Yes, You Can Make a Difference on Climate Change: Here's Why and How

In spite of the recent detrimental actions by the US administration, culminated with the exit from the global climate treaty, scientifically there is very little doubt.

Global warming is nowadays one of the major threats (if not the biggest threat, together with nuclear wars and global pandemics) to life --as we know it-- in this planet, and unfortunately will be so for many many years to come. And it is clearly pointing to us, to our emissions of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. But we are part of the system: our fate is deeply interconnected with and dependent on other living species. Thus, we are clearly leading towards our self-extinction.

According to latest Intergovernmental Panel On Climate Change (IPCC) Report (2023), human-caused global warming has already caused substantial damages, and increasingly irreversible losses, in terrestrial, freshwater, cryospheric (earth's surface where water is in solid form, including ice, snow, and frozen ground), coastal and open ocean ecosystems. Hundreds of local losses of species have been driven by increases in the magnitude of heat extremes with mass mortality events recorded on land and in the ocean. Approximately half of the world population (4 billion people) live in contexts that are highly vulnerable to global warming effects. Such effects are already clearly observable as weather and climate extremes in every region across the globe. Vulnerable communities who have historically contributed the least to current global warming are those affected the most. Thus, global warming is also exacerbating social vulnerabilities and disparities across people throughout the world.

People Recognize the Threat

According to the the world’s largest survey on climate change (Peoples' Climate Vote 2024), which statistically represent 87 percent of the world’s population, climate change is on people’s minds everywhere. More than 73,000 people speaking 87 different languages across 77 countries participated in the survey, which was conducted for United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) by the University of Oxford in the United Kingdom and GeoPoll, a global leader in remote research.

Strikingly, almost two thirds (63 percent) are starting to take climate change impacts into consideration when making decisions like where to live or work and what to buy. A third of people (33 percent) said climate change is affecting their big life decisions a lot. They seek global unity in responding to the crisis, with 86 percent agreeing that their countries should set aside geopolitical differences, such as those regarding trade and security, and work together on climate change. There is a clear expectation that governments need to lead and strengthen their commitments to address climate change, with a resounding 89 percent of people wanting to see more climate action from their governments.

So, what governments are doing?

To have a quick overview, we may resort to the Climate Change Performance Index (CCPI), produced by experts of a consortium composed by Germanwatch, NewClimate Institute and Climate Action Network International. The CCPI uses a standardized framework to compare the climate performance of 63 countries and the EU, which together account for over 90% of global greenhouse gas emissions. The climate mitigation performance is assessed in four categories: Greenhouse Emissions, Renewable Energy, Energy Use and Climate Policy.

According to the CCPI report:

• Denmark clearly stands out as a top performer, even if no country is strong enough in all categories to achieve an overall very high rating;
• The United Kingdom (6th) is the only two G20 countries among the high performers in CCPI 2026. The G20 bears particular responsibility for climate mitigation, as its members account for over 75% of the world’s greenhouse gas emissions;
• Russia (64th), the United States (65th), and Saudi Arabia (66th) are still the G20’s worst-performing countries, receiving an overall very low rating;

We should also bear in mind that the United States, followed by China, Russia, Germany, United Kingdom, Japan, India, France, Canada and Ukraine are historically the countries that contributed the most to carbon dioxide emissions, as shown in the following graph, extracted from our world in data.

Is there something we can do individually?

Yes, indeed! Climate change is a global phenomenon, that requires global, coordinated interventions. However, there is a lot you can do individually, in your daily life. Your choices really matter: on the other hand, collective behavior always builds from the actions of each single person.

Tweak your diet

Food production is responsible for a quarter (25%) of all greenhouse gas emissions, contributing to global warming, according to a University of Oxford study. Today, around 60 per cent of the world’s agricultural land is used for livestock grazing and people in many countries are consuming more animal-sourced food than is healthy. Overall, consuming white meat or red meat (derived from pork and lamb), has a lower environmental impact than the consumption of red meat coming from beef or other ruminants. Plant-rich diets can help reduce chronic illnesses, such as heart disease, stroke, diabetes and cancer. So, eat more plant-based meals -- your body and the planet will thank you.

There is a nice calculator built by BBC that you can use to evaluate your diet's carbon footprint.

Don’t waste food

One-third of all food produced is either lost or wasted. According to UNEP’s Food Waste Index Report 2024, people globally waste 1 billion tonnes of food each year, which accounts for around 8-10 per cent of global greenhouse gas emissions. Avoid waste by only buying what you need. Take advantage of every edible part of the foods you purchase. Measure portion sizes of rice and other staples before cooking them, store food correctly (use your freezer if you have one), be creative with leftovers, share extras with your friends and neighbours and contribute to a local food-sharing scheme. Make compost out of inedible remnants and use it to fertilize your garden. Composting is one of the best options for managing organic waste while also reducing environmental impacts.

Shop local and buy sustainable

To reduce your food’s carbon footprint, buy local and seasonal foods. You’ll be helping small businesses and farms in your area and reducing fossil fuel emissions associated with transport and cold chain storage. Sustainable agriculture uses up to 56 per cent less energy, creates 64 per cent fewer emissions and allows for greater levels of biodiversity than conventional farming. Go one step further and try growing your own fruit, vegetables and herbs. You can plant them in a garden, on a balcony or even on a window sill. Set up a community garden in your neighborhood to get others involved. 

Sustainable goods don’t cause harm socially, economically, or environmentally throughout their life cycle, from raw material extraction to disposal. Purchasing them helps protect trees. For example, manufacturers design sustainable furniture for reuse even after decades. Instead of turning into waste quickly, you can disassemble and repurpose them. This reduces the demand for raw wood and discourages illegal logging. Sustainable furniture not only protects trees but also saves the user a huge deal of money. Instead of throwing away old furniture, you can modify at cheaper rates.

It is recommended to purchase only FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) certified products because FSC is by far the best global standard in forest management.

Rein in your power use

If you can, switch to a zero-carbon or renewable energy provider. Install solar panels on your roof. Where possible, we can switch to renewable sources of energy (such as solar and wind energy) to power our homes and buildings, thus emitting far less heat-trapping gases into the atmosphere. Be more efficient: turn your heating down a degree or two, if possible. Switch off appliances and lights when you are not using them and better yet buy the most efficient products in the first place (hint: this will save you money!). Insulate your loft or roof: you’ll be warmer in the winter, cooler in the summer and save some money too. Improving a building’s insulation and windows may eliminate the need for a heating and cooling system altogether, turning what seems like an extra up-front cost into long-term net savings.

Transform your transport

Transport accounts for around a quarter of all greenhouse gas emissions and across the world, many governments are implementing policies to de-carbonize travel. You can get a head start: leave your car at home and walk or cycle whenever possible. As in the case of food, this life style will have also substantial benefits for your health. If the distances are too great, choose public transport, preferably electric options. If you must drive, offer to carpool with others so that fewer cars are on the road. Get ahead of the curve and buy an electric car. Reduce the number of flights you take.

Dress (climate) smart

The fashion industry accounts for 8-10 per cent of global carbon emissions -- more than all international flights and maritime shipping combined -- and "fast fashion" has created a throwaway culture that sees clothes quickly end up in landfills. But we can change this. Buy fewer new clothes and wear them longer. Seek out sustainable labels and use rental services for special occasions rather than buying new items that will only be worn once. Recycle clothes and repair when necessary.

Fight deforestation

Every year approximately 12 million hectares of forest are destroyed and this deforestation, together with agriculture and other land use changes, is responsible for roughly one quarter (25%) of global greenhouse gas emissions. Our food choices may have a substantial impact since agriculture is responsible for 90 percent of all tropical deforestation, which roughly amounts to 9 million hectares (22 million acres) of forest destroyed annually — the equivalent of more than 8 million soccer fields. The majority—approximately three-quarters— of the expansion of agriculture into forests is driven by domestic demand in producer countries, especially for beef and cereals, including much of the deforestation across the African continent. In recent years, the demand for palm oil has surged globally. It is used for various purposes such as in different food and makeup products. Palm oil production involves the clearance of large areas of tropical rainforests (mostly in southeast Asia, such as Indonesia) that are rich in biodiversity. To fight deforestation, you should buy sustainable products only (e.g., with Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) certification).

Ultimately, climate change is making forests both more vital and more vulnerable. It’s a vicious circle: deforestation is driving climate change — and it’s also fueled by it. We can all play a part in reversing this trend by fighting deforestation through our sustainable choices and planting trees, either individually or as part of a collective. For example, the Plant-for-the-Planet initiative allows people to sponsor tree-planting around the world.

Check out this UNEP guide to see what else you can do as part of the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration, a global drive to halt the degradation of land and oceans, protect biodiversity, and rebuild ecosystems. 

Reduce, reuse, and recycle

Reduce, reuse, and recycle are the 3 Rs of waste management. The idea is to preserve resources by minimizing the overall amount of waste produced by reducing consumption and promoting the reuse and recycling of products. Take paper for example. A paper that has been printed on one side can be reused for writing on the other side. This act will not only promote reusing but also reduction. It has been estimated that recycling 1 ton of paper can save 17 trees. Buy paper products that have been recycled or at least those that can be recycled. Recycled and recyclable products are always labeled accordingly. The same applies to other wood or wood-derived products.

Focus on planet-friendly investments

Individuals can also spur change through their savings and investments by choosing financial institutions that do not invest in carbon-polluting industries. #ActNow Speak Up has a section on money and so does Count Us In. This sends a clear signal to the market and already many financial institutions are offering more ethical investments, allowing you to use your money to support causes you believe in and avoid those you don’t. You can ask your financial institution about their responsible banking policies and find out how they rank in independent research. Where practicable, we can counterbalance our annual carbon dioxide emissions by investing in commercial services that draw down an equal amount of carbon out of the atmosphere, such as through planting trees or carbon capture and storage techniques.

Your vote matters

You should vote for and support government candidates which are clearly aware of the problem and are willing to apply a sound climate policy, based on scientific facts.

Spread the word

If you think that this article or any other valuable resource for fighting climate change may be helpful to others, as I do, please share it. Sharing is caring.

Last but not least... remember that...

We all are living in the same Pale Blue Dot. The featured image of this article is a photograph of our planet taken on February 14, 1990, by the Voyager 1 space probe from an unprecedented distance of over 6 billion kilometers. It covers only one pixel.

"From this distant vantage point, the Earth might not seem of any particular interest. But for us, it's different. Consider again that dot. That's here. That's home. That's us. On it everyone you love, everyone you know, everyone you ever heard of, every human being who ever was, lived out their lives. The aggregate of our joy and suffering, thousands of confident religions, ideologies, and economic doctrines, every hunter and forager, every hero and coward, every creator and destroyer of civilization, every king and peasant, every young couple in love, every mother and father, hopeful child, inventor and explorer, every teacher of morals, every corrupt politician, every "superstar", every "supreme leader", every saint and sinner in the history of our species lived there – on a mote of dust suspended in a sunbeam.

[...]

There is perhaps no better demonstration of the folly of human conceits than this distant image of our tiny world. To me, it underscores our responsibility to deal more kindly with one another, and to preserve and cherish the pale blue dot, the only home we've ever known.

Carl Sagan, Pale blue dot: A Vision of Human Future in Space