We need to take immediate action to avoid the worst impacts of climate change. This includes limiting our use of fossil fuels and switching to renewable energy. Achieving these goals requires cooperation between governments, businesses, and individuals worldwide. Here are some ways that you can help.
Burning fossil fuels, such as coal, oil, and natural gas, releases large amounts of carbon dioxide into the air. This gas traps heat in the atmosphere, causing climate change. Reducing our reliance on these fossil fuels is vital to slow climate change. It’s also an effective way to improve our health and protect the environment.
Cutting back on fossil fuel use protects the planet from the worst impacts of climate change, such as sea level rise, extreme weather, and food shortages. It helps to reduce toxins released into the environment and protects human health by decreasing the amount of pollution in the air.
As global energy demand continues to increase, we need to find new ways to generate power. That means finding ways to reduce our use of fossil fuels and switching to renewable energy. Renewable energy is a term for energy derived from replenishable sources such as the sun (solar power), wind, rivers (hydroelectric power), hot springs (geothermal energy), tides (tidal power), and biomass (biofuels).
These technologies generate electricity that produces no CO2 emissions once they’re running. They can produce various goods, from heating and lighting to transportation and manufacturing. But switching to renewable energy also has more to recommend than being “green.” It can help protect consumers from higher prices of natural gas and coal, boost economic growth, and create millions of new jobs.
A major transition to renewable energy could make electricity more reliable, especially if we invest in smarter grids and build more storage for renewable resources. It could also reduce air pollution, make communities healthier and protect the environment.
At COP26, the climate negotiations focused almost entirely on green technology and finance, with little attention paid to a systemic effort to organize the change in consumption patterns needed to reach our shared goal of keeping climate warming to less than 1.5 degrees Celsius.
One key to reducing our overall consumption, which contributes to greenhouse gas emissions, is to avoid using goods and services with high carbon intensity across their entire lifecycle. This includes avoiding long-haul flights and buying products that are locally produced or made from plant-derived materials.
Reduced consumption also has the benefit of helping to improve air quality and bolster food and water security. Studies have shown that reducing meat and dairy consumption can reduce carbon emissions by as much as a third. Many cities include consumption-related objectives and actions within their climate action plans. This is a promising step in legitimizing sustainable consumption as an important part of the climate solution.
Energy efficiency is one of the easiest and most cost-effective ways to cut energy bills, clean our air, and help solve climate change. It also helps businesses improve their bottom lines, increase competitiveness, and make our nation a more efficient place to live.
Achieving these results requires clear policy signals, such as carbon pricing systems that charge per ton of CO2 emitted. They send a long-term message to companies that it is in their best interest to cut polluting behavior, transition to low-carbon programs and products, and invest in new, cleaner technologies.
In addition, improving efficiency in existing buildings is a key strategy to reduce emissions and limit the pace of climate change. This involves increasing insulation, using energy-efficient appliances, and including renewable energy in building design.