Things you can do at home to help solve climate change

To help combat climate change, the United Nations makes it easier for us by collecting some ideas and initiatives to help stop the climate crisis. From shopping for groceries near you to calculating your carbon footprint, there are many ways to influence the change needed.

According to a United Nations report, households are associated with approximately 65% of global greenhouse gas emissions.

While these estimates can vary greatly depending on how the different categories are defined, it is clear that our homes are one of the main drivers of climate change.

Save electricity

Save electricity by plugging several appliances into a power strip, so you can completely disconnect them when you're not using them, even your computer.

Don't waste food

One-third of all food produced is lost or wasted. According to the Food Waste Index 2022, It is estimated that 14% of the world's food is lost between harvest and retail, and approximately 17% is wasted at the retail and consumer level. This comes at a time when 811 million people are starving. Avoid waste by buying only what you need. Take advantage of every edible part of the food you buy.

Nina Sevilla, who works with the Natural Resources Defense Council's Save the Food program, says the greatest amount of food waste comes from our homes. However, the causes of food waste can vary greatly from family to family.

Buy local and minimally packaged products

Supporting businesses in your area can help people keep their jobs and help prevent trucks from having to travel long distances. To reduce the carbon footprint of your food, buy local and seasonal foods. You'll help small businesses and farms in the area and reduce fossil fuel emissions associated with transportation and cold chain storage.

Sustainable agriculture uses up to 56% less energy, creates 64% fewer emissions and allows for higher levels of biodiversity than conventional agriculture. You can go a step further and try growing your own fruits, vegetables, and herbs.

Plant trees

Approximately 12 million hectares of forest are destroyed each year and this deforestation, along with agriculture and other land use changes, is responsible for approximately 25% of global greenhouse gas emissions

Planting trees is a fun activity for family and friends alike. Contact your local government to find places where trees are needed, such as along sidewalks or in medians. Start a community fundraiser to gather donations to buy trees and garden supplies.

For example, the Plant-for-the-Planet initiative allows people to sponsor tree plantings around the world.

Participate in sustainable transport

Transport accounts for around a quarter of all greenhouse gas emissions, and around the world, many governments are implementing policies to decarbonise travel. When possible, you can leave your car at home and walk or bike. If the distances are too great, choose public transport.

Transportation is responsible for the largest portion of all greenhouse gas emissions, about 30%. On average, the movement of one person per vehicle accounts for a quarter of all miles travelled. To easily fight climate change, carpool to and from work. To take it a step further, consider trading your gas car for an electric vehicle.

Wash with Cold Water

On washing clothes, 90% of the energy used by the washing machine goes to heating the water. That's a huge energy saver for switching to a cold wash cycle.

Cold water is fine for most clothes and other items that you can safely put in the washer. It can remove many stains from clothing, including grass on your kids' jeans or makeup stains on a sweater. Washing dishes in cold or colder water when possible will also reduce electricity use, as will skipping the "heat dry" setting on your dishwasher.

Dress smart

The fashion industry accounts for 8-10% of global carbon emissions, more than all international flights and shipping combined. This sector has created a culture of “use and throw away” that makes clothes quickly end up in landfills. But you can help change this. Buy fewer new clothes and wear them longer. Look for sustainable brands.

Adjust your diet 

Eat more plant-based foods: your body and the planet will thank you. Today about 60% of the world's agricultural land is used for grazing livestock and people in many countries eat more animal foods than are healthy. Green diets can help reduce chronic diseases such as heart disease, stroke, diabetes, and cancer.

Try to generate less garbage

Since most of the garbage ends up in the oceans. To achieve this, analyze your decisions day by day: Do you have the possibility to recycle? Do you buy products or services from companies that carry out practices that are harmful to the environment?

Talk about reversing climate change

Be the voice with your friends and family about your efforts to reduce climate change. The more you share your efforts for a cause you care about, the easier it will be to raise awareness about issues that matter. You never know who might want to join you and help reverse climate change too.

Choose environmentally friendly products for your home

Buying greener products can help reduce pollution and other damage to the environment. Choosing natural cleaning and grooming products reduces the number of harmful chemicals that are released into the oceans and atmosphere. Look for products with minimal packaging, as this reduces the impact on our landfills.  

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