5 ways to tackle Climate Change in 2020 from your living room.

Its 2020. A new decade.

2019 was the year that Climate Change was finally put on the table. The year that it slowly creeped into the psyche of more and more people.

Then came 1st January 2020 and it felt like we were slapped in the face with its very real reality.

Australia is burning, Indonesia is flooding and suddenly we can imagine us all on the front line.

To many it seems such a overwhelming idea that they just have to carry on as they were before, because lets face it, we can’t save Australia from horrific fires by making sure we put our recycling in the correct bins right? So what’s the point?

While it is true that the main bulk of the action does need to come from Governments, it doesn’t mean we are powerless either. Nor does it mean you have to take to the streets in protest if that’s not your gig. Or maybe you’d love to take to the streets but work and life commitments restrict you and you still want to feel like your doing something.

To help I’ve made a list of 5 simple things you can do in 2020 that will REALLY help fight climate change and all can be done from the comfort your living room.

What can you do from your home to help with the climate crisis?

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1. Switch your energy provider you cut your home carbon emissions.

It only takes a few minutes using The Big Clean Switch but switching to a clean energy company can really help your carbon footprint and so far has saved us money. We’ve gone with Bulb but there are a few companies to choose from that use renewable energy and offset your gas usage.

2. Quit the high street to help your carbon footprint.

This is an easy one because all you have to do is nothing. Literally buying nothing. Or nothing new for a while anyway. If you’ve previously read my post on why we should Say No to Fast Fashion and My Fast Fashion Boycott you’ll understand just some of the damaging effects our fashion industry has on the environment and some of the human impacts. The more I learnt about these effects, from the impact on the farmers picking the cotton, to the factory workers working for less than the living wage, to the peoples health severely effected by the toxic chemicals used to dye our clothes, which are then dumped into the local water ways. This isn’t to mention the amount of plastic in our clothes, and the fact that the fashion industry creates more carbon emission than all air travel and shipping combined.

Knowing this means I can no longer just buy something without knowing where it came from and who it may have effected. This has actually been one of the best things I’ve ever done; I went through my wardrobe and cut it down by a half, selling on the things I really never wear and discovered things I haven’t worn in ages but actually love. Even things I’ve never worn and now wear all the time. I browse charity shops at my leisure and eBay if I want something specific and oh my goodness its a good feeling when you find a great piece secondhand at a fraction of the cost.

3. Switch who you bank with to help the climate crisis.

Did you know the world’s top banks have poured $1.9 trillion into the fossil fuels financing since the Paris Agreement, and its rising every year. Barclays, HSBC, RBS, Santander and Lloyds being some of the worse.

I’m switching to Triodes. You may not have heard of them yet but they are ranked by the Ethical Consumer Magazine as “one of the world’s leading sustainable banks, and one of the most ethical companies the Ethical Consumer ranks and rates in it’s product guides.”

It’s mission is “to make money work for positive social, environmental and cultural change.” In 2017 38% of its loan went to environmental projects, organic agriculture and environmental technologies. Sounds like a decent place to put my money to me.

4. Cut down your meat and dairy consumption to cut your families carbon emissions.

You all knew this one was coming. The meat and dairy industries are on track to over take the fossil fuel industry as the world’s biggest polluter. We simply cannot carry on eating the way we do for many many reasons.

Now I’m not telling you we should all go vegan over night. I’m not quiet there either, although I’m definitely working on cutting down on my consumption dramatically. Vegan diets may also not be the simple fix many hope they are. Eating locally is really the best thing you can do along with cutting down your consumption of animal products.

The little meat I do now eat comes from our local butcher. He stocks meat from farmers within a few miles, which in our case is an organic farm on the South Downs. I understand this is a privileged in every way. The fact that we live near organic farms for a start and that we can afford to do so.

Its always worth talking to the local supplier. For example if we buy fish we go to the local fish monger and ask what is locally caught and what is yummy but not sold on mass. This insider knowledge is an absolute winner. Stake wing knobs by the way are delicious and cheap as chips.

If you struggle for recipe ideas have you checked out some of my vegan dishes.

5. Make a donation to the right places. Organisations fight climate change.

Of course only if you are in a position to do so. Extinction Rebellion are doing amazing work behind the scenes as well as the protests you see in the news. Many have given up their jobs to volunteer full time so are a good cause to give to. Coalition for Rainforest Nations, Greenpeace, The Green Party, Earth Justice, and Friends of the Earth are all great causes to put your money towards.

If your mind is currently on the horrific fires in Australia The Guardian has a great guide on how your money could help and where to send it too. Find it HERE.

I hope this will help you feel more empowered. Not only will all these points help with your carbon footprint, they send a message to the guys at the top. Consumerism is supply and demand, so if we cut the demand and move oue interests to local and small businesses they will be forced into action. And it leaves us perhaps feeling a little less helpless.