How to become a Climate Activist

The IPCC’s special report on Global Warming warns that we have just 12 years to limit global temperature increase to 1.5C. The report also paints an alarming picture of our world if we allow the world to warm by 2.0C.

This seemingly small increase in the world’s average temperature will have a massive impact on our climate and natural world. We will see more extreme weather, droughts, flooding, sea level rises, ice sheet melting, species habitat loss and permafrost thawing.

Are the actions of few people enough to change our future? No, but if we all act together to change our lifestyles and advocate for a cleaner, greener world then we can make a difference.

Learn more about climate change and saving the planet at GreenEatz Books to Save the Planet!

Have Your Say

You need to make your voice heard by politicians, policy-makers, corporations and influential leaders. There are many ways you can have an impact by collective action and individual example.

• Vote for politicians that are actively fighting climate change
• Buy from businesses that follow sustainable practices
• Join an environmental organization and support their program financially
• Attend rallies and events that are supporting green causes
• Tell your friends, neighbors, co-workers why you follow an eco-friendly way of life

Change Your Diet

Project Drawdown ranks the Top 100 solutions to combat climate change. Numbers three and four are Reduced Food Waste and Plant-Rich Diets. Many of us have heard the oft-quoted statistic that American households throw out around a third of the food they buy. There is also the problem of producers throwing out fruit and vegetables that do not look ‘perfect’.

A vegan diet has half the carbon footprint of a meat-eater’s diet. The World Bank believes that animal agriculture produces half of all greenhouse gas emissions, when including associated transportation, deforestation, food storage and, of course, cows farting!

• Eat less meat, fish, milk, cheese and eggs – better still, go vegetarian or vegan
• Buy imperfect produce – join a delivery service or attend farmer’s markets
• Shop wisely and use leftovers to reduce your food waste
• Click here for more tips on reducing your food’s carbon footprint

Travel Clean – By Foot, Bicycle, Bus, Train, EV

Transport is the biggest source of greenhouse gases in the USA at 28.5% of 2016 emissions. Sadly, passenger cars and light-duty trucks drove 45% more miles in 2016 than 1990. Currently, the market has many alternative transport methods that are cleaner and cheaper to run, such as electric vehicles and e-scooters. Of course, the easiest way to reduce your miles driven is to walk instead. Car trips of under a mile added up to 10 billion miles per year or 20% of all trips in the US in 2009!

• Walk or cycle for short-distance trips
• Take the bus or train for longer trips whenever possible
• Buy an electric vehicle or car share
• Avoid Uber and Lyft as they contribute to higher traffic and more car miles (although Lyft does carbon offset all its trips)

Switch to Clean Energy

The EPA rates electricity generation as the second biggest emitter of greenhouse gases at 28.4% of all emissions. In 2016, 65% of US power was generated from burning fossil fuels, mainly coal and gas. There are now many options for clean power – from solar panels on your roof to community choice agencies offering clean energy supply. By switching to using clean energy, you are also adding value to your property.

• Install solar panels and energy storage on your property
• Sign up for clean power from a Community Choice Agency or your utility company
• Install energy-saving lighting, insulation, HVAC and appliances in your home
• Be energy-efficient at home – turn off lights, hang-dry clothes, draw curtains
• Join OhmConnect to help the grid and save money

Support Clean Technology

Cleantech innovation has brought us EVs, solar power, plant-based meats, drones, smart buildings, self-driving cars, ride share, sustainable fashion, automated farming and on and on. In 2017, clean technology attracted $280 billion dollars in investments. The biggest problem right now is to suck all those greenhouse gases out of the atmosphere and cleantech is the best chance we have to fix climate change.

• Vote for policies that drive mainstream adoption of clean tech
• Support friends and family with startups in clean technology
• Volunteer for organizations that promote/support cleantech startups
• Attend events to find out more about cleantech
• Invest in funds that support innovation in clean technology

Green Eatz would love to hear how you are making your contribution to the fight against climate change. We must all work together to help keep our planet green, clean and beautiful for us and future generations.