The climate crisis: what can YOU do?

Ditch the doom and gloom, says climate journalist Lucy Siegle

There’s no doubt our planet is in trouble. Last year, CO2 levels were at their highest for more than two million years*. The impact is felt in devastating wildfires and floods. At least one million of the world’s estimated eight million species of plants and animals are under serious threat of extinction**.

The experts tell us we must cut global greenhouse emissions in half, and that we need to reverse nature loss, flipping from destroying forests and polluting oceans to regenerating them. Even for me as a climate journalist, this can seem like a ridiculous challenge. Despite years working on environmental stories, stats like this make me feel like diving under the duvet. The truth is, we all know we need to do more but when you’re not of the Greta Thunberg generation or prepared to glue yourself to a major building, what on earth can you do?

Prioritise nature

A really easy way to boost your ecological contribution is to focus on nature protection. Consider joining organisations such as Cornish-based Surfers Against Sewage, protecting the seas (sas.org.uk), or the UK arm of the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) that supports global action on ending deforestation.

However, by far the best approach is to get your hands dirty. Rewilding is a global movement based on regenerating landscapes. From the release of beavers to stop flooding in west London to the restoration of British rainforest in Argyll and Bute in Scotland, there are numerous rewilding projects happening across the country – most of them organised by volunteers (rewildingbritain.org.uk).

Get educated

There are lots of free online courses on climate and nature, including a very good range from the Open University. And if you’re willing to invest £2,000, the Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership runs eightweek online courses on all things climate and nature, including on climate leadership.

Do you need stuff?

The workings and lobbying of high carbon sectors such as the international oil and gas industry can make us feel doubly powerless. First off, we feel complicit in the system because we use petrol and oil products and, secondly, they seem well beyond our reach. But you might be closer to them than you think. Research shows how linked our wardrobes are to fossil fuel – over two-thirds of textiles are now made from oil-based plastics***.

To make yourself part of the solution, not the pollution, remember the number of times an item is worn or used is the most important metric. If you have items you don’t wear, pass them on to someone who will. Only buy new if you can commit to wearing a piece 100 times – I used to advise 30 but this is an emergency.

I also adore fashion rental. For a tiny part of the cost of buying outright, you can try out designers you’ve only dreamt of, through apps such as hurr.com or byrotation.com. You can rent clothes for kids too (thelittleloop.com promises you’ll save 80% of the environmental impact of buying new and 70% of the cost through its rental subscription model), plus other consumer goods.

Channel optimism

Without ignoring the facts, focus on possibility and opportunity. Yes, we’re in crisis but there is still a window to decarbonise society, switch to renewable energy, change the way we produce everything, vote differently and prioritise protecting nature.

Social media accounts such as Positive News (positive.news) can help to build this mindset. I also recommend the Outrage + Optimism podcast. It’s essential listening to discover the rapid pace of good change.

‘Make yourself part of the solution, not the pollution’