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Irish Mirror
Irish Mirror
National
Neil Leslie

20 solutions to climate change you can try from your own home

Irish households can do their bit in the battle against climate change with a range of 20 simple lifestyle choices according to the world’s top scientists.

For the past eight weeks we have been showcasing some of the solutions that are helping Ireland in the race to meet the zero emissions pledges needed to answer what the UN has called “Code Red for Humanity.”

And many are simpler and easier than you think.

Read More: Green jobs revolution that will clean up planet and drive down energy bills arrives in Ireland

A collection of the world’s top scientists from Project Drawdown believe the technologies and solutions to stopping runaway climate change are already in our own hands.

Now we have the choice to grasp them to prevent extreme changes to our climate that will lead to death, disease and displacement for billions of people and cause the mass extinction of wildlife on earth according to the latest reports from the United Nations.

Many will be at the level of Governments and corporations who must be made hear the voices of people and consumers who want change and act now on the commitments made in international agreements.

But actions by householders and individuals can reduce up to 30% of the gases that are cooking the planet more and more each day.

Most are low-cost and even money saving while some like retrofitting will need to be Government backed to make sure those who can’t afford it are not left behind.

Scientific data has shown that enough of these actions being taken by people, businesses and governments will achieve ‘Drawdown’ – the point at which the accumulated carbon in the air causing climate change will peak and start to fall.

Every act can make a difference but it grows more powerful when collectively combined with the actions of others.

A Project Drawdown spokesman said: “Helping solve climate change is a collective act, and each of us has a set of levers for changing the systems around us. It’s not always easy, but everyone can make a difference. Our power grows when we work together with others. We are not just individuals, we are neighbours, friends, co-workers, employees, owners, investors, board members, officials, and representatives.”

Here are Project Drawdown’s high impact climate change solutions that millions are already doing in their own homes, and you can too:

Cut food waste – Buy only the food you know you’ll eat

Eat more veggies – Replace some of your meat with healthy protein-rich plants

Switch to clean energy – Upgrade to renewable energy in your home or lobby representatives to make it happen

Insulate your home – Improve your home’s window and wall insulation – availing of Governments grants

Save with LED lights – Switch to energy-efficient LED light bulbs

Heat and cool smarter – Install heat pumps or smart thermostats and lobby representatives to make this affordable for all

Get solar – Invest in solar panels and solar hot water

Drive electric or hybrid – Make your next car an electric or hybrid vehicle

Get around greener – Share a ride with others or travel by bike, public transit, or foot

Fly less – Stay local, make a video call, or find another way to travel

Reduce and recycle – Avoid single-use plastic and recycle right

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