5 practical things you can do to fight climate change without overhauling your life

Life


5 practical things you can do to fight climate change without overhauling your life

By Daniela Morosini

Updated 6 years ago

In partnership with Adidas

From rescuing food waste to making your voice heard, here are some practical ways to tackle global warming…

We’ve all seen the headlines, listened to David Attenborough’s warnings and felt inspired by Greta Thunberg’s activism. Climate change is now on everyone’s agenda.

But when the scale of the issue is this global, it can be hard to know what to do about it, however keen you are to join the cause.

That’s why we’ve pulled together five practical things you can do to combat climate change, none of which require an unrealistic overhaul of your entire lifestyle…

1. Order a food waste takeaway

Decomposing food waste is a major source of methane emissions, and methane is one of the main culprits behind the rising global temperature.

Throwing away less food is obviously one thing you can do, but you can take things a step further by stopping your favourite shops and restaurants from wasting the food they don’t sell.

Before you raise those eyebrows, we’re not suggesting you start raiding their bins. All you need to do is download the Too Good To Go app, and you can collect it from them directly.

There are loads of participating restaurants nationwide, from high street staples such as Paul to smaller independent outlets with an eco-friendly outlook.

Just check the app, see what’s available near you, then take the food off their hands in a special Too Good To Go doggy bag.

You get a cut-price meal while also saving some perfectly good food from ending up in the bin. Win-win.


2. Make your workout work harder

Next time you go for a run, you could raise awareness of water pollution at the same time as getting your pulse pounding.

According to recent research, plastic is another significant contributor to climate change (as plastic degenerates, it’s been found to emit powerful greenhouse gases).

Fortunately, Adidas and Parley’s Run For The Oceans initiative is raising awareness around the threat of marine plastic pollution.

To take part, all you need to do is download the Runtastic app and register your details. For every kilometre you run before the closing date of June 16th, Adidas will contribute $1 to the Parley Ocean School, an organisation educating young people about the threat of plastic pollution.

As if those post-run endorphins weren’t already enough to have you feeling good about yourself.


3. Offset your emissions

As well as swapping your plastic water bottle for a reusable one and recycling your wine bottles, if you want a quick and easy way to balance out your carbon emissions, you can do it by making a one-off donation.

The UN has created a dedicated carbon offsetting platform that includes a handy calculator to work out your emissions, before giving you the opportunity to donate the corresponding amount in cash.

Your money will go direct to an array of fully certified projects dedicated to reducing or removing greenhouse gas emissions from the atmosphere.

Sometimes throwing money at the situation is actually one of the most effective ways to go.


4. Get on your bike

Riding a bike as opposed to taking public transport is a great way to lower your carbon footprint, but what if you’re not that confident cycling on the road?

Well, there’s a free and easy way to remedy that, thanks to TfL’s cycle skills initiative.

Whether you’ve never cycled before, or you’re a regular biker looking to improve your ability, TfL funds free, tailored courses to suit your individual abilities and goals.

Just request your first session in the borough where you live, work or study, and you’ll soon feel ready to swap out your regular commute for a two-wheeled alternative.


5. Make yourself heard

With the recent Extinction Rebellion protests making a big impression, mass demonstrations are clearly communicating the message that Britain has woken up to the climate change crisis.

So, if you want to keep the momentum going, get yourself along to the Friends Of The Earth’s climate change rally, taking place in Westminster on Wednesday 26 June.

It’s aiming to assemble 10,000 protestors in one place to let MPs know there’s a real, immediate demand to reverse nature loss and hit the breaks on climate change.

And if you can’t make it? You can still sign the petition or make a donation. It all adds up.



Adidas and Parley’s Run For The Oceans initiative is raising awareness around the threat of marine plastic pollution. For every kilometre tracked by users of the Runtastic app until June 16, Adidas will contribute $1 to the Parley Ocean School, an organisation educating young people about the threat of plastic pollution. Find out more here.

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