Introduction

A recent survey led by Bath University highlighted that six in 10 young people felt worried or extremely worried by climate change - and almost half on a daily basis.

Environmental concerns have hit the news recently, with the United Nation’s 26th Climate Change Conference (COP26) occupying the first two weeks of November 2021, with guests and attendees including British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, natural historian David Attenborough, and environmental activist Greta Thunberg.

It’s likely that you, or somebody you know, is experiencing a form of climate anxiety or eco anxiety. and even if not, chances are you’ve considered your own impact on the planet.

“It’s one minute to midnight, and we need to act now,” claimed Boris Johnson, but what can we do, especially if most of us don't find ourselves in charge of countries? We’ve compiled this list of both feasible and more challenging ideas to point you in the right direction against global warming, and provide actionable ways to ease your anxiety.

Campaigning and voting

Young activist Greta Thunberg has garnered international attention over the last few years for her intense campaigning and lobbying against climate change. With her help, even the least interested consumers have become aware of their environmental impacts. 

In her documentary, I Am Greta, Thunberg points out that, down the line, it's the young people of today that are the ones most likely to be affected by the ramifications of climate change. However, there is not enough time left to wait for our leaders of tomorrow to deal with this further down the line.

So, how can we take back control, and encourage leaders to act now? Practicing your right to vote is key in the fight against climate change. The more politicians realize that there's voting power behind green policies, the more they'll work to incorporate them into their leadership proposals. So, the next time you pick up the ballot paper, consider the party’s ethical approaches.

We have not taken to the streets for you to take selfies with us and tell us that you really admire what we do. We children are doing this for you to put your differences aside and start acting as you would in a crisis.

- Greta Thunberg (I Am Greta - Nathan Grossman)

Consider the power of your dollar

You work hard for your money in order to buy the things you want, but have you ever considered where your money after it's left your wallet? Sometimes, it's the biggest players in the industry that are behind some of the most tragic acts, including slave and child labor, water and air pollution, and irresponsibly-sourced materials. As Elizabeth L. Cline points out in her book Overdressed, the fast fashion industry has attracted increasing attention over the last few years because of the ways that increased production of cheap clothing has contributed to mass waste, increased carbon emissions, and low wages for workers.

Rather than buying multiple cheap t-shirts from a so-called ‘fast fashion’ retailer, why not consider investing in an ethically sourced t-shirt that’s both built to last, and kinder to the environment? For example, companies like Patagonia pride themselves on their eco-credentials, and even offer schemes where you can send your clothes back to be repaired rather than to go to landfill. An extra bit of research into a company's credentials - and their green policies - doesn't take long, but choosing to funnel your funds into these companies over ones with little interest in environmental impact can have great long-term effects (and ease your conscience a little too). If nothing else, companies are often motivated by market force - so if businesses clock that it's the companies with more considerate, conscientious green policies that are getting business, you best believe they'll start working towards becoming more 'green' too.

Similarly, there’s more to banking and investing than you may believe. Your money could be helping to fund dirty industries like oil and coal - take an extra five minutes to check the small-print to be sure about how your money is being spent.

We should be willing to own less and pay more... the price we pay for things is connected to other people's paychecks, which ultimately comes back to fortify our own communities.

- Elizabeth L. Cline (Overdressed - Elizabeth L. Cline)

Recycling and composting

Most of us have been recycling for decades, and now don’t even think twice about putting tin cans in the recycling bin.

However, the reality is that even the most vigilant of us could be missing things, experts say. When recycling, for example, are you washing out all contaminants so that the material can be processed effectively?

Let’s take a piece of tissue or kitchen roll, for example. Yes, it can be recycled, but that’s only if it’s clean. If it’s been used to dry up anything other than water, maybe you’re already disposing of it in the general waste. But have you thought about composting? Whether that’s in your own garden, or in the council-provided food bins, you could be helping to prevent overflowing landfill sites.

Above all else, you can reduce the amount of waste you produce in the first place by shopping for loose produce and buying less overall.

Growing more of your own produce is a great way to help you get there. For example, have you ever thought about making your own sourdough? If this was one hobby you didn't try in lockdown, we've got a beginner's course on producing your first sourdough starter to try out. Meanwhile, Barbara Kingsolver's Animal, Vegetable, Miracle is a great beginner's guide to growing your own fruit and veg.

"Sustainable dietary improvements require a realistic targeted approach that focuses on progressive improvements in your diet without the fear of failure that comes when you try to achieve unrealistic dietary goals.

- Maya Adam (Stanford Introduction to Food and Health - Maya Adam)

Being more conscientious in our water use

‘Why should we conserve water?’ you ask. ‘It’s an unlimited resource.’ While this is partly true, it takes a lot of energy treatment of water to make it safe for human consumption uses a lot of energy, so while you can use harvested water to your heart’s content, try to limit your tap water usage.

There’s no sense of value to what is really an incredibly invaluable resource in water. But when we run out, we find what the cost of water truly is.

- (The World’s Water Crisis - Joe Posner and Ezra Klein)

Taking a shower, instead of a bath, for example, can use less than half the amount of water. It could even be better for your skin, too, say dermatologists.

Consider your diet

We’re not just talking about reducing your meat and dairy intake here, although that’s no bad thing, with a typical burger producing a carbon footprint of up to 10 times the equivalent vegan alternative. 

It’s also a good idea to consider when and where you buy your food. Air miles, associated with importing food from far away countries, have a lasting impact on the environment. Instead, consider buying locally sourced produce that’s in season.

On top of this, actively seek out the least appealing fruit and veg, because chances are they’ll find their way into landfill. Supermarkets offer ‘wonky’ alternatives which would otherwise have gone to waste.

To me, it’s sort of funny that wasting food is not taboo. It’s one of the last environmental ills you can get away with.

- Jonathan Bloom (Just Eat It - Grant Baldwin - Grant Baldwin)

Reduce your energy usage at home

Most boilers have a timer function, which can be used to program the heating to turn off when we’re away from work. Many of us are now opting for smart thermostats which are able to more accurately determine when we are home and when is best to begin preheating.

Regardless of how you control your heating, it has been found that between 18 and 19 degrees Celsius strikes the best balance between saving energy and comfort. 

Rather than heating an entire house or room, consider heating individual items. Whether that’s your body with an extra jumper or the bed with an efficient electric blanket.

""Why do the options of wind, solar and biofuels flow from our minds so freely as solutions to our various energy dilemmas, while conservation and walkable neighborhoods do not? Why do we seem to have a predisposition for preferring production over energy reduction?""
- Ozzie Zehner (Green Illusions - Ozzie Zehner)

Other Knowledge Hacks Recommended by Uptime

There are so many five-minute Knowledge Hacks on Uptime that we couldn’t possibly begin to explore each and every one of them in this article. Here are a few more that are worthy of your attention:

All We Can Save - Ayana Elizabeth Johnson, Katharine K. Wilkinson

This book explores how we should be prepared to cope with ourselves psychologically as well as the environment in a climate crisis

Humankind: A Hopeful History - Rutger Bregman

Maybe we are good deep down, and it just takes something to flip that switch?

Courage is Calling: Ryan Holiday

Holiday explores how we can overcome temporary fear and cultivate courage.

A Life on Our Planet - David Attenborough

World-famous David Attenborough shares some of his deepest concerns

There is No Planet B - Mike Berners-LeeMike Berners-Lee

Berners-Lee examines how the least responsible countries get hit the hardest, and how so-called developed countries can change their attitudes

The New Climate War - Michael E. Mann

In this book, Mann highlights the fossil fuel industry as one of our greatest problems.

RiverBlue - David McIlvride, Roger Williams

As revealed in this documentary, results are measured in the short term - economic growth, fashion - but the environment pays for it in the long term.

Summary

While it may seem that we are hopelessly, and aimlessly, trying to do our bit for the environment, the reality is that we are collectively making an impact. 

Regardless, large corporations are the most responsible. The good news, though, is that we can still make an impact on how they do business. To read more about this, find out with this article here.

Follow us & share

Facebook

Twitter

LinkedIn