Skip to main content
0

6 Things You Can Do To Prevent Climate Change

By May 2, 2022June 27th, 2022Essay

We can all take notice of our environment. We can learn how our planet works. We can learn how to live on it without making a mess of it. We can help to keep it magnificent for ourselves, our children and grandchildren, and other living things besides us.

things you can do for our planet to stop climate change

These are the exciting careers of the future. They range from designing satellites for NASA to fixing wind-energy generators to planning drought-tolerant landscapes for homes and parks.

Things You Can Do About Climate Change

If possible, see if you can switch to renewable sources such as wind or solar. Or install solar panels on your roof to generate energy for your home. Electronics, clothes, and other items we buy cause carbon emissions at each point in production, from the extraction of raw materials to manufacturing and transporting goods to market. To protect our climate, buy fewer things, shop second-hand, repair what you can, and recycle. To preserve a livable climate, greenhouse-gas emissions must be reduced to net zero by 2050. Bold, fast, and wide-ranging action needs to be taken by governments and businesses. But the transition to a low-carbon world also requires the participation of citizens – especially in advanced economies.

things you can do for our planet to stop climate change

Communication can inspire more people to change their habits and help save the climate. In 2019, the United States emitted 6.6 billion metric tons of greenhouse gases things you can do for our planet to stop climate change . Carbon dioxide accounted for the largest percentage of greenhouse gases (80%), followed by methane (10%), nitrous oxide (7%), and other greenhouse gases (3%).

Heat Waves

Installing new windows can help keep your home cooler on hot days and warmer when the temperature drops, reducing the amount of energy used to control the temperature indoors. Weatherrefers to the state of the atmosphere in a short period of time, like minutes or days. It includes lots of things we are familiar with, like temperature, humidity, precipitation, and wind speeds.

things you can do for our planet to stop climate change

From Los Angeles to Boston, cities across the U.S. are working to make their rivers cleaner and more enjoyable. There’s even a movement to create a designated swim park in Boston’s Charles River and to install a floating pool in New York City’s East River. Check out American Rivers for information on how to support a river clean-up near you. Put books about climate change in your nearest little free library. Walk down any neighborhood street in cities like Denver, Colorado, and you’re likely to see a small wooden box full of free books. These Little Free Libraries are the perfect place to donate books on climate change. Sign up for an autonomous-vehicle pilot program.

Sea level rise by 2100

Methane from agricultural actives, waste management, and energy use is the second largest cause of climate change behind fossil fuels, according to the Environmental Protection Agency. In the West, continued wildfires will have a direct impact on air quality and human health, according to Strauss. In the Southwest, he says droughts will lead to water scarcity, while the East and Midwest will experience more torrential rainstorms. Strauss says people in eastern coastal areas, especially in low-lying communities, will see more flooding due to heavier and longer-lasting hurricanes, which will have an impact on the value of their homes. In the Northeast, he says, warmer weather will bring more tick and mosquito-born illnesses.

things you can do for our planet to stop climate change

Buy new appliances with the Energy Star label. When you need to replace a refrigerator or dishwasher, choose an appliance that’s Energy Star certified. Energy Star products are more efficient, meaning they can help lower your energy costs and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. One of the most active people who fight against climate change is Dr. Adrian Rubin. She has over 30 years’ experience studying the weather and has provided valuable data that indicates the dangers we face from climate change. She has a 4-year degree in meteorological science and actively speaks out against the dangers of relying on fossil fuels.

A BETTER InboxThe BETTER newsletter helps you make the most of your mind, your body and your life

The situation may seem bleak, but there’s still hope. More than ever before, individual actions—including mobilizing for political transformation—can make a difference.

How can we stop the greenhouse effect?

Greenhouse gas emissions can be reduced by making power on-site with renewables and other climate-friendly energy resources. Examples include rooftop solar panels, solar water heating, small-scale wind generation, fuel cells powered by natural gas or renewable hydrogen, and geothermal energy.

Carpools save money on gas, reduce your carbon footprint, let you work during the drive, and get you access to specially designated carpool lanes that are reserved for high-occupancy vehicles. Transforming food scraps and lawn clippings into fresh, nutrient-rich soil gives home gardens a boost (and if done right, doesn’t create an olfactory offense). Roughly 20 to 30 percent of what we normally throw out can be composted. And the process offers huge benefits at the city level, too. New York City’s composting program creates “black gold” in the form of rich soil, saves money on shipping organic waste to landfills, and even generates energy from methane. Don’t buy a new home; renovate an old one. Preservationists often say that the greenest home is the one that’s already built.

things you can do to combat climate change, according to advocacy groups

Tell them you believe climate change is important; and that you support the development and implementation of a climate action plan to reduce emissions and prepare for climate change impacts. It takes energy to produce water, so the more water you save, the more energy you save.

  1. Clean sources of energy such as solar and wind power are renewable and can be replaced naturally — unlike gasoline, natural gas, coal and fossil fuels.
  2. Extra carbon dioxide in the atmosphere is absorbed by the oceans, making them more acidic.
  3. Collections of news, posts, and research around major climate science topics.
  4. For short trips, drive or take the train, particularly in the Northeast corridor where traffic is dense and trains service many locations.
  5. 2016 and 2020 were the warmest years on record, and the six warmest years have all beensince 2010.
  6. These are often independently funded if at all so if there is an opportunity to invest doing so can help bring the idea to life.
  7. Switching to 100 percent renewable power may seem like a lofty goal, but it’s not as far off as you think.
  8. The main cause of these catastrophic effects on our planet is pollution.

Create your own set of climate change solutions in this online simulator from Climate Interactive and MIT Sloan’s Sustainability Initiative. But to quicken the pace of technological breakthroughs, policymakers need to set the stage now for game-changing things you can do for our planet to stop climate change advances in multiple fields of science, technology, and policy. To take on the hardest challenges in reducing our emissions, in removing CO2 from the atmosphere, and in adapting to a changing climate, we urgently need new tools.

Whether it’s left on your plate or rotting in your fridge, wasted food is a big problem in the U.S.—to the tune of 38 million tons a year, according to the EPA. Luckily, small changes to your routine can make a big difference. Here’s a great list of ideas for saving food, including ways to https://shmessayist.weebly.com/blog/turn-your-place-into-a-5-star-hotel-room be thrifty and smarter about storage and preservation. Does saving the planet “spark joy? ” Then follow Marie Kondo’s lead and try to be mindful of what you do and don’t need. A more measured approach to consumption can also eliminate unneeded purchases that contribute to global emissions.

  1. As the hard realities of climate change become clearer in our daily lives, taking responsibility for mitigating these effects is a front-of-mind issue.
  2. In 2015, 196 countries signed on to a single, sweeping plan that aims to keep global warming to well below 2° C (3.6° F)—or even 1.5° C.
  3. We did this intentionally to create a sense of community in addressing this challenge.
  4. Bustling streets can do much more than handle automobile traffic.
  5. Even if we reduce our emissions right now, the temperature of the Earth will still rise slightly, but we might be able to keep the rise below 2 degrees Celsius (or about 4.8 degrees Fahrenheit).
  6. However, dining slowly and paying attention to how and what you’re eating may help you assess the impact of food on your body and the planet.
  7. Higher-end smart thermostats like the Nest or Ecobee can customize your temperatures so you’re not blasting the air conditioning when no one is home or using too much heat when everyone is tucked in bed.