10 Low-Cost Tips to Help Fight Climate Change Today

Following these tips does not cost much, although anyone who wants to do more can of course invest in solar panels or an electric car. If you would like to learn more about the causes, effects and solutions linked to this issue, I also recommend reading our article on global warming.

1. Cut down on meat in your diet

Not everyone is ready to go vegan, but you could at least try limiting meat to two days a week, or choosing meat with a lower carbon footprint. Chicken, for example, is a much better option. You can see more in the infographic below, which shows the carbon footprint of 1 kilogram of food. For comparison, the average carbon footprint of a car is 0.25 kg per kilometre. That means 1 kg of beef has roughly the same carbon footprint as driving 108 kilometres.

2. Limit personal car use

For some people, this means giving up a bit of comfort, such as taking the car even to a shop that is only a kilometre away. If you own a car, try to use it only when you really have to — for example, getting to hospital, taking children to school or transporting furniture. For grocery shopping, trips to the shopping centre, commuting to work and similar journeys, use public transport, a bike, your own feet or, if nothing else, a service like Taxify.

3. Buy as locally as possible

Of course, you cannot get everything from your own garden. But some foods and products can be bought from local producers and sellers, which cuts emissions from transport. If you are buying something from a shop, try to choose products made in your region or at least in Slovakia. If you are still deciding where to live, it is worth considering access to local producers as well.

4. Choose foods without palm oil

Alongside foods containing palm oil, try to reduce the use of biofuels that include palm oil as well. We already know the consequences, and anyone who does not can watch this documentary.

5. Save electricity

There are plenty of ways to do this at home — choose appliances with lower energy consumption, use electrical devices less often, switch off lights during the day, avoid using the tumble dryer unless it is really necessary, always turn off your computer when you are not using it, use energy-saving bulbs, and much more.

6. If you have a garden, plant a few trees

Trees absorb large amounts of carbon dioxide and store carbon, so every tree helps, whether it is a fruit tree or an ornamental one. An average tree absorbs around 4 kg of carbon a year.

7. Buy second-hand items

Making a new product always comes with a carbon footprint, although it varies from one product to another. By buying a used but functional item, we reduce the need for a new one and avoid all the emissions linked to its production, transport and eventual recycling.

8. Reduce the amount of waste you produce

And make sure you sort the waste you do create. Waste that ends up in landfill or incinerators releases carbon emissions into the air. Try adopting a zero waste lifestyle.

9. Activism

Activism is not just about protests. It also means voting for politicians, mayors, MEPs and political parties that take this issue seriously. We have seen the damage poor political choices can do — for example, withdrawing from the Paris Agreement or dismissing global warming as a hoax.

10. Raise awareness

There are still many people who think global warming is only about melting glaciers and rising sea levels. Many have no idea how serious the consequences could be or that, after a certain point, it may no longer be possible to stop it. That is why it is important to talk about this issue with people around you. If they want a more detailed explanation, they can learn more about the problem and its consequences in our article on global warming.