, where young people are equal citizens and are encouraged and supported to achieve their fullest potential as global citizens.
A Healthy Planet
The Sustainable Development Goals spell out how we can protect our environment and slow climate change, from forests to oceans to everywhere in between. Think about your electricity use and your travel. Check your dinner table. Reuse whatever you can. The possibilities for action are many – and add up fast.
Globally, the 10 per cent of the population with the highest income account for nearly half of all emissions. Here are some actions we take to reduce our impact on the environment. To learn more about climate action, science and solutions read on...
We Save Energy at Home
Much of our electricity and heat are powered by coal, oil and gas. We use less energy by reducing our heating and cooling use, switching to LED light bulbs and energy-efficient electric appliances, washing our laundry with cold water, or hanging things to dry instead of using a dryer. We have improved our home’s energy efficiency, through better insulation for instance.
We Walk, Bike or Take Public Transport
The world’s roadways are clogged with vehicles, most of them burning diesel or gasoline. We walk or ride bikes instead of driving to reduce greenhouse gas emissions -- and help our health and fitness. For longer distances, we often consider taking a train or bus. Living car-free can reduce your carbon footprint by up to 2 tons of CO2e per year compared to a lifestyle using a car.
We Reduce, Reuse, Repair & Recycle
Electronics, clothes, plastics and other items we buy cause carbon emissions at each point in production. Plastics alone generated 1.8 billion metric tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions in 2019 – 3.4 per cent of the global total. Less than 10 per cent is recycled, and once plastic is discarded, it can linger for hundreds of years. Buying fewer new clothes – and other consumer goods – can also reduce your carbon footprint. Every kilogram of textiles produced generates about 17 kilograms of CO2e.
We Make Our Money Count
Everything we spend money on affects the planet. We use our power to choose which goods and services we support. To reduce our environmental impact, we choose products from companies who use resources responsibly and are committed to cutting their gas emissions and waste. Making sure our savings are invested in environmentally sustainable businesses greatly reduce our carbon footprint.
We Speak Up
We speak up and get others to join us in taking action. We have proof it's one of the quickest and most effective ways to make a difference. We talk to our neighbors, colleagues, friends, and family. We let business owners know we support bold changes – from plastics-free products and packaging to zero-emissions vehicles. We are Appealling to local and world leaders to act now. Climate action is a task for all of us. And it concerns all of us. No one can do it all alone – but we can do it together.
