What Can I Do To Help Prevent Climate Change?

by 04/02/07 53 Comments

In the United States, approximately 6.6 tons (almost 15,000 pounds carbon equivalent) of greenhouse gases are emitted per person every year. And emissions per person have increased about 3.4% between 1990 and 1997. Most of these emissions, about 82%, are from burning fossil fuels to generate electricity and power our cars. The remaining emissions are from methane from wastes in our landfills, raising livestock, natural gas pipelines, and coal, as well as from industrial chemicals and other sources. (Source: US EPA).

With this said, also keep in mind that emissions vary based on the country and state in which you live. At the present time, the United States emits more greenhouse gasses per person than any other country. Emissions also vary by state as they are based on the many factors such as the types of fuel used to generate electricity, the total population of a state, and the amount of (and distance traveled by) commuters.

As an individual there are three areas where we can make the most impact in reducing carbon emissions – the electricity we use in our homes, the waste we produce, and the transportation we choose to use. According to the U.S. EPA, you can affect the emissions of about 4,800 pounds of carbon equivalent, or nearly 32% of the total emissions per person by the choices we make in these three areas. The other 68% of emissions are affected more by the types of industries in the U.S. the types of offices we use, how our food is grown and other factors (source: U.S. EPA). Below are tips on how to reduce carbon emissions and help stop climate change.

Ten Basic Tips To Help Stop Climate Change

Don’t have a lot of time, but want to take action? Here are ten, simple, everyday things each of us can do to help stop climate change. Pick one, some, or all. Every little effort helps and adds up to a whole lot of good.

Change a light. Replacing a regular light bulb with a compact fluorescent one saves 150 pounds of carbon dioxide each year.*

Drive less. Walk, bike, carpool, take mass transit, and/or trip chain. All of these things can help reduce gas consumption and one pound of carbon dioxide for each mile you do not drive.

Recycle more and buy recycled. Save up to 2,400 pounds of carbon dioxide each year just by recycling half of your household waste. By recycling and buying products with recycled content you also save energy, resources and landfill space!

Check your tires. Properly inflated tires mean good gas mileage. For each gallon of gas saved, 20 pounds of carbon dioxide are also never produced.

Use less hot water. It takes a lot of energy to heat water. Reducing the amount used means big savings in not only your energy bills, but also in carbon dioxide emissions. Using cold water for your wash saves 500 pounds of carbon dioxide a year, and using a low flow showerhead reduces 350 pounds of carbon dioxide. Make the most of your hot water by insulating your tank and keeping the temperature at or below 120.

Avoid products with a lot of packaging. Preventing waste from being created in the first place means that there is less energy wasted and fewer resources consumed. When you purchase products with the least amount of packaging, not only do you save money, but you also help the environment! Reducing your garbage by 10% reduces carbon dioxide emissions by 1,200 pounds.

Adjust your thermostat. Keeping your thermostat at 68 degrees in winter and 78 degrees in summer not only helps with your energy bills, but it can reduce carbon dioxide emissions as well. No matter where you set your dial, two degrees cooler in the winter or warmer in the summer can mean a reduction of 2,000 pounds of carbon dioxide a year.

Plant a tree. A single tree can absorb one ton of carbon dioxide over its lifetime.

Turn off electronic devices when not in use. Simply turning off your TV, VCR, computer and other electronic devices can save each household thousand of pounds of carbon dioxide each year.

Stay informed. Use the Earth 911 Web site to help stay informed about environmental issues, and share your knowledge with others. Together, we can and do Make Every Day Earth Day!

* Carbon emission figures from climatecrisis.org.

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  1. Alvin Matavilla

    posted on July 5th, 2011 at 9:45 am

    :)

  2. posted on July 5th, 2011 at 7:34 pm

    man made global warming is a farce... and a disgrace to the true environment movement.

  3. Veronica Dido-Fisher

    posted on August 3rd, 2011 at 5:58 am

    PREVENT GLOBAL WARMING...NOT JUST FOR YOU OR YOUR KIDS BUT YYOUR KIDS KIDS AS WELL.

  4. June Reo Dolor Generalao

    posted on August 4th, 2011 at 11:16 am

    mmmmhhhh

  5. Said Macabago

    posted on August 27th, 2011 at 2:11 am

    Let us not just protect our kids from global warming and climate change. Let us make them socially and environmentally responsible and aware so they themselves make moves in protecting ME. (Mother Earth)

  6. Asael Mark Wherner RambacWestlifer

    posted on November 14th, 2011 at 3:33 am

    I love this topic., it is very interesting., don't abuse our environment., save it for the next generation :)

  7. Agboola Samuel

    posted on November 19th, 2011 at 1:19 am

    Every little things we do, either positive or negative can cause climatic change and global warming. So, do the right thing to save generations unborn!

  8. Solana Price

    posted on November 27th, 2011 at 4:51 pm

    In the current state that we live in, we have access to never ending knowledge, history of the past and greatly manufactured technology. Because of these things, it is easy to see that the earth has gone through drastic cycles before like that of the likes of the Ice Age. During the events of the Ice Age, the globe underwent extreme climate change (as it is doing unnaturally now) and almost all of the living species went extinct, however the earth lived on for generations upon generations and up to modern day. I think this brings about an important point: Mother Earth can revive herself; in the end she will have resources to live on past the races and species that were brought upon her as she has done in the past. By polluting, killing in mass and the constant taking of resources by the overpopulated race (humans) we are sabotaging ourselves; slowly but now quicker than ever, we are running out of resources and healthy lifestyles and cycles to be able to live in harmony with the planet. If changes aren’t made to better the way we treat the earth and the environment in general- which includes all living organisms that interact on earth- then we are in a sense killing ourselves in addition to the other species we take down with us.

  9. Kimberly Steele

    posted on November 28th, 2011 at 5:30 am

    BECOME A VEGAN. It takes 2500-5000 gallons of water to produce one pound of steak. In contrast, rice costs only 400 gallons. You could give up showering and bathing for one year and save less water than you would giving up meat and dairy products for two weeks. Furthermore, even if you don't give a crap about the crowded, poisoned Earth your kids are pretty much doomed to inherit, going vegan will save you tens of thousands of dollars in future medical bills, enable you to lose stubborn weight that won't stay off any other way, and provide you incredible immunity to the flus that devastate everyone else on a bi-monthly basis.

  10. Shiloh Phumzile Xulu

    posted on November 29th, 2011 at 9:10 am

    Plant a tree that I support fully.

  11. Nkosinathi Paul Jikeka

    posted on November 29th, 2011 at 9:33 am

    A food tree futhi...

  12. Azim Bahadar Pathan

    posted on December 15th, 2011 at 9:26 pm

    think globally but act not locally but at least around your home.........

  13. Julius Yecyec

    posted on January 10th, 2012 at 7:47 am

    we are fundementally changing the planet we lived on. so, be loyal and think what the best thing to do.
As of June 17th 2011 we have upgraded our comment system to use Facebook comments. The below comments are closed and are listed for historical purposes.

40 Archived Comments

  1. rabidbadger

    posted on July 19th, 2007 at 11:11 pm

    Over planting trees, more people can do better to take reuseable bags with them when they go shopping. Canvas and other reusable bags and totes are better than both Paper and Plastic. So the next time the clerk asks “Paper or Plastic”, say I brought my own.

  2. green4all333

    posted on September 19th, 2007 at 8:20 pm

    planting trees are a good idea :)

  3. What Can I Do To Help Prevent Climate Change? « Fabiofilho’s Weblog

    posted on October 15th, 2007 at 6:42 am

    [...] Complete Article : http://earth911.com/blog/2007/04/02/what-can-i-do-to-help-prevent-climate-change/ [...]

  4. Tabitha Aponte

    posted on November 18th, 2008 at 8:57 pm

    more trees!more Fun! plant a tree with ppl, get ppl activated to do somethong about our earth! its a great family activity and who knows it will rub off on your children,may give them a new hobby!

    i know i found mine
    Gr33n is the N3w Harizon…………

  5. joe dirt

    posted on December 2nd, 2008 at 7:07 pm

    YOU HIPPIE TREE HUGGERSSS

  6. Fight Global Warming! | Inside My Head

    posted on December 7th, 2008 at 3:45 pm

    [...] What can I do to help prevent climate change? [...]

  7. save the polar bears

    posted on January 17th, 2009 at 7:06 pm

    save the polar bears. the polar bears are dying because of global warming there is only 20,000 left take ation

  8. dasgf

    posted on January 22nd, 2009 at 7:01 am

    put on a sweatah

  9. em

    posted on February 11th, 2009 at 10:03 am

    i think oil is part of this too so maybe the facts could help

  10. jaz

    posted on February 11th, 2009 at 10:04 am

    Save the polar bears oil affects the ocean for them t live in

  11. raphnexx

    posted on March 21st, 2009 at 11:29 am

    I like it.Save all the endangered species! Be responsible guys!

  12. Electricity − Electrical Links

    posted on March 26th, 2009 at 1:14 am

    [...] Electricity Waste [...]

  13. Clynton Van Aarde

    posted on June 3rd, 2009 at 9:24 pm

    Not enough pressure is being put on oil company’s about the regulation of oil sub stations, FPSO’s and oil production platforms that burn off H2S gas and oil residue.Working in the oil industry one notices while standing on your accommodation barge doing a 360 degree survey one can count between 15 sub stations all with flare booms.One never has a clear day as always cloud cover.15 substations just in block 3 and 30 more fields to go.So one can imagine.Firstly a pipe line has been lay-ed to land for H2S which can be used on gas turbines as seen on the rig.Only problem is pipe line does not get used..In Nigeria in certain fields things are doubled.A global organization needs to be implemented and take charge of current situations relating to global warming.Oil company’s should pay huge penalty’s to there part in not managing oil fields relating to the environment.Proceeds from the huge fines will then have to be managed correctly in research and converting to green energy in all aspects like creating solar panel energy plants.More people should speak out and by gaining global awareness and knowledge about what they do not know eg.oil fields that burn off gasses and residue have a part to play in global warming. Only one good thing i can say about oil fields is that it becomes a fish sanctuary for reproducing and no fishing vessels are allowed within the perimeter.If you look at it this way directly we the consumer is supporting the destruction of earth by supporting oil.
    Thank you for all those people involved in researching alternative forms of energy as it was needed like yesterday already.

  14. Predicting Climate Change Using Facebook : CleanTechnica

    posted on August 17th, 2009 at 3:03 pm

    [...] what we can expect in the near future and plan accordingly. There are a lot of things you can do to prevent and learn about climate change. With Progress thru Processors, all you have to do is download and [...]

  15. Peter

    posted on August 25th, 2009 at 12:13 pm

    Our small school initiated a climate change mandate and started by planting 100 trees. We’re now offesetting our carbon emissions created by our I.T equipment by paying a carbon offsetting agency. We’re not 100% carbon neutral yet, but we hope to get there soon! Obviously if everyone tried a little, the world will enjoy a much cleaner future.

  16. KevinStan

    posted on August 30th, 2009 at 8:18 pm

    Anthropogenic-Global Warming or Man-Made global warming is a pseudoscience-A lie. Man alone cannot make the earths climate change. The output of CO2 from the ocean dwarves the number humans emit, but that is not even how the climate can change. the TRUE way climate can change is the Sun. The Sun is the only thing that is affecting the climate. I can understand this is not going to make sense to you because conditioned to believe you are the problem and need to be taxed be the mainstream media. I BEG YOU TO BE OPEN AND RESEARCH WHAT I HAVE SAID AND THESE POINTS : SUN AFFECTING THE CLIMATE; CARBON EMISSIONS TAXES AND “NEW WORLD ORDER + GLOBAL WARMING”. please be open to the other side. P.S. I AM ALL FOR THE ENVIRONMENT.

  17. oscar medina

    posted on September 1st, 2009 at 12:39 pm

    i think that we need too take care to the planet cause we live on it and if we destroy this planet we are going to die

  18. ruth stephanie

    posted on September 1st, 2009 at 5:35 pm

    1. Educate youngsters and all those you know in respect to nature.
    2. Commonly used recycled paper
    3. Start using the bike as far as possible.
    5. Check gas emissions of your vehicle.
    6. consume no more energy than you need not
    7. Decrease the consumption of red meat
    8. waste over half is recyclable Why recycles it and savings?
    9. consumes water necessary

  19. alg10783

    posted on October 12th, 2009 at 11:42 pm

    It’s be ourselves to save our mother nature, by means of simply things we can do like planting trees, recycle things, it’s a very BIG contribution for our nature..Let us all have discipline to ourself…Be one the many people want to save our Mother Nature.. It is for us to be able to live in a better world….

  20. betterworldbuys.com Blog » Blog Archive » Making Every Day an International Day of Climate Action

    posted on October 26th, 2009 at 7:28 am

    [...] Carbon Footprint. For some guidelines on how to reduce your footprint starting now, check out this earth911 blog. What ideas do you have to help prevent climate change? Please let us know by sharing your thoughts [...]

  21. Climate Condition…… | Starting Today with a Smile!!........

    posted on October 31st, 2009 at 6:08 pm

    [...] we prevent this?? Simple!  You see, climate is affected by green house gases which are pretty much Carbon Dioxide. But where do these CO2 gases come from?  About 82%, are from burning fossil fuels to generate [...]

  22. gregw

    posted on December 19th, 2009 at 8:03 am

    Thanks for the great article.
    It is very important to conserve energy, even a little effort can do some good. I worry more about countries that are now becoming fully industrialized like India and China. I have read recently that it is believed by some scientists that the pollution from those countries is to blame for the causing of glaciers in the Himalayas to melt.
    I truly believe that mother nature will intercede before the earth is destroyed and reshape the planet, like taking a shower and cleansing itself. Mankind will survive but not like we know it today.
    In the mean time we all need to pitch in and try to make it the least difficult transition as possible.

  23. Fortunato J. Domingo Jr

    posted on January 14th, 2010 at 2:57 am

    Cloud Formation

    We know that clouds form when rising air cools and the moisture in it condenses to form water droplets. But do you know what makes the air rise in the first place? Let me tell you.

    Air rises for three main reasons:

    Sunshine – heat from the sun or warm ground warms the air and makes it lighter. It therefore rises into the sky.
    The terrain – air may rise as it is forced upwards due to changes in the terrain (landscape). This often occurs when wind blows air either over mountains, or over cliffs onto land from the sea.
    A front – air can also rise at a weather front. At cold fronts, cold air is pushed under warm air, forcing it upwards and at a warm front, warm moist air is forced up and over the cold air.

    In all three of these cases, the warm moist air will cool as it rises, and so the moisture it contains will condense into water droplets – forming clouds.

    Climate change mainly cause by nature inbalance.

    All the organisms on the earth are interrelated through their environment. Different factors present in the environment have affected life in various ways since the origin of the earth. These factors can be living or non- living, such as ecology, conservation, global- warming and plate tectonics. Rapid industrialization and growth of population is causing damages to the environment.

    Since no balance in our nature now. The trees that give us fresh & cold air where replace with buildings. The trees absorb water & prevent soil errosion thats floods. The leaves of the trees absorb the heat of the sun & the carbon monoxide that cause pollution. Since most of the trees where cut everywhere the heat just concentrating in the earth surface that produce extra heat & increase the temperature around, In the the sea because nothing else is absorbing the heat of the sun the temperature goes to the water surface & forms strong typhoon that just rain from a cloud. Same thing happening in the Antartic, the heat of the sun increases as nothing else absorbing it & causing it to melt. The solution i think for climate change is to keep the balance of nature & impose a program to every nation of complete reforestation wherever there are vacant surfaces that plants & trees grows.

  24. Kimberley Nanson

    posted on February 16th, 2010 at 8:48 am

    If you monitor your energy consumption using a real-time energy monitor (www.currentcost.com) you know exactly what you’re using, when so you can identify any waste. I.e. electricity you’re not using.

    If you cut waste, you reduce your carbon footprint (and outgoings). As individuals we can make a huge impact rather than Governments deciding what’s best and how to do it – they’ll take forever!

    If we make a stand, our endeavors to become carbon aware, change our habits to energy we can help slow the effect we are having on our planet.

  25. Johny

    posted on February 17th, 2010 at 8:40 am

    I hope we can all do our part. We dont want our kin growing up in a place polluted where instead of rain its acid rain. Also planting a tree or making a treeline to the west can help not only with removing carbon dioxide but also reducing heating and cooling of your homes.

  26. Johny

    posted on February 17th, 2010 at 8:48 am

    This is regarding Kevinstan. How can you be so arrogant. Life is water and oxegen. Not carbon dioxide unless your a single celled bacteria. Two things protect us from a cold and partially empty universe. First the magnetosphere. Anything that makes it through the magnetoshpere then has to get through the ozone layer. Regardless of if the sun is getting bigger or hotter it is in our best interests for our species to protect as much of the ozone layer as we can. Perhaps it might not be the air youll be breathing 100 years down the road but your kin will. The more oxygen in the atmosphere the better .

  27. Green School

    posted on April 3rd, 2010 at 1:57 pm

    We’re trying to introduce green learning and eco awareness in our curriculum at an early stage. We can make the wolrd a better place if we educate today’s children and tomorrow’s leaders.

  28. greenrain

    posted on May 18th, 2010 at 12:01 pm

    plant 7 trees a year.it erases your greenhouse gasses that you emit

  29. hi

    posted on June 11th, 2010 at 1:39 am

    The first that a person can do on individual basis is maintaining hygiene in his/her surroundings.
    Doing that will prevent lots of diseases and infection. People keep their homes clean but forget cleanliness of public areas.

  30. achal

    posted on July 25th, 2010 at 7:44 pm

    prevent pollution

  31. yurika asaki

    posted on August 6th, 2010 at 6:54 pm

    we must do it now, lets save much more energy, recycle materials, less drive, and plant more trees, coz tomorrow maybe to late……………) – :

  32. drea & jhes BFF

    posted on August 14th, 2010 at 12:09 am

    in our own little way, WE can do something to STOP or at least lessen this problem……. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. .be aware of what happening around us……

  33. Rachel

    posted on August 17th, 2010 at 10:29 am

    Instead of (or in addition to) these actions, get involved politically and DEMAND HIGHER TAXES ON FOSSIL FUELS, to discourage their use and to raise funds for alternatives. Even Wall Street types are making this case: listen to this audio interview on public radio (http://marketplace.publicradio.org/display/web/2010/08/13/mm-did-the-bp-oil-spill-curb-your-petroleum-habit/) The financial gurus say that our little personal actions are insignificant compared to systemic change, and systemic change will only come when it is easier to do the right thing than the wrong thing.

  34. Morgan Jenkins

    posted on November 19th, 2010 at 7:52 am

    p.s i live in bridgend and go to brynteg school in wales,UK
    go plant some treees!!!!! ;)

  35. Bill

    posted on November 29th, 2010 at 9:38 am

    You cannot do anything to avoid climate change. It continues to happen on a regular and necessary basis as part of the unavoidable character of the planet. Climate has never been fixed or stable and the minimal changes observed in this era pale to insignificance in comparison to historical and future climate changes brought on by the earth itself and its natural forces. Mankind could not change the planet’s climate if it tried. The only difference now is that international corporations have found ways to scam even more money from the working class through totally useless and unproductive concepts such as “carbon credit selling”, whose end game is more enrichment for the elite and does absolutely nothing for or against the climate. Do not fall for it.

  36. Bill

    posted on November 29th, 2010 at 9:44 am

    “We’re now offesetting our carbon emissions created by our I.T equipment by paying a carbon offsetting agency.”

    Exactly. The activity by IT continues, you just lose money and line the pockets of the already wealthy elite. Do not fall for it.

  37. dr. randall

    posted on December 29th, 2010 at 1:53 pm

    Can we mere mortals do anything to prevent climate change? The earth has been going through climate changes for millions of years. How do you think Greenland got its name? Even if everyone were to live like people lived a thousand years ago, could we make a dent? If so, why has climate change been around for years? I am afraid we just don’t have that power to control weather on such a grand scale.
    I am however, all for recycling and not wasting our resources as we have a limited supply. Oil, however,
    is not one we should put in that category as we have only used a pitance of the reserve.

  38. loraine

    posted on February 10th, 2011 at 6:58 pm

    it is good for us to be well-informed about what is happening to our environment so we should know the that we are going to do…specially we-students..because we are the hope of our nation..we should work hand in hand for the betterment of our future

  39. guptar napalolo

    posted on June 10th, 2011 at 5:43 am

    by helping my dad

  40. guptar napalolo

    posted on June 10th, 2011 at 5:51 am

    by cutting down all the trees

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