18 ways you can help tackle climate change and biodiversity loss

@orhan_atabay, Last update: January 14, 2024

Estimated reading time: 2-3 minutes

Are you ready to do something for your planet? Are you prepared to change your habits and lifestyle or go outside your comfort zone? 

We all must be concerned about our planet, and our concerns should not only be around the carbon cycle, CO2 emissions, and Greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.

We must be concerned about the wastes we produce, pollutants emitted into the air or water, and the inefficiencies in our technologies.

Let me summarize what I mean and explain what you (and I) must give up, stop doing, or reduce.

Please do these, whenever and wherever possible:

TRANSPORTATION

1. Reduce your driving. Walk, or use your bike instead. Use transit if you can. Consider riding an e-bike or cargo bike. Evaluate the possibilities of vehicle sharing, bike-sharing, and pooling.

2. Reduce your vehicle's size. You do not need a monster to go grocery shopping. Adjust your vehicle size according to your actual needs!

3. Consider more efficient and cleaner vehicles (vehicles with smaller internal combustion engines, plug-in hybrid electric vehicles, or better, battery electric vehicles).

HOME/OFFICE

4. Choose the more efficient heating and cooling method for your home, office, factory, etc. Talk to your friends, colleagues, community officers, and utility professionals.

5. Check your set temperatures for heating and cooling. Consider turning your heating down and cooling up (less cooling) without compromising your comfort.

6. Consider investing in energy-efficient appliances and devices, at least when they need to be renewed. They will pay off in the long run.

7. Consider insulation! You can also be sure that it will pay off in the long run.

8. Turn off unnecessary lights and devices.

9. Do not waste (hot and cold) water. Consider taking shorter showers. Turn off the water while brushing your teeth, shaving, etc.

10. Check and rethink all the household and personal chemicals you use (soaps, detergents, shampoos, shower gels, cleansers, sprays, creams, cosmetics, etc.) and see if you can use them in smaller amounts or avoid using them altogether. Choose non-toxic (at least biodegradable) stuff where applicable.

11. Recycle everything you have used. Never send poisonous waste (such as batteries, bulbs, electronic waste, oils, etc.) to the garbage or down the drain.

GENERAL

12. Stop using plastics. We all know, it is nearly impossible. At least be concerned about all the plastics (incl. packaging, toys, food containers, etc.) you bring home and send to recycling or garbage. Be aware that recycling is not a solution to the problem of plastic waste. Stop using plastic bags and straws immediately.

13. Stop smoking. I "know" it is not easy. But it is not impossible.

14. Eat sustainable food. Eat less meat and eat only sustainable seafood. Consider consuming more veggies and fruits. Eat and drink "local".

15. Stop using chewing gums. This is not a joke, they are awful for the environment.

16. Use birth control. Sustainability is a matter of population!

17. Do not waste paper!

PLEASE

18. Always think about what you need, and what you can avoid, change, or reduce.