What Can I Do to Help Climate Change? 5 Simple Ways to Reduce Your CO₂ Emissions

When it comes to climate change, one of the biggest challenges isn’t science or technology — it’s mindset. The problem feels massive. Terms like “greenhouse gases” and “global warming” are everywhere, and the numbers can be staggering. It’s easy to ask yourself: “What can I really do to make a difference?”

The good news is: you can do a lot. And you don’t have to overhaul your entire life to start lowering your carbon footprint. Small, consistent actions can lead to big results, especially when millions of us are doing them together.

If you're wondering how to reduce your CO₂ emissions, here are five simple, practical ways to start — no guilt, no perfection required.

1. 🚶 Leave the Car at Home for Short Trips

No, we’re not saying you need to give up your car entirely. But many journeys under three miles — like running errands, going to school, or visiting a friend — can be done by walking, biking, or taking public transport.

• 3 miles = ~20 minutes cycling or 45 minutes walking
• Regularly skipping short car trips can significantly reduce your emissions
• Bonus: You’ll boost your daily exercise without hitting the gym

Even replacing just one or two car journeys a week helps. And the more people who join in, the bigger the impact.

2. ✈️ Offset the Carbon from Your Flights

Air travel is one of the biggest contributors to personal carbon footprints. In order to solve the climate crisis, we need to reduce the amount of emissions at source - which means not taking the flights in the firs place. Consider traveling slow instead. However if you really can't avoid a flight, then there are ways to reduce its environmental impact.

• Carbon offset your flight - even though it will take 20 years for the carbon to be taken out of the atmosphere again, it's better to support green projects than not!
• You can also support organisations like TreeSisters or Hometree, which plant trees or protect forests on your behalf
• Subscribe on The Climate App, and we can plant for you!

Trees take time to grow and absorb CO₂, but supporting reforestation is a long-term investment in the planet. Offset every flight if you can — it all helps.

3. 🥕 Shop Local and Seasonal

Food production and transportation are major sources of CO₂ emissions — especially when your food travels thousands of miles to reach your plate.

Here’s how to cut your “food miles”:

• Buy from local farmers’ markets or greengrocers
• Choose seasonal produce grown in your region
• Pack your own lunch to avoid over-packaged convenience meals
• Use reusable containers like glass or sturdy lunchboxes

These swaps lower your carbon footprint and often taste better too. Fresh food, fewer emissions — that’s a win.

4. 📊 Track Your CO₂ Emissions

If you want to reduce something, you have to measure it. Understanding your current carbon output is the first step toward reducing it — and even small insights can be powerful motivators for change.

That’s why we’re developing The Climate App — a fun, community-driven way to:

• Track your personal emissions
• Share your progress with friends
• Discover easy, actionable carbon-saving tips

It’s not about guilt — it’s about seeing your positive impact in real time and encouraging others to do the same.

5. 🌍 Focus on Progress, Not Perfection

You don’t need to live off-grid or go zero-waste overnight. Climate action works best when it’s practical, accessible, and consistent. The simple truth is:

By walking more, flying smarter, eating locally, and measuring your impact, you're already part of the solution.

So next time you hear “climate change” in the headlines and wonder What can I do? — you’ll know the answer.

You’re already doing it.

Ready to take the next step? 👉 Sign up to our mailing list so you hear of our launch and stay involved!