All of the countries are discussing climate change. But what can we do ?

kacie

I think individual efforts are hanging things, look back 10 years ago at the vegan options compared to now, consumer demand is high for that right now so more and more companies are making vegan products. 

I've almost entirely given up, meat, fish and dairy, will have the occasional bit if no other option eating out and not check labels all the time. 
Use a green energy supplier
Use shampoo, conditioner and soap bars
Use a plastic free laundry product
Use reusable sanitary items 
Most clothes and books bought from charity shops

However I know there's still more I can do, like switch or get rid of my car for a more environmentally friendly one, but that's not something I can afford right now, I don't however use it often. 

[Deleted User]

Few things spring to mind but the last 2 years I have stopped buying anything with peat in it. That is something that is lurking under the surface that many can do something to avoid.

tooldle

The biggest impact most can make is through changing they way they travel and heat their homes. There will always be reasons not to make these changes including affordability. 
I wanted to share the positives of giving up my car. I sold my car in 2007. Through the intervening years, i have walked, cycled and now use public transport to get to work. At £35 per month for my bus pass, i’ve saved an absolute fortune over car ownership. Exercise wise i walk enough miles everyday to not feel the need to have a gym membership (i do swim weekly). Shopping has not proved problematic in that i can stop off on my way home, make a special trip or use my local shops. When i’ve needed to travel further afield, public transport has served my purpose. Very rarely I've hired a car i.e.moving daughter into Uni halls etc. It really hasn’t been a difficult journey. Over the years i’ve met many people Who marvel at ‘my ways’ and tell me how impossible it would be for them and that’s the crux of it. The mindset is for many ‘i can't because’ rather than ‘today i will’. 
We’ve recently moved and need a new boiler. We likely will go for solar panels over a heat pump. Still mulling over the options for the moment.

Effician

tooldle said:

. 
I wanted to share the positives of giving up my car. I sold my car in 2007. Through the intervening years, i have walked, cycled and now use public transport to get to work. At £35 per month for my bus pass, i’ve saved an absolute fortune over car ownership.

I really couldn't do without a car, for our home it's a workhorse that earns it's keep. Our running costs are about £650 a yr including fuel & repairs ( the car only cost £500 with 1yr mot,), so only a 1/3rd more per year than the above bus pass. Admittedly i am a fully signed up member to the practice of bangernomics  

So far this yr it's dragged enough free wood home for a full winters heating & then some, picked up faulty tools & equipement for free which with easy & free repairs have saved over £500, as most of this stuff would have ended in landfill i consider our car a worthwhile investment on these items alone .

I may be the odd one out again but i've saved a nice amount of money & saved a lot from landfill by having a car.

Edit: I guess there are many good & bad points to owning a car, financial as well as environmental.  To stir it up a bit what about owning a new super green electric car only to pop to the shops/garden centre & do show & tell with friends , green or not green?

tooldle

I see your point, although the things you mention can be done using a bike. Cargo-bikes are becoming more of a thing here, which saves the problem of balancing loads on racks etc. My dad made a shed from scratch for his allotment. He put it together initially in his garden and then transported it panel by panel by bike, to his allotment. He never owned a car and hence, was quite resourceful. 
Personally i would consider a car club although no sign off that happening in the immediate future. Popping to the shops/garden centre in an electric car would be better than diesel or petrol. Even better would be to pick up the friends on the way (care share) and /or ask if the journey really needs to be made by car and leave it at home. There will always be exceptions/reasons to drive, but i’m sure it is within the capability of most people to cut down a bit. 
I share an office with 9 other people all of  whom live in multi car households with each adult having their own vehicle. The level of moaning about the walk from car park to desk is always high. It does make me wonder if we would all benefit ourselves by moving more, more than we would benefit the environment, but that is another question. 

Effician

tooldle said:

I see your point, although the things you mention can be done using a bike. Cargo-bikes are becoming more of a thing here, which saves the problem of balancing loads on racks

2 ton of wood ( most of which had to be moved within 2 days) & an industrial site saw may be a little tricky

Torry_Quine

I doubt there's much I can do. I don't drive or fly anywhere. Buy most things from charity shops and donate to them. I don't have central heating and recycle what I can. 
 This is how I've always lived. 

Coffeekup

tooldle said:

The level of moaning about the walk from car park to desk is always high. It does make me wonder if we would all benefit ourselves by moving more..

Not quite the same but a similar gripe that gets me....
But as a non driver sitting along side someone in a car driving round and round a car park, looking for a space closest to the doors..... Nothing enrages me more looking out the passenger window driving past empty spaces in row 2/3/4... But noooo..... "You" want a space in row 1, only to listen to them mutter how there is no spaces... All car owners do it too

Why can't you park in row 3 and walk 20-40 more steps to the door? Ironically 6 hours later you say to someone "I done 2000 steps today".

tooldle

Effician said:

tooldle said:

I see your point, although the things you mention can be done using a bike. Cargo-bikes are becoming more of a thing here, which saves the problem of balancing loads on racks

2 ton of wood ( most of which had to be moved within 2 days) & an industrial site saw may be a little tricky

May be or maybe not. Many people coped adequately without cars and many continue to do so. This is what i mean by attitude shift being necessary i.e. seeing the possibilities. In over 10 years in our old place our log burner was fed without cost by wood collected from a variety of sources. I’m a live and let live person but the time is now for us all to consider our choices and to decide if we want to,  or can change for the benefit of future generations.
I am in my early 50’s and experienced / remember a life in which cars were not ubiquitous.
Anyone here have a heat pump? 

tooldle

Torry_Quine said:

I doubt there's much I can do. I don't drive or fly anywhere. Buy most things from charity shops and donate to them. I don't have central heating and recycle what I can. 
 This is how I've always lived. 

I think there is a lot you can do by sharing your experience. Keep in mind the saying that people cannot be what they cannot see.