How to fight Climate Change
Over this summer, it’s been more and more common to see extreme weather conditions happening across the globe. From the hottest day ever recorded in Europe, when Sicily hit 48.8℃, to massive flooding throughout London — immediately after a heatwave.
Then, this August, we had the IPCC report, updating us on what to expect if the global temperature rises above 1.5℃. With António Guterres, the UN Secretary-General, calling it a ‘red code for humanity, it’s hard not to become blinded by the bad news.
We know that by banding together with other like-minded individuals, we can have a tangible impact on our leaders. So you might be wondering what you can do? Here are our top 4 things you can do right now to make a difference.
- Green your Pension
You might not be aware, but we as consumers have tremendous power sitting in our pensions. If you do not know who you are investing with, you could inadvertently fund fossil fuels, tobacco and arms industries. Making sure that your pension is green is one of the most powerful things you can do to cut your carbon impact. It’s 21x more than stopping flying, going veggie and changing energy suppliers!
Join the Make My Money Matter campaign calling on UK pension funds to use our money to build a better future.
- Stop Cambo
The UK is hosting COP26 in Glasgow, the next annual UN climate change conference at the end of October. However, while many world leaders are pleading to reduce carbon emissions, the UK government is still allowing Shell and Siccar Point Energies to open a new oil field in the Cambo field, just off the coast of West Shetland.
Opening new oil fields like this is entirely in reverse to what our global leaders need to be doing to keep our global temperature rise below 1.5℃. So join the campaign to #StopCambo now.
- Take action in your community.
It might sometimes feel like you are alone in your climate concerns, so find some local support! Groups like this have long been known to be the local solution to the global crises. Plus, getting together with other like-minded individuals is good for your mental health and will help you realise that you are not alone.
Check out sites like Take Climate Action or Climate Chance to find climate groups and events near you.
- Ask the government to take action.
Right now, climate change is coming back into focus after 18 months of the government (rightly) prioritising Covid. Recent polling has shown that ⅔ of Britons believe that Climate Change is as important and Covid. So we need our MPs to be responsible for building climate-friendly communities.
Did you know, one of the most prominent investors in the UK is our local councils and government? Sign up for the Divest Parliament campaign and ask your MP to pledge to stop investing their pensions in fossil fuels.
You can find out who your MP is here in the UK and then contact them quickly using the Write to Them platform. In the US, you can find your local representatives here.
