Our planet is under attack from environmentally destructive forces of all kinds. Coal-burning power plants still exist, spewing massive amounts of toxic emissions into our skies. These harmful discharges include mercury, fly ash, sulfur dioxide, and nitrogen oxide.
Beautiful rainforests formerly rich in stunning biodiversity are being systematically destroyed to make way for livestock and palm oil plantations. Wildlife is being relentlessly hunted to the brink of extinction for bushmeat and medicinal products, and overgrazing is causing widespread soil degradation.
These days, climate change is a hot conversational topic. However, if we’re going to save the planet, we need to move from discussing it to doing something about it.
Here are 50 ways you can reduce climate change: let’s get started!
Urge governments to take drastic climate action
Call your representatives to share your views on environmental topics, and vote for politicians who take a stand to support environmental issues.
Hold a climate-themed art show
Taking action to reduce global warming doesn’t have to be deadly serious all the time. Instead, get creative by putting on a climate-themed art show.
Cut down on the mountains of junk mail
On the scale of environmentally unsound practices, you might rate junk mail low. However, it adds up over time. Services like CatalogChoice.org get your address removed from catalog listings.
Take a shower instead of a bath
Reveling in the sumptuous delights of a leisurely bath is one of life’s greatest pleasures. Unfortunately, it consumes more resources than a quick shower.
Don’t run the water when brushing your teeth
Turning off the faucet when brushing your teeth can save up to five gallons of water every day.
Recycle hangers
You probably have tons of wire hangers in your closet. Unfortunately, most recycling centers won’t take them. The solution is to take them to a dry cleaner.
Cut down on clothes buying
The fashion industry is responsible for 10% of global carbon emissions. By purchasing fewer new clothes, we can conserve our cash while slowing down the pace of climate change.
Say no to half loads
Running a full load of laundry saves 3,400 gallons of water a year. Try to do this as much as possible — even if it means doubling up with others.
Dry clothes outdoors
Many people throw their just-washed clothes into an electric dryer, which transforms their home into a sweltering jungle. Because doing this isn’t good for the planet, hang your clothes on a rack indoors or outdoors instead.
Recycle your cell phone
Millions of cell phones are thrown into landfills every year, causing toxic chemicals to leak into the ecosystem. Recycle yours instead.
Reuse instead of disposing
Reusing as much as you can helps to decrease the amount of trash in landfills. For example, transform an empty coffee tin into a storage container for miscellaneous household items.
Don’t waste paper
If you need to use paper, don’t let any of it go to waste. This means printing on both sides and using every inch when taking notes.
Shop at thrift stores
Few pleasures in life can rival snagging a once-in-a-lifetime secondhand store bargain. Even better, thrift store purchases cut down on the manufacture of new products, thus reducing carbon emissions.
Clear out your attic
You probably have a ton of junk in your attic you don’t need. By taking it to your local thrift store, you’ll be cutting down on the manufacture of new items and reducing the waste that goes to landfill.
Take breaks from being a carnivore
The decisions we make about food can have profound environmental consequences. For example, reducing the amount of meat in your diet helps decrease greenhouse gases.
Chow down on leftovers
Aim to meal prep to avoid wasting groceries, and opt to eat leftovers instead of ordering out.
Try organic gardening
Growing your own veggies decreases carbon emissions. For maximum benefit, stick to organic gardening. If you need to buy gardening supplies, remember to use your Aspiration Zero card.
Reduce use of gasoline-powered lawn tools
Because using a gas-powered mower for an hour pollutes up to 12 times more than the average automobile, try using human-powered tools like push mowers and hand clippers when gardening.
Create a certified wildlife habitat in your backyard
By creating a certified wildlife habitat in your backyard, you provide a way for wildlife to cope better with climate change.
Host a climate-themed dinner party
Invite friends, family, and acquaintances for a fabulous climate-themed dinner party. Serve delicious farm-to-table food or have everyone bring a vegan dish.
Learn a new environmental skill
Your local adult learning center often has classes on environmental topics like gardening, composting, and recycling. Check to see what’s available and bring a friend along.
Take part in a neighborhood cleanup
You don’t have to dedicate years of your life to volunteering for some far-away environmental project. By helping a local group clean up, you’ll be helping to beautify the planet.
Take kids for a hike
One of the best ways to foster environmental awareness is by starting them young. Taking kids for a hike is a terrific way to instill an appreciation of our planet.
Do a fun project with your kids
Another way to teach your kids about global warming is by doing a fun environmental project with them.
Purchase a reusable water bottle
90% of plastic water bottles don’t get recycled. That’s one humongous reason to invest in a refillable water bottle.
Find greener ways to get around town
Find ways to get around town that are more environmentally sound, such as carpooling and bicycling. This will help you save the planet and lose weight.
Invest in a cargo bike
Cargo bikes are the workhorses of the bicycle world, allowing you to transport up to 300 pounds of goods. Using one for errands instead of driving helps cut down on harmful greenhouse gas emissions.
Transform old junk into something beautiful
Upcycling is repurposing old items to create something new, and it’s also good for the environment. If more people upcycled, fewer products would need to be created from scratch, saving on raw materials and energy consumption.
Volunteer for an eco-friendly charity
Volunteer your time to help a local charity working to mitigate the effects of climate change. For example, staffing tables at cool ecological get-togethers.
Choose fair trade
By buying Fair Trade products, you’re saving the environment from unsustainable manufacturing processes. You also ensure that artisans in developing nations make a decent wage for their efforts.
Shop locally
Even if your support of local businesses cuts down on only a tiny amount of environmentally destructive greenhouse gases, every bit helps. Using your Aspiration Zero credit card allows you to track your carbon footprint when you shop!
Power down appliances and devices
Powering down your computer before you hit the hay saves energy and money. Unplugging appliances like televisions and hairdryers when you’re not using them is another fantastic environment-saving habit.
Develop a company-wide initiative
Ask your boss if you can create a recycling program, implement ways to reduce power usage in your department, or do other things to reduce your company’s carbon footprint.
Purchase reusable grocery bags
Single-use plastic bags are a big environmental no-no. By forgoing them in favor of reusable grocery bags, you’ll reduce the manufacturing of plastics that hurt our planet.
Harness the power of social media
Social media has immense untapped potential if used as a force for good. For example, go on Facebook to share articles about charitable organizations that combat climate change.
Buy sunscreen that doesn’t harm coral reefs
Did you know there are chemicals in some sunscreen lotions that hurt coral reefs? Ensure your beach products are “reef safe” before letting them wash into the ocean while swimming.
Engage in a bit of self-education
Read a book on the effects of climate change, watch a documentary on renewable energy, or attend a workshop that will help you learn about ecological issues.
Go on a walk to raise climate change consciousness
Becoming an environmentally conscious Forrest Gump is a powerful way to shine a spotlight on climate change, even if you don’t walk across the country.
Make sure your toilet works
Because most high water bills are due to an always running toilet, make sure yours works properly. Better yet, invest in a water-saving toilet.
Weather-proof your house
Make your residence more energy-efficient by sealing drafts and ensuring that everything is sufficiently insulated. You can even get tax credits for these kinds of home improvements.
Keep your tires properly inflated
If every US citizen kept their tires properly inflated, we could save up to 1.2 billion gallons of gasoline every year.
Invest in carbon offsets
Counterbalance the carbon you create by buying carbon offsets. Doing this adds clean power to the nation’s energy grid in place of the fossil fuel you use.
Check the air filter on your furnace
A filthy furnace filter slows down airflow, making your heating system work that much harder. This increases energy costs, costing both you and the planet.
Dial back your water heater temperature
Most water heaters are set at 140°F. What many people don’t know is that 120°F is probably sufficient. By turning your thermostat down, you’ll save money while saving the planet.
Eliminate unnecessary accessories from your automobile’s roof
Roof racks and storage shells reduce fuel efficiency by approximately 5%. Take them off and store them when you don’t need them.
Use a laptop instead of a desktop
Because desktops use four times as much energy as your average laptop, you should use a laptop when possible. Also, turn your computer off when you’re away from your desk.
Lobby for a carbon tax
Carbon taxes make it super expensive to pollute. If your city doesn’t have a carbon tax, lobby for one.
Don’t fly as often
Because flying creates such a gigantic carbon footprint, consider more environmentally friendly travel options such as buses or trains.
Reuse hotel towels
Reusing your hotel towels instead of getting new ones every day saves water and energy.
Cut down on heating and cooling expense
Instead of cranking up the heater, put on a sweater. Try to use the air conditioner less and fans more.
Help reverse climate change with Aspiration Zero
At Aspiration, we’d like to add one more way of reducing climate change to the list: planting trees.
For every purchase you make with our Aspiration Zero carbon-neutral credit card, we’ll plant a tree on your behalf. Trees remove heat-trapping carbon dioxide and other harmful greenhouse emissions from the air, helping to cool our planet.
Being a card-carrying member of our neobank puts the power to take decisive environmental action right in your wallet.
