| What We Should Do | Why We Should Do It | How to Do It |
| 1. Drive Less | Cars produce 13% of carbon dioxide emissions in the UK. But about 75% of all car journeys are less than 5 miles long, many of them carrying a single occupant. That means that the majority of car journeys could be replaced with cycling. | Get a bike! If you travel long distances, the Brompton foldable bike is perfect for taking on trains and buses. |
| 2. Avoid air travel | Aviation is the fastest-growing cause of climate change and there are currently no international treatises binding the airline industry. Without government action, aviation emissions alone will cause the UK to miss its 2050 targets. (Source:Tyndall Centre for Climate Change Research). The world's 16,000 commercial jet aircrafts produce more than 600 million tonnes of CO2 every year, nearly as much as all the countries of Africa put together (Source:Friends of the Earth) | Take holidays in the UK rather than going abroad. If you do go abroad, consider going by rail or boat. Also petition the government to introduce taxes and to stop airport expansion. |
| 3. Switch Your Energy Supplier | Energy use in the home accounts for 27% of carbon dioxide emissions in the UK (Source:BBC) Changing where you get your electricity from can drastically reduce your carbon footprint. Choose renewable energy sources over gas and coal. | Even if you don't yet own your own home, you can ask your parents, landlord or college bursar to consider switching to renewable energy. |
| 4. Reduce Energy Use at Home | An enormous amount of energy is wasted unnecessarily because of appliances being left on standby, or houses not being properly insulated. | Get some energy efficient light bulbs, don't leave appliances on standby, turn down your thermostat if you can walk around your house wearing a T-shirt in winter. Plus lots more. |
| 5. Reduce your meat intake | Livestock emits an astonishing 18% of world greenhouse gases! That's more than all transport put together. (Source:New Scientist) Furthermore, it takes 6 lbs of feed protein (on average) to produce 1 lb of meat protein; hence meat production is undeniably inefficient (Source:Food, Ethics and the Environment - Peter Singer). | Protein can be got from legumes such as soybeans, kidney beans and lentils. Start using vegetarian recipes. Find out more at eatlessmeat.org |
| 6. Buy local food and drink | If you buy products that have been shipped or air-freighted from overseas, you are responsible for the carbon dioxide emitted by the transportation. Buying local food where possible reduces the number of 'food miles'. Since drinks are especially heavy, think carefully about where your booze comes from and buy locally produced products where you can. | Start buying seasonal produce at markets and local grocery rather than imported items in supermarkets. You might even consider getting a vegetable box.Instead of buying beer from the other side of the world, consider supporting local breweries. |
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