Government Is Ineffective On Climate Change, So What Now?

The Climate Action Tracker website says that the climate change policies and commitments in place today around the world today will not deliver net zero targets by 2050. Since the Paris Agreement was reached in 2015 nearly every country whose carbon emissions need drastic reductions have failed to meet targets they set themselves.

Indications are that the planet is on track to see an overall increase in average temperatures by 2.7ºC by 2100 - if targets currently in place are achieved that will fall to 2.4ºC, if they are missed warming will top 3ºC - and no one really knows by how much.

Governments have been less than successful on climate change because they are juggling competing demands in the short-term - the economy, pandemic response, housing, etc. Which means that something with an impact long after they are gone often gets pushed to the end of the priority line. Even though everyone knows it is the biggest problem face the world today.

Which means once again that we have to look at what individuals can do to reduce their carbon footprints, because for all that it's true that one person can't change the world, a movement of people can. And unlike mandates from Government or businesses targeting reduction; every change you make has a small but immediate impact.

Individual action is not an ideal solution, but it is a big part of the solution

The biggest, most effective thing you can do to make a difference is to stop buying things. Especially clothing. More than 10% of all emissions come from the fashion industry. The disposal of unworn clothing is a problem all of its own. When you do buy clothes, buy for longevity. That advice holds good for everything else too. Your iPhone and iPad are good for at least five years of use. If you have an Android phone which doesn't receive security updates, switch to iOS. Cut down the number of plastic products you use, choosing sustainable versions instead.

Transport is another big factor  and one which is ready for change after more than two years of pandemic and remote working. More than half of people questioned in surveys say that they would prefer to continue working from home as the pandemic dies down. The fewer times you travel into the office the better for the environment. When you do travel use public transport - or a bike. Using your car less means fewer emissions, saves you money and reduces wear and tear, which should mean it lasts longer. A new car's manufacturing emissions are the equivalent of one to four years of a person's carbon footprint, so the longer you can delay that replacement the better.

Changing your diet to consume less beef and dairy; increasing the number of vegetables and, especially, reducing your food waste; go a long way to helping reduce your carbon footprint. Choosing foods which are rain forest friendly and only contain sustainably sourced oils and other ingredients has a wider beneficial impact. Compost food scraps to prevent these going into landfills.

None of those changes cost you money. Most will save you money. Insulating your home, replacing your gas boiler of furnace with a heat pump; and installing solar panels all require some degree of expenditure (grants may be available though) but further address the root causes of climate change - the burning of fossil fuels.

More than just making these changes yourself, persuade family and friends to do the same. The rapid deterioration of the climate can be reversed, but it needs a movement of people working together to make that change. This is not a change which can be effected by millions or tens of millions of people, it requires hundreds of millions and billions to do so. But just one person making a change is a start.

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