What to do about climate change? 5 ways to make an impact now!

Without a doubt we all have had a moment where we feel like we should do something to fight climate change. This is not because we messed things up drastically, it is actually quite the opposite. Previous generations have not been paying any attention to the environment and this leaves us with one of the biggest challenges ever. So we don’t really have a choice, we simply have to fix it. But where to start and what to do about climate change? In this blog I share six ways so that you can make an impact now, even if it’s only a minor impact!

Don’t expect to solve the whole problem

Before we take a look at all the things we can do about climate change it is good to realize that you are not going to solve the whole problem. At least, not at first. You also don’t have to fix the whole problem! All the minor changes everybody makes will lead to a big impact. The key is to start small and make an impact in your life and community before wanting to change the whole world. If you think otherwise, please prove me wrong! I’m happy to help. 

What to do about climate change?

Well, as I said before you are most probably not going to change the world and fix the whole problem. And that’s fine! So for those that want to contribute on a smaller skill, I have a few ways you can still make an impact. 

Talk about climate change with family and friends

Climate change is not the most common discussion to have with family and friends, at least for me. The only time we talk about it is when it pops up in the news and we realize we are doomed. This may only be a 20 minutes topic before we return to our routine.

The first and maybe even the most important step is to talk about what to do about climate change with family and friends. This way the subject will be on top of everybody’s mind more often than before. You might wonder: ‘How do I begin a conversation like this?’. A perfect example is to just start talking about all the trash you see on the streets. I mean, there’s plenty so also enough to talk about. 

Start small in your community

An easy way to make an impact is to start focusing on your own community. This way you don’t have to save the whole world, but you can start by saving your world. Examples of what to do about climate change in your area is to clean up the streets once a week, reconsider ways to travel and wear an extra sweater in the winter instead of turning up the heat. 

Next to this is of course separating your waste. A lot of municipalities already sort waste by having separate containers for homes. Another step in the right direction is to start sorting waste in the office or schools. Since we spend most of our time there it is a good place to start. Mind that when you sort your waste that it doesn’t end up on the same pile in the junkyard. 

Keep plastics usage low

We see more and more that companies are minimizing the use of plastic in packaging. Of course it is almost impossible to stop using plastic products but start to think about more when you have the choice. Quick wins are recyclable bottles and no more plastic bags. Use cotton bags for instance, these are lightweight so you can always carry one in your bog just in case you are going grocery shopping.

Eat the food you buy

Every now and then we buy a lot of food only to find out we’ve fallen for the marketing tricks once again. We buy food that we just don’t need or is only valid for a few days. Before you know it you throw away 30% off all the food you buy. The solutions, only buy what you need! Not only can other people eat the food you otherwise throw away, the food industry can produce less.

Tip: Don’t go to the supermarket after a long day of work or studying. Research has shown that you spend much more when you go to the supermarket hungry. 

Stop fast fashion

How can you resist buying a T-shirt for only ten bucks? I mean, you would be robbing yourself if you didn’t take this deal. But besides this being an awesome deal, it is actually very bad for the environment. The reason for this is because most of these clothes are fast fashion. This means that it will only be worn for one season before people start throwing it away. The usage of water is enormous for every shirt you buy.

Invest money responsibly

Last but not least, for those that are starting to invest or are already investing, invest money responsibly. When you want to contribute to a better tomorrow, invest more in companies that offer green solutions! So don’t invest in the big oil companies but instead go for a sustainable ETF for example.

Talk about the changes you make on climate change

So there are a lot of ways to make a (small) impact on climate change but you can only do so much alone. After you have done a few things, start spreading the word and influence others to make an impact as well. Reading about the things people do has less of an effect than hearing it from your peers. Start making a difference together.

More articles about the environment can be found here.