You can’t find it in you to attend seminars on climate talks and have even tried putting your hand into drives and efforts of saving the planet but it just isn’t up your alley. But you want to make a difference. You want to be part of the revolution for change, as they say, and you don’t know where to start or if you will be able to keep up with the promises you make. We got you. We’ve scoured the internet and curated a list just for you. A list that makes your quest to save the planet fun and easy, and ensures you can do it with time to spare!

Can one person’s effort save the planet?

When it comes to climate change and global warming and other such topics that are discussed at lengths on world platforms, humans do have a tendency to think they alone cannot do much and so they leave it to governments and officials in suits to make rules and norms and statements and more norms. But the ideology that a single individual cannot make a difference, persists. Here’s where that stops.

As global emissions reach record figures, you may believe that you alone segregating your garbage or using a tote instead of a plastic bag is not going to cause a drop in those figures. That may be true. But, collective effort does begin with one man’s thoughts and actions and it only takes a spark to ignite a fire. It all starts with you.

In a study conducted by Rare, The Center for Behaviour & The Environment, there was a master list that was put forth. The list was a series of efforts that if taken, would be impactful in reducing emissions and thus providing hope for the planet that is on the brink of a crisis. Here’s what you can do.

Don’t order that burger and save the planet

We aren’t asking you to go off burgers and promise to never touch anything remotely non-veg for the rest of your life. Saving the planet isn’t that cruel to appetites. But what you could do instead is to cut down on meat and beef.

The problem

Cows require vast landscapes and to provide them with this involves massive deforestation. In addition to their habitats being harmful to the planet, it is also their farts that cause more harm than good.

The methane gas released by these does more damage than carbon dioxide emissions, and this increases the levels of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere.

The result

According to The Washington Post, if you swap beef for a veg option once a week for a year, you cut down on 331 kg of CO2 emissions.

If you swap beef for chicken once a week for a year, you cut down on 260 kg of CO2 emissions.

Fund a project

What if there was a way to rid yourself of the guilt of ‘Adding to Cart’? You might have hit the jackpot. Carbon Offsets enable individuals to contribute to saving the planet by not doing anything themselves in this regard but supporting a project that does.

The problem

Carbon emissions are soaring. To counter this, there are companies and projects that are coming up around the world that have one sole goal: to pull carbon from the atmosphere. People who are looking to save the planet can now look for which project they would like to support and fund.

The result

You could be doing your bit from the comforts of your home. A reduction in emissions, a greener planet, and these projects getting the support they need is the impact of your help.

The argument

Funding these projects is great to rid yourself of the guilt of ‘Adding to Cart’. But what would be more beneficial is not giving in to consumerism in the first place. “I stress that an individual or business should do everything in their power to reduce their footprint — such as switching to renewable energy, eating less red meat [and] limiting air travel — and use offsets as the last piece to eliminate remaining emissions,” says Marisa de Belloy, CEO of Cool Effect in an article to Mic.

Don’t catch that flight

The flight trip could have been a Zoom meet and the meet could have been an email and the email could have been a call. That’s not just in support of your work complaints, but also the mantra to follow while you save the planet.

The problem

A flight trip generates massive amounts of emissions on a single return trip. This is more for business class, as there is more space occupied by these people and thus the number of people occupying air space for the same amount of fuel being used, decreases, increasing the emissions per person. Just don’t get on that flight.

The solution

A report by Rare, suggests that if 140 million business flights are cut down between 2022 to 2050, it could cut down 2 to 17 gigatons of CO2!!!

Don’t sleep in on election day

Go out and vote. You elect the powers that can make the big decisions on emissions, climate resolutions and more. Don’t snooze the alarm on voting day. Bringing about change with respect to the planet requires not only your efforts but also for you to advocate the same in your circles. When people know you are working towards a certain goal, it sets the stage for them to do the same.