The Nine Ways to Prevent Climate Change (proven science!)
If you read a paper or turn on the news, what do you think the answer is to prevent climate change? Don’t fly or drive, turn off the heating, or stick wind turbines everywhere?
In fact, some of these are not true, others need a bit more information.
97% of climate scientists say that climate change (which is very very serious, even if it’s not fashionable to say so) is caused by humans (the other 3% are funded by the oil industry).
Here are the nine official ways we can collectively help, as told by Imperial College (with climate scientists who undoubtedly know more than we do – or Farage or Trump for that matter).
Climate change does cause droughts and heatwaves, but also freak weather like storms and snow. History has always had warm/cold periods, but not at the rate we have now.
This means that creatures don’t have time to adapt (global warming is affecting migrating, breeding and survival). And as glaciers melt on Greenland, this is making everything far worse.
It’s not too late. But watering-down environmental policies will be.
Reform UK and the Conservatives both have ripped up plans for action on climate change. But Labour policy of sticking wind turbines everywhere is also not the answer.
The solution is in less oil, through walkable communities, insulating old homes and organic food (pesticides use oil), and living simple sustainable lives.
For a mainstream political party to turn its back on the science in a desperate race because it threatens their profits, is political suicide. Friends of the Earth
Firefighters are having to battle both wildfires and floods. Farmers’ crop yields are hit by extreme drought and floods. We are running out of time. Yet Reform UK wish to scrap climate action. Campaign Against Climate Change
Either we prevent 1.5 degree (Celsius) of warming or we don’t. Either we avoid setting off that irreversible chain reaction beyond human control or we don’t. There are no grey areas when it comes to survival. Greta Thunberg
1. Make Your Voice Heard
Always register and use your vote (you can opt out of the electoral register that’s sold on, or even vote anonymously for safety concerns or privacy). There’s only so much we can do, it’s up to politicians to get on board to do the rest, by making laws.
Write to MPs and councillors to ask them what their policies are, and how they voted.
2. Eat Less Meat and Dairy
It’s good to go plant-based, but if you can’t right now, at least try to eat mostly vegan foods. We don’t have enough land for everyone to eat free-range, and factory livestock farming is one of the biggest emitters of greenhouse gases (due to factory and ‘poo’ emissions).
Find plant-based recipes to start you off.
3. Cut Back on Flying
Again, nobody’s saying you can’t ever go on a plane again. But try taking the train or stayvacations, and use Zoom for business meetings abroad.
Read tips to go greener at the airport.
4. Leave the Car at Home
For short trips, try walking or cycling! Try car-sharing clubs to only use cars when you need them.
5. Reduce Your Energy Use and Bills
You don’t need to turn down energy to be cold. Get a radiator booster to massively reduce bills, and apply for home insulation grants for older homes.
Switch over to Ecotricity, a green energy company that doesn’t use abattoir waste.
6. Respect and Protect Green Spaces
Again, this is mostly through how you vote, to ensure wild spaces are not paved over or built on. But you can also volunteer for local projects and grow your own organic gardens.
Read more on no-dig gardening and humane slug/snail deterrents. If you live with animal friends, read up on pet-friendly gardens (some recommended flowers and fruit trees are not safe). Also avoid netting to protect food (just leave some for wildlife!)
7. Bank and Invest Money Responsibly
Where you bank is important, as most banks invest in fossil fuels and other nasties.
Bank and invest your money responsibly.
You can still switch banks if you’re in debt.
8. Cut Consumption and Waste
Live simply! Go for nature walks, read books from the library, sleep more, play with animals and children, just be in the moment, visit church and evening classes, listen to music.
Anything that doesn’t involve revolving your world around consumption, waste and shopping!
9. Talk About the Changes You Make
This is likely the least important. Banging on about how green you are, is likely not going to make you a lot of friends. Instead, just lead by example and hopefully others will follow!
