Finance: Store my money where it has a positive impact
Guide to moving your money ▼
  • Look for a financial institution that aims for a positive impact on the world ▼

The Global Alliance for Banking Values (GABV) is an alliance of ethical banks, cooperatives and credit unions from all over the world whose aim is to put values first. To find one in your country, look here. Note that the aim of the alliance is not merely to avoid financing projects that have bad impacts. It also aims to proactively finance and invest in projects that help people and our planet.

Money as a force for good ▼

Examples of typical funding projects of this new banking system include: renewable energy, such as solar and wind power, to provide households with green energy; Fairtrade to prevent the exploitation of people in developing nations; recycling ventures to reduce waste; electric vehicle charging points; farming methods that avoid pollution and animal cruelty; and affordable housing for those in need.

Close section ▲

  • Transparency about loans and investments is a very important criterion ▼

Transparency should be more than just a claim to be transparent: it should also include a list of the bank’s investments. Ideally this would include the name and type of company, and the project supported, as can be seen in this example in Europe. But minimally it should be a list of all areas in which investments or loans are made. This demonstrates an openness and also enables us to check that our money is supporting beneficial projects.

Close section ▲

  • Use caution (if you do not use the steps above) ▼
  • Even if your bank is not one of the 35 investigated in the report (reference 1 referred to in the background), it does not mean they are not investing in fossil fuels or other projects harmful to the climate. It may also be part of a banking group that is in the list.1 So to be safe it may be better to use an alliance of ethical institutions where possible, and use the criterion of transparency about all their investments.
  • Banks are aware they need to improve their image. So they make claims about sustainable values, green banking, or the money they give to a good cause. But this money may very well originate in profits from financing projects that cause destruction, such as fossil fuels, the arms trade, or nuclear weapons.
  • A bank may claim it does not invest in one type of project, such as fossil fuel expansion. However, it may still be financing or investing in projects that have negative impacts, such as industrial agriculture, which causes water pollution, land degradation and animal suffering. So it is still quicker and easier to move to a bank or cooperative with a set of values that can be verified.

Close section ▲

  • Use a switching service for current accounts if available ▼

For current accounts a switching service makes it easy to automatically transfer direct debits, standing orders and other services. For details of some switching services, expand the following:

Some switching services ▼

In the UK the switching service for all current accounts is CASS. In Australia, since the government banking reforms in 2012, it is also now easy to switch: your chosen bank or credit union will do all the work, you just have to fill out a form. Since 2016 it has been a requirement by law in Germany that banks offer a switching service, but which service can vary with the bank. A similar switching service is also being offered by banks in France. In the U.S. there does not appear to be a similar service provided by financial institutions to make it easy for customers to switch banks. But this short article by a motivated ethical customer shows it is not too hard.

Close section ▲

Footnotes ▼

i Examples of banking groups: HSBC group includes First Direct and M&S bank; Lloyds group includes Halifax and Bank of Scotland; Royal Bank of Scotland includes NatWest, Coutts and Ulster Bank.

1. Examples of banking groups: HSBC group includes First Direct and M&S bank; Lloyds group includes Halifax and Bank of Scotland; Royal Bank of Scotland includes NatWest, Coutts and Ulster Bank.

Close section ▲

Transport

Actions to reduce emissions from transport ▼

Transport is responsible for a quarter of annual carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions. Road vehicles, in particular passenger vehicles, contribute the largest share. Emissions from air travel can dominate the personal emissions of the small proportion of people who fly.

Transport endangers health as well as the planet

As individuals, we can exert some control over emissions by choosing to use alternative modes of transport. For more background see: Why transport matters to the climate. Tackling these emissions also has the dual effect of reducing air pollution and the associated health risks.

Please pledge to take as many actions as you can, and encourage all family members to act. Some of the pledges under road transport are more specific to enable us to be more effective in reducing emissions. Please return to pledge any that you may not be able to do immediately.

Road transport: pledge options

What do we need to do to reduce our road transport emissions? Mainly this falls into the categories of reducing cars on the road, reducing journeys, changing car ownership.1

Reducing emissions by removing some journeys ▼

There are many options for reducing journeys. Examples include: having shopping delivered (so one van does many deliveries), working from home (to avoid the car commute), and avoiding same-day and next-day deliveries (to avoid the proliferation of delivery vehicles). To pledge specific actions, and find out more, expand the items below.

  • Reducing journeys: Have regular groceries/veg boxes delivered ▼

For those of use who drive to the shops, we could all reduce one round trip each week or so by ordering our food online and having it delivered.

Food deliveries can minimize journeys

Some suppliers restrict deliveries for an area to specific days to ensure they minimize the journeys even more. Better still, some suppliers are now switching to electric vehicles for their deliveries.

Delivery is often free of charge, and convenient. The frequency and the content of the order can also be changed.3

Close section ▲

 
Have regular groceries delivered
  • Reducing journeys: Aim to reduce road freight for my deliveries ▼

While online ordering can reduce road traffic, it can, if done carelessly, cause an increase in greenhouse gas emissions by increasing road freight.

If delivery is low-cost or free, we might be less concerned to combine orders and, instead, place many separate orders in a short time. Opting for same-day or next-day delivery also significantly increases road freight.4

We all like the convenience and speed, but a bit of planning and patience can restrict emissions from our online orders.

Close section ▲

 
Reduce road freight for my deliveries
  • Reducing journeys: Working from home ▼
No more pollution and traffic jams

Before the COVID-19 pandemic, the idea that many of us could work from home would probably have been met with scorn and disbelief. Now employers and employees are finding new ways to work.

If we were previously commuting by car, and are now working from home, the savings from those 5 return journeys are making a big impact on our emissions. This is motivating for all our other efforts, so please pledge below to add to the numbers working from home.

Close section ▲

 
Work from home as much as possible

Close section ▲

Reducing emissions by reducing cars on the road ▼

With the options in this section, journeys are still made, but are made in a way that also reduces the cars on the road, thereby reducing emissions.

This might be done by sharing transport with others, such as on a bus or train, or by ridesharing (to reduce single-occupancy cars). Alternatively, if we take a little extra time, we might cycle or walk on the shorter journeys.

By using these alternatives, we can make a big impact by replacing frequent trips, such as the school run and commutes to work, as well as regular trips to a club, bar, sporting event, gym, church or to visit a friend. They all count, especially when each of us plays a part.

Several specific pledges might be relevant. For example, we might both walk and use an electric bike on short journeys, and opt to rideshare for others.

For more information on actions, expand the sections next to the pledges.

  • Reducing cars: Walk, scoot or cycle on short commutes ▼
Fossil-free modes of transporting ourselves

We can all make an impact if we replace some regular short journeys, such as the commute to the train station, or the lift to school, by walking, scooting or cycling.

Whatever age we are, we can benefit from physical activity (providing we start gradually if we are unused to it).

Close section ▲

 
Walk or cycle on some journeys each week
  • Reducing cars: Aim to use an e-bike on some short journeys ▼

For those of us who like to be active, but want to go further or transport heavier loads, there are various types of electric bikes available. Even if we possess an ordinary bike, e-bikes can encourage us to use them for more difficult situations. They are also useful for people who want to get fitter gradually. (See ‘Some resources’ below.)

E-bikes help with hills and loads

E-bikes can be an expensive option, with price varying with, for example, the quality and position of the motor, and size of battery. Both features affect how well the bike will help you uphill and how far you can travel without recharging the battery (usually 20-40km). If this option is of interest, you also need to consider the type of e-bike you need based on the type of journeys you want to make. For example, would you need to be able to ride on a towpath as well as a road. So buying an e-bike needs a bit of careful research and consideration (see ‘Some resources’ below.)

It is, however, a much more affordable option when owning an e-bike replaces car ownership: instead we use the e-bike along with other modes of transport, and maybe use carsharing when needed (see the later section Reducing emissions by carsharing: from car owner to carsharer).

Some resources ▼

For an overview of e-bike features see this article: Yeager, S. 2020 13 Reasons to Get Stoked About E-Bikes (from www.bicycling.com). For more information on e-bikes see Dundas, S. (2020) E-bikes and cardio: everything you need to know about staying fit on an e-bike (from www.techradar.com) and other articles at Techradar.

For some affordable e-bike reviews see the reviews here: Phelan, D. (2020) 10 best electric bikes that are hybrid, folding and affordable (from www.independent.co.uk). You can also select your region to see reviews here: Danzig, M. Ellis, C. (2020) The best electric bikes 2020: find your dream e-bike, whatever your budget (from www.techradar.com). See also Hurford, M. How to Ride an E-Bike Safely (from www.bicycling.com).

Close section ▲

 
Use an e-bike for some journeys each week

  • Reducing cars: Opt to use public transport on some regular commutes ▼

When we feel it is safe, and restrictions for COVID-19 are lifted, we might use a bus, tram, train or other shared public transport on some journeys.

This is not always possible, especially in rural areas where bus services may be infrequent or nonexistent. To reduce emissions and congestion, some governments are recognizing the advantages of providing better and cheaper public transport services, which use an electrified fleet of vehicles. However, in the meantime, we may need to use other transport, or use ridesharing – see the next section.

Close section ▲

 
Use public transport for some journeys each week
  • Reducing emissions: Opt to rideshare (also known as liftshare, carpool, and sometimes, confusingly, carshare) on some regular commutes ▼

Ridesharing is where two or more individuals share a car journey. This may be on regular journeys, typically a commute to work, thereby saving a proliferation of single-occupancy vehicles on the road. It is done by schemes where drivers with empty seats are connected to passengers wanting to travel.5

Ridesharing reduces congestion and emissions

The costs and driving are shared so people save a lot of money and have less tiring journeys.

For security, in many operations you can review feedback and ratings from other people who have travelled with a person (driver or passenger). You can also stipulate female-only shared rides, and there are other security measures.6 However, only some operations implement proper security measures, so check first.

Often the details of rides are arranged via an app or website, which are sometimes organized by an employer. Some apps are directed at specific groups of people, such as parents doing the school run: the parents know each other, and can take turns in taking children to school.8

Ridesharing is also useful for one-off trips, such as to a festival, to college, or trips to visit relatives. So if you can, try offering seats in your car, or looking for a ride. It will save money and emissions.

Much of ridesharing could also be organized informally by groups, such as parents, or by a community notice on a local forum, such as Nextdoor sites online, where rides wanted or offered could be listed.

Whichever way you do your ridesharing, please pledge here whether for regular trips, or on one-off trips. If you cannot currently do ridesharing due to COVID-19 restrictions, but intend to at some point, the please return to pledge action when you start.

Some ridesharing schemes ▼

Examples of schemes are BlaBlaCar, which is mainly for longer journeys (primarily Europe, but also India, Brazil and Mexico), LiftShare in the U.K., and GoKid (worldwide, but may no longer be operational). Some ridesharing operations may be unavailable due to COVID-19. Others continue to operate with additional safety measures, such as restricting rides to a single passenger in the back, and the requirement for occupants to wear masks.

Close section ▲

 
Rideshare to replace some single-occupancy car trips each week

Close section ▲

Car ownership ▼

This section includes the pledge to use an electric car, or choose carsharing instead of owning your own car. If you have already made any of these changes, please pledge anyway. Those who simply do not own a car see the first option.

  • Car-free ▼

If you have never owned a car or have given up owning one, please select this option.

Close section ▲

 
Be car-free
  • From car owner to carsharer (and so car-free) ▼

Carsharing operations, or car clubs, are quite a transformational concept: a member can use shared cars (also vans, bikes and e-bikes), so that they do not need to own a car themselves. This benefits the individual by removing the costs of car ownership (insurance, depreciation, servicing etc).

Carsharing works well in cities

It also encourages people to drive less, plan trips, use more public transport and more active modes of transport, like walking and cycling. Benefits to the climate are magnified since a member has access to electric cars.

This works particularly well in cities where there is good public transport and where you can walk or cycle. When you want to use a car, you lease it from a self-service location (24hrs a day), for the time you need, which can be for minutes, hours or longer.

For more information and carsharing organisations or clubs see, for example, Carsharing, Carsharing members (North America, Australia and New Zealand), zipcar (US, Canada, Costa Rica, Iceland, Taiwan, Turkey and UK) and co-wheels.org (UK).

Note that sometimes ridesharing (see previous section) is also called carsharing, but ridesharing is about sharing journeys, not cars.

Close section ▲

 
Be a carsharer instead of a car owner
  • Reducing emissions by using an electric car ▼

If the options above do not meet all your needs, then owning an electric car can be an environmentally friendly alternative to fossil fuel cars (especially the fashionable large SUVs) and a symbol of your environmental credentials.7 However, the electricity used to recharge the car also needs to come from low-carbon sources (see Electricity background).

Other benefits include a much lower running cost for fuel, tax benefits and other financial incentives, and lower maintenance costs. You might also have access to bus lanes.

Close section ▲

 
Use an electric car

Close section ▲

Air transport: pledge options

Reducing emissions by flying less or not at all ▼

Flying, for just a few of us, has become an integral part of life, whether for leisure or career. But flying contributes a huge amount to our individual emissions, dominating most other contributions – see the background on air transport.

So if we are serious about doing what we can to slow global warming and its impacts, then it is crucial to do all we can to avoid unnecessary flying.

Holidays, for example, could be taken closer to home or we could take longer to get there by using alternative transport. Since COVID-19 we have adapted very well to virtual conferences and business meetings through video links, so this is good to continue.

Some flights, however, may seem unavoidable and necessary to us, such as attending an academic conference to further a career, or travelling the world as a travel programme presenter. But in many cases there are alternatives to prioritizing one’s own needs above the needs of the planet. We just need to be innovative, and to suggest innovations. For example, if all career-carving academics made a stand, nobody’s career would benefit above others, and the travel programmers could employ people locally in other parts of the world.
The situation is now so desperate that we need to prioritize the planet over other personal needs. This is not merely for the emissions that it saves, but also for the message it sends to those around us.

Agreed there are some cases where face-to-face contact may be important and we may not be able to avoid all flights. But it is important to honestly evaluate whether it is truly necessary, and whether the flights can be reduced. For example, where we have family living at a great distance overseas, we may not want to avoid it altogether. But with the advent of contact through video links, where we can speak and see family and friends regularly, we might be able to reduce flights.

So please pledge what you can here, and maybe return to increase your pledge as you make the transition. And frequent flyers, you know what needs to be done.

 
Limit to 1 flight a year
 
Limit to 1 flight every 3-4 years
 
Stay on the ground

Close section ▲

Footnotes ▼

i There are many benefits to having fewer cars on the road: there is less congestion; less air and noise pollution; journey times are reduced; and other modes of transport can be much cheaper.

1. i There are many benefits to having fewer cars on the road: there is less congestion; less air and noise pollution; journey times are reduced; and other modes of transport can be much cheaper.

i Physical activity, even small amounts, can reduce our risks of developing illnesses such as heart disease, stroke, osteoarthritis, bone fractures and cancer. It can also reduce the risk of dying early by 20-30%. In general, exercise makes us feel better, sleep better and have more energy. Check out the ‘Physical Activity’ Factsheet available from the World Health Organization.

2. i Physical activity, even small amounts, can reduce our risks of developing illnesses such as heart disease, stroke, osteoarthritis, bone fractures and cancer. It can also reduce the risk of dying early by 20-30%. In general, exercise makes us feel better, sleep better and have more energy. Check out the ‘Physical Activity’ Factsheet available from the World Health Organization.

i Some online farm shops do fruit and vegetable boxes with seasonal produce and very little packaging.

3. i Some online farm shops do fruit and vegetable boxes with seasonal produce and very little packaging.

IEA (2020), Tracking Transport 2020, IEA, Paris https://www.iea.org/reports/tracking-transport-2020.

4. IEA (2020), Tracking Transport 2020, IEA, Paris https://www.iea.org/reports/tracking-transport-2020.

i An informal form of ridesharing is simply offering seats to neighbours, family or friends when making journeys that they might also be planning.

5. i An informal form of ridesharing is simply offering seats to neighbours, family or friends when making journeys that they might also be planning.

i View other examples of security practices implemented in ridesharing from Liftshare.

6. i View other examples of security practices implemented in ridesharing from Liftshare.

i In the background section on transport it is reported that the growth in SUVs, along with road freight, is responsible for the growth in transport emissions.

7. i In the background section on transport it is reported that the growth in SUVs, along with road freight, is responsible for the growth in transport emissions.

i Be aware that ridesharing/carpooling is only effective at reducing emissions if the driver is not making the journey specially, like a taxi service, which seems to be the case for some so-called ridesharing schemes.

8. i Be aware that ridesharing/carpooling is only effective at reducing emissions if the driver is not making the journey specially, like a taxi service, which seems to be the case for some so-called ridesharing schemes.

Close section ▲

Close section ▲

Food choices matter

Plant-based food ▼

Our choice of which foods to eat, whether we choose mainly plant-based foods or mainly meat and dairy produce, can have a very different impact on the environment and on global warming.

Producing plant foods contributes around half the greenhouse gas emissions of animal foods, and far less of the potent gas methane, which warms our planet so much faster.

With current food production, we are on the limits of the land available and, in many areas, the available water. But a switch to mainly plant-based foods would save vast amounts of land and water, and enable us to feed far more people.1 Land made available can also be used to allow the growth of natural vegetation to help us get to zero net emissions.2 Switching to mainly plant-based foods would also avoid the suffering of many animals. If you want to know more, see: Plant-based foods: why do they matter?

If each of us shifts all or most of our food to plant-based produce, then, collectively, we can make significant reductions in our emissions. But we need to start now.

If you have already chosen to be vegan or vegetarian, please affirm your commitment.

If you are just starting to cut out animal products, then you may want to start gradually to give yourself time. For instance, you might need to find ways to cook things and find good sources of produce. You will also want to ensure the food contains the nutrients that you need. You can always return to update your pledges. Expand the resources section below the pledges for information on vegan or vegetarian recipes, nutrition, health and environmental benefits .

Pledge options to reduce emissions from our food
 
Food: Be meat free (preferably dairy free) 1-2 days a week
 
Food: Be meat free (preferably dairy free) 3-6 days a week
 
Food: Be flexitarian (only very occasional meat, fish, dairy)
 
Food: Be vegetarian (no meat or fish)
 
Food: Be vegan (no meat, fish or dairy products)

Some resources: ▼

Footnotes ▼

i More people can be fed with fewer resources if intensive farming (also known as industrial agriculture) is replaced by sustainable intensification. Sustainable intensification also avoids the harm to the environment (and animals) caused by intensive farming.

1. i More people can be fed with fewer resources if intensive farming (also known as industrial agriculture) is replaced by sustainable intensification. Sustainable intensification also avoids the harm to the environment (and animals) caused by intensive farming.

i When the land reverts to natural vegetation, CO2 is removed from the air and the carbon is stored in plants and soils. The land may then become a sink.

2. i When the land reverts to natural vegetation, CO2 is removed from the air and the carbon is stored in plants and soils. The land may then become a sink.

Close section ▲
Food with no air miles ▼

A lot of imported food is transported by ship, but some, typically items that perish quickly, come by air. This adds significantly to the emissions associated with a product.

An example is provided by Our World In Data: 1 kg of asparagus flown 10000km by air from Peru would cost 11.3kg CO2eq, but only 0.26kg CO2eq if transported by ship.1 The actual cost of producing asparagus is around 0.4 kg CO2eq per kg, so the air transport is a much larger proportion of the emissions.2

So a small change to remove these foods from our plates can make a big difference. Please pledge here if you want to make that change, and check some ways to achieve it below.

 
Food: Choose food that has no air miles
Options to avoid foods that are flown ▼
  • Visit local markets to buy fruit and vegetables from local farms, but check whether any produce has travelled by air from elsewhere.
  • Order vegetable and fruit boxes online from local farms (the farms are often local even if the head office is not). Their website usually states their policy on food that is flown.
  • At the supermarket, check the country of origin on the label of fruit or vegetables that perish quickly. If it has come from the other side of the world, it is likely that is was flown to prevent it from deteriorating in transport.

Supermarkets don’t usually label their food with how it was transported, so you could ask them to label, or separate, the food that travels by air, so that customers can make a choice.

Footnotes ▼

i The calculation of emissions when transported by air or sea was done as follows: AIR transport: 10000km*0.00113kg (1.13kgCO2eq per tonne-kilometre/1000) =11.3kg CO2eq per kg of asparagus. SEA: 10000km *0.000026kg (0.026 CO2eq per tonne-kilometre/1000) = 0.26kg CO2eq per kg of asparagus. See ref 2.

1.i The calculation of emissions when transported by air or sea was done as follows: AIR transport: 10000km*0.00113kg (1.13kgCO2eq per tonne-kilometre/1000) =11.3kgCO2eq per kg of asparagus. SEA: 10000km*0.000026kg (0.026 CO2eq per tonne-kilometre/1000) = 0.26kg CO2eq per kg of asparagus. See ref 2.

See ‘Whether food travels by sea or air’ in: Hannah Ritchie (2020) – “Environmental impacts of food production”. Published online at OurWorldInData.org. Retrieved from: ‘https://ourworldindata.org/environmental-impacts-of-food’ [Online Resource].

2. See ‘Whether food travels by sea or air’ in: Hannah Ritchie (2020) – “Environmental impacts of food production”. Published online at OurWorldInData.org. Retrieved from: ‘https://ourworldindata.org/environmental-impacts-of-food’ [Online Resource].

Close section ▲
Food in season ▼

To have the choice of any fruit or vegetable at any time of year requires more energy, and produces more emissions, than only having the choice of in-season foods. Why is this? To grow food out of season might, for example, require energy to heat greenhouses, or energy might be needed to refrigerate or preserve foods that have been harvested in order to be eaten later. Note that produce may be in season in another country, even if it is not in your own, so providing it is not transported by air, it can still be a lower energy alternative. Some ways to avoid out-of-season fruit and vegetables are listed below.

 
Food: Choose seasonal food
Options to buy mainly seasonal food ▼
  • Buy from local farmers markets, or local greengrocers where you can check which of the produce is in season
  • Order fruit and vegetables from a supplier that makes clear the seasonal alternatives on their website.

Supermarkets do not label which fruit and vegetables are in-season, so you might ask them to make clear the foods that are in season.

Close section ▲

Consumption

Fast fashion▼

There have been many reports of the social and environmental impacts of the fashion industry. These include the significant contribution to greenhouse gas emissions, the pollution of waterways, the consumption of large quantities of water and increased demands on the limited land available. Poor health and safety standards for the workforce, low-incomes,forced labour and child labour are some of the social impacts.

Cutting corners helps to bring the fashion to us at low prices. Although some improvements are being made to reduce impacts, most of the industry continues to promote fast fashion: the rapid production of new fashions, sometimes weekly, at very cheap prices. It lures consumers into buying more frequently to stay up-to-date, and to discard the old after just a few outings.

Fast fashion exploits resources without regard to the limits on those resources. And the incentives to discard clothes means the energy, gas emissions, water pollution, use of land and the drain on water resources, which exacerbates water scarcity, have been in vain. And when clothes end up in landfill or are incinerated, they add even more emissions and pollution. These impacts will increase as the population grows by an estimated 2 billion by 2050.

But we, the consumer, can change this. We need to extend the life of clothing to make the most of the resources that have been used (in production), and so that the pollution and greenhouse gas emissions have not been in vain. But we also need to cut down on the purchase of new clothing to avoid the additional use of resources and environmental impacts. So the longer we keep each item and do not buy so much new, the fewer the impacts our clothing will have.

Buying fewer new clothing items ▼

The single most important thing we can do is to simply stop buying so many new items.

If we buy new occasionally, buy better quality so that it lasts longer. It may be slightly more expensive, but then if you only buy 1 item, for example, for every 10 you used to buy, you can pay 10 times what you used to pay (less frequently). This will also support fashion suppliers that are switching to slow fashion and sustainable clothing.

To extend the life of even the better quality items, try repairing them – sew on buttons stitch up torn seams (tutorials abound). If you no longer like a fashion, dressmakers can do alterations. Otherwise donate your item to charity shops or sell to other preowned clothing retailers.

But if the item is not in a good enough state for this, rather than sending it to landfill cut it up for other purposes, such as a cushion cover, cleaning cloth, car rag or for irrigating your greenhouse plants. And when an item has ended its life span, instead of buying new each time, choose an item from the stocks in charity shops, or preowned retailers, swap an old item for another in swap shops, or even try renting the item.

Close section ▲

 
Consumption: Buy a lot fewer new clothes
Options to buy sustainable clothing ▼

Even with the best will in the world it can be difficult and time-consuming finding sustainable and ethical fashion at affordable prices. Some high street stores and online shops may not sell it at all. Others may have a ‘sustainable range’, often hard to locate on websites. And, in some cases, sustainable just means that the clothing contains some small, or unspecified, percentage of sustainable fibres.

For this reason it is often easier to restrict the search to stores that sell only sustainable and ethical clothing – then there is less need to check the material or origin for its sustainability or ethics. See the Resources section below for a list of affordable, ethical and sustainable clothing retailers.

Whether we shop in stores that sell only sustainable clothes, or ones that sell both, there are still choices to be made since even sustainable fabrics still have some environmental impacts. For example, even though recycled polyester in clothing uses less energy, it still releases microplastic fibres into the ocean and food chain after washing.

Impacts aside, at present the most common more sustainable fabrics include those made from recycled fibres, organic cotton, linen, hemp and Lyocell/Tencel (sometimes labelled Lenzing Tencel).

Common fibres to avoid are those made from fossil fuels, including polyester (non-recycled) and acrylic, non-organic cotton and viscose or rayon. For sustainable fabrics and others to avoid see the Resources section below.

Resources:

Cheap and sustainable clothing retailers: Lists the current best sustainable stores selling only sustainable clothing.

Sustainable fabrics and those to avoid: also explains what the environmental impacts are.

Close section ▲

 
Consumption: Buy clothing made more sustainably
Close section ▲