Education Trends: How to fight Climate Change as an individual

Edition: November 4th, 2021
Curated by the Knowledge Team of ICS Career GPS

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• Excerpts from article by Stuart Gentle, published on onrec.com
• Excerpts from article by Aaheli Datta, published on wionews.com

Fighting climate change at an individual level can seem daunting. But it is something we all need to do. The world is getting hotter by the day and it is all our fault. If left unchecked, climate change is going to threaten every aspect of our lives. This year alone, countries in Europe, the US and India have all recorded extreme rainfall, leading to heavy flooding and loss of lives. 

Many climate change activists will give you a list of things you can do to help fight climate change, like use public transport instead of your car or stop eating meat. But this can be difficult and in some cases unachievable for a large percentage of the general population.

Here are some viable ways to fight climate change at the individual level:

1. Conserve electricity

• Fossil fuels used in the generation of electricity is, perhaps, the biggest contributor to climate change.
• Till recently, many people believed that solar energy was just too expensive to be viable.
• Solar panels pricing has been falling every year, while the quality and longevity have been increasing.
• Apart from investing in your own solar panels, you can also save electricity by streamlining your energy usage at home and in office.

2. Travel responsibly

• One of the most efficient ways of lowering your impact on the environment is to reduce the carbon footprint caused by travel.
• Walk, cycle or use the public transport whenever you need to travel anywhere.
• Take fewer flights.
• Shift to using an electric car, if possible. 

3. Drive efficiently

• While electric vehicles are a great idea, there are debates around their electricity consumption as well as affordability.
• If you can’t afford an e-vehicle, there are other things that you can do.
• If possible, reduce your private vehicle usage marginally.
• Also, change how you drive. Driving in a more considerate manner, with a bit less of a foot on the throttle, will make a positive difference to your car’s fuel consumption.
• Maintenance is key. A healthy engine will use less fuel and burn less oil than an unmaintained engine. Go for regular preventative maintenance.

4. Shop wisely 

• Before you even step out to shop, make sure you have a reusable shopping bag, made from natural material like jute.
• Always choose reusable over single use plastics.
• This way, not only will you have less trash to deal with, but so will the environment. 
• While shopping, keep your choices eco-friendly.

5. Avoid plastics

• Avoid using plastics as much as possible.
• This includes your plastic bags, bottles, cups, straws, plates, fruit and vegetable packaging and more.
• It is a difficult material to decompose, so it sticks around the environment for ages, harming wildlife and marine life in the process. 

6. Conserve natural resources

• The Earth has limited natural resources.
• Recycling goes a long way in reducing waste that could end up in a landfill.
• Conserve water, energy and other natural resources. Use energy efficient bulbs, insulate your home better, buy energy star- certified appliances if you need to upgrade your appliances.

7. Use your voice 

• Speaking up is one of the most powerful things you can do.
• Not only to politicians, brands and businesses but also to people around you who might not know better.
• Use your voice not only to advocate, but also to educate.
• Social media is an effective way to amplify your message and reach a wider audience.
• Even creating awareness in your own family and friends can lead to positive outcomes. 

Now, it may not be possible for one individual to do all the things listed, but doing even a little will go a long way!

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(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in the article mentioned above are those of the author(s). They do not purport to reflect the opinions or views of ICS Career GPS or its staff.)

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