What can we do?

Plenty! The challenge seems overwhelming, but there are many actions big and small that will help tackle future climate change.

• Change what you do. To avoid the worst effects of future climate change we must all change how we live. This means changing how we work and travel, use energy, buy and make products including our food. Much of what we can do to help stop future climate change is simply by doing things differently.
• Reduce your carbon footprint. There are great sources of advice on how to reduce your carbon footprint. A good place to start is to thinking about your energy use:

1. Do I really need to use it?
2. Can I use less?
3. Can I make the same energy do more? (Insulating and draught proofing)
4. Can I switch to renewable energy alternatives?
5. Where can I offset? (invest in carbon sinks like tree planting or peatland restoration).

• Trees are good. Trees absorb carbon dioxide. Looking after the trees we have  is as important as planting more of them. Avoid cutting trees down unless necessary.
• Peatland stores more carbon than trees, but also releases more when it dries out, so restoring peatland will help reduce emissions. Only buy peat-free compost!
• Pensions Over 2/3rds of pension funds and other financial products are invested in unsustainable practices, like fossil fuel industries. Companies respond to consumer demand and investor pressure. If you have a pension, you can both change where it is invested and ask the pension fund to make the make the change.
• Invest in Nature You can now buy government Green Bonds which invest in national climate resilience projects. Some wildlife trusts are now selling nature credits to help fund restoration projects that can develop carbon sinks and stabilise biodiversity. Joining a conservation charity will help support their vital work.

Look at the Resources page to see how you can help, and get support, to protect future generations from the worst effects of climate change.