It’s a climate emergency! Here’s what you can do about it. If you’re not sure where to start this is the place to be! I’ve divided the list up into easy, medium, hard and super hardcore actions.
You can pick out actions you feel able to do or try out, whether you’re new to climate action or just want to do a bit more. You could start with the easy actions and gradually level up over time.
Easy
Use a metal reusable bottle instead of buying drinks in plastic bottles
Use a reusable coffee cup instead of single-use coffee cups
Set up Ecosia as your default search engine (everytime you search they plant trees)
Stop using plastic straws
Switch to a bamboo toothbrush and plastic-free toothpaste
Switch to shampoo and conditioner bars and soap
Give up paper towels and cling film. Switch to reusable options
Use plastic-free and recycled toilet paper
Switch to eco-friendly cleaning products
Go flexitarian (reduce the amount of meat you eat)
Take part in environmental campaigns
Share these campaigns on social media
Register to vote (and then vote for a party that supports climate action when election time comes)
Join a political party (that supports climate action)
Tweet or Facebook your MP
Let your garden grow a bit wild
Buy secondhand whenever you can
Drive slower and never leave the engine running if stationary for a while
Switch to a renewable energy supplier.
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Medium
Donate to or become a member of an environmental charity (or several!)
Write a letter to a newspaper
Share your eco-friendly activities on social media
Use your local library for books (instead of buying them)
Give up fast fashion
Plant a tree (or as many as you can!)
Email or write a letter to your MP
Use public transport
Give up eating beef
Give up eating fish
Create a wildlife garden
Fly once a year (there and back only) and offset your emissions
Recycle old batteries
Don’t charge electronics overnight
Turn all electronics off when not in use
Only buy things if you actually need them
Subscribe to Ethical Consumer for advice on shopping more ethically
Recycle plastic at your supermarket (some plastics like bread bags can now be recycled)
Make pack lunches for when you’re on the move
Buy vegetables and fruit without plastic (try your local market)
Talk to your friends and family about the climate emergency (don’t get political or aggressive just make them aware)
Join the next climate strike!
Hard
Meet with your MP
Go vegetarian
Give up junk food
Stop using leather
Compost food waste
Make cards and gifts for loved ones with eco-friendly materials (instead of buying things)
Cycle or walk instead of driving
Volunteer for an environmental charity
Campaign in your local community
Switch to an ethical bank that doesn’t fund fossil fuels like Triodos
Only buy products made in the UK or Europe
Support local and ethical businesses
Repair your clothes and other items when they break
Replace your phone when it no longer works with a fairphone
Buy organic food
Buy a hybrid car
Create a capsule wardrobe
When you have to buy new clothes opt for ethical eco-friendly made-to-last clothing or buy clothes made out of recycled plastic
Never throw anything away that’s worn out. Sell, donate, give away, upcycle or recycle. Somebody will find a use for it.
Avoid buying anything with plastic if there’s an alternative (e.g. food in glass jars)
Super Hardcore Mode
This list is for the badasses among you. Can you do the ultimate challenge?
Grow your own vegetables
Go vegan (or at least dairy free)
Go plastic-free
Give up palm oil
Give up soya
Give up your car or buy an electric car
Give up flying
Set up solar panels and cells on your house
Join Extinction Rebellion protests
Stop buying from tax avoiding companies that are not reducing their environmental impact such as Amazon
Become a councillor or MP and support climate action
Commit to not having children (maybe adopt instead)
How many of these things do you already do? Any obvious ones I’ve missed? Let me know in the comments!
Wild Green Sally 
What a great post, Sally. I also wrote one yesterday instead of joining a protest (which would have meant a lot of very ironic travelling on my part) but I really think that’s what this is all about, isn’t it? It doesn’t matter how we do it as long as we all do something. Your lists are very comprehensive and provide plenty of food for thought. I love the way you’ve graded them, I’m quite proud to discover in some ways I’m a super hardcore badass granny! Still a long way to go though. Hopefully lots of your readers will be very inspired – keep up the good work! 🙂
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Aww thank you! Yeah I definitely agree, we can all find a way to play a part. I’m glad you liked my lists! And go you for being hardcore! I only am on a couple! But striving to do as many on my list as I can on all the levels 😊 I will have to check out your blog too!
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Your list made me smile in it’s rankings. For many things like giving up flying are easy, but perhaps not very palatable ? Ditto growing your own really isn’t hard. I spend about an hour a week on my allotment ( sometimes a lot longer processing to preserve surplace). This automatically reduces the amount of plastic you use and with increased consciousness and effort in growing the amount of food wasted reduces and composting increases.
Just goes to show that we all need to try hard at different things and I think start to think about things rather differently.
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Keep up The effort Sally and let’s hope A lot more people do their bit.
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This is a fantastic post, Sally! I am so damn passionate about the environment and beauty of the world, and it breaks my heart the damage we are doing to it, especially because we can change. Some things like forgoing one use plastic can’t be 100% done with medical equipment and sterilization, and not everyone can use metal straws, but I love this list because there are SO MANY THINGS people can do, and every bit helps.
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Great post with great guidance on how to make a difference. Didn’t know about Ecosia and will definitely make that change. This serves as a great way to move forward in our own lives to add practices In our daily routines that will make an impact.
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Thank you, I’m glad you found it useful!
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