In 2024, the much-talked of 1.5°C global warming threshold was breached for a full year for the first time, making a cut in global emissions even more urgent. While it can feel impossible to change the course of the planet as an individual, small steps can add up to a big difference, from the way we eat to how we wash our clothes, and the travel choices we make.
Eat a plant-based diet
By 2033, its estimated there will be around 38 billion individual animals on the planet, bred for meat. Livestock emit methane and nitrous oxide – greenhouse gases respectively 28 and 265 times worse than carbon dioxide when it comes to global warming. Vast quantities of land, water, and other resources are required to rear animals. So, eating less meat and reducing the global demand for livestock is one way to reduce emissions. One 2023 UK study published in Nature, estimates that vegan diets put out 75% fewer carbon emissions than carnivores.
Although the emissions data on pets’ diets is debatable due to the amount of offal and animal by-products pets consume, our furry friends too can reduce their emissions by eating more fish or insect protein, and asking their humans to use recycled poo bags.
Take the train instead of flying
Transport emissions contribute a third of the US total and 16% globally. It’s easy to blame cost or the problems with scaling Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) for the issue but individual action can slash emissions significantly. Choosing transport that other humans are simultaneously using, such as trains, buses, and car shares, will lower emissions per kilometre by some way. And trains for long-distance travel can be up to 96% less carbon polluting than air transport, so choosing rail will cut carbon output by a long way.
Buy and wash fewer clothes
The fashion industry is also a global warming culprit, accounting for an astonishing 8-10% of global emissions. Clothes burned in landfill are part of the problem. Buying fewer new garments, especially fast fashion items made from unsustainable fabrics, is one answer. Renting clothes, thrifting and upcycling existing items are good alternatives and to enable this, think about donating instead of chucking unwanted pieces in the bin. More and more people are adopting these practices: the second-hand clothes market is growing faster than any other part of the US sector.
Changing our attitude to clothes washing is also important. We can reduce emissions by turning down the temperature of laundry washes. Bear in mind also that washing synthetic clothes releases microplastics into the water cycle; not what we want.
Consider heating alternatives
Keeping ourselves warm is still about 60% fulfilled by fossil fuels and an International Energy Agency 2024 report says emissions from the heating sector are still growing. Although it can seem that our homes’ energy sources must come from government decisions, householders who can install alternatives to gas boilers such as heat pumps could be part of helping to reduce global CO2 emissions by at least 500 million tonnes. That’s as much as the annual CO2 emissions of all cars in Europe today.
Heat pumps remain expensive and although some countries and regions provide subsidies, not everyone can afford one. Improving insulation in our homes can also make a big difference and can be as simple as putting up a curtain.
Make greener investments
For those lucky enough to have investments choosing ethical stocks and bank accounts can be a way to pressure institutions to change environmental policies. Credit unions or building societies are less likely to have fossil-fuel-heavy funding models.
Many people have pensions and, as pension providers are the largest investors in global markets, if enough of us asked how sustainable their investment practices are, it could help to shift the temperature dial on the environment.
Raise your voice for the planet
The WWF is urgently calling for a new law in the UK, called the Living Planet Act. The petition is available to sign now but people all around the world can contact politicians about environmental concerns, as well as spreading the message by talking to friends and family about eco-actions and sharing relevant information such as the WWF film, Save Our Wild. These sorts of steps help us to feel less powerless and can improve our own mental health.
