Top 10 actions to reduce your personal footprint

In this lesson, we’ll explore the most effective actions you can take in your daily life to reduce your carbon footprint. As concerns over climate change grow, understanding the impact of our personal choices becomes increasingly important. 

We’ll begin by discussing the average carbon footprint in the UK, how it compares globally, and what contributes to it. Then, we’ll cover a range of practical actions you can adopt to help lower your personal carbon emissions.

The Average Carbon Footprint in the UK

According to data from The University of Oxford in 2022 the average CO2 emissions per person in the UK was 4.7 tonnes, equivalent to about 20,000 miles of driving in the average car. That's almost a single trip around the world.

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What Contributes to Your Carbon Footprint?

The average UK carbon footprint is typically broken down into some key areas: transport (nearly 30%), food production and waste (25%), domestic energy (about 20%), and consumption of goods and services (around 15%). 

Transport, particularly cars and aviation, is the largest contributor. Food-related emissions include agriculture, imports, and waste, while domestic energy emissions mainly come from fossil fuel heating. 

Goods and services emissions cover a wide range of consumer activities, including fast fashion and other purchases.

While many of us focus on things like recycling, which is undoubtedly important, it is not actually a major driver of carbon emissions. As mentioned above, day-to-day activities like transportation, heating, and food choices contribute far more significantly to our overall carbon footprint. That doesn’t mean recycling isn’t worthwhile—it’s just that there are other, more impactful actions we can take to reduce emissions.

10 Actions to Reduce Your Carbon Footprint

So what can you do to reduce your carbon footprint today? Let's have a quick look into the actions you can take to make a real difference. Remember, the goal is to tackle the areas where you can make the biggest impact.

1. Choose Flight-Free Travel

Flying is one of the most carbon-intensive activities we engage in. A single long-haul flight can generate as much carbon as driving a car for an entire year. It’s true flight travel has become a hot topic with celebrities and politicians coming under more scrutiny for their usage of private jets etc, even Taylor Swift can’t escape the spotlight on this one.

Reducing or eliminating flights, especially long ones, is one of the most impactful changes you can make. Instead, we can opt for alternatives like:

• Train travel: Much lower emissions compared to flying, especially within Europe.
• Local holidays: Choosing destinations closer to home reduces the need for high-emission travel is an obvious choice, although you may miss out on a few more rays if you are in the UK.

2. Shift to a Plant-Based or "Plant-Slant" Diet

Food choices have a significant impact on carbon emissions, particularly meat consumption. A plant-based diet (or at least a diet where meat is rare) drastically reduces emissions, as producing plant-based foods requires far fewer resources than meat and dairy. For example:

• Beef: Produces around 60 kg of CO₂e per kilogram of meat.
• Vegetables and legumes: Generally produce less than 3 kg of CO₂e per kilogram.

By simply shifting to a more plant-based diet, you can cut a large portion of your food-related carbon emissions.

3. Switch to an Electric or Low-Emission Vehicle (EV)

Transport accounts for a major portion of the average person's carbon footprint. Switching from a petrol or diesel car to an electric vehicle (EV) can cut your transport emissions dramatically. 

EVs have lower carbon footprints because they rely on electricity rather than fossil fuels, and they become even greener as more renewable energy is added to the grid.

If an electric car isn’t practical or too expensive, consider a low-emission hybrid vehicle or at least cutting down on car use through carpooling, biking, or walking.

4. Say No to Fast Fashion

The production of goods we consume—like clothing, electronics, and furniture—has a hidden carbon cost. 

Fast fashion is particularly damaging, as it encourages short-lived trends and rapid turnover of clothing, leading to higher emissions from production and disposal.

Adopt a mindset of buying for longevity. Invest in higher-quality items that last longer, and try to reduce, reuse, and recycle products when possible. More brands are adopting a circular economy approach to fashion with brands such StayWildSwim and Rapanui providing a more sustainable approach to clothing.

5. Upgrade Your Heating System

If you own your home then you may want to consider upgrading your heating system if you can afford to. Heating is a major contributor to household emissions, especially if you're relying on fossil fuels like natural gas. 

Upgrading to a heat pump or a high-efficiency boiler can significantly reduce your carbon footprint. Heat pumps, in particular, use renewable energy to heat your home, making them a great long-term investment. Yes, it’s true they can be expensive but if you can afford the cost you will see the benefits of a heat-pump in the long-run. 

6. Installing Solar Panels

One of the most effective ways to lower your household emissions is by generating your own renewable energy. Installing solar panels allows you to power your home with clean, renewable energy, reducing reliance on fossil-fuel-based electricity. 

While the upfront cost can be significant, there are government incentives and long-term savings that make it a worthwhile investment.

7. Draught Proofing and Insulation

A lower cost and quicker home improvement method to reduce emissions is draught-proofing and insulating your home. 

By ensuring your home is properly insulated, you can reduce the amount of energy needed for heating, thereby cutting emissions. Simple fixes like sealing gaps around doors and windows, or installing loft insulation, can make a big difference!

8. Sustainable Finance: Your Bank and Pension Choices

Believe it or not, where you store your money matters. Many traditional banks and pension funds invest in fossil fuels, which directly supports high-emission industries.

As one example, The Norwegian Government Pension Fund Global (GPFG) is the biggest fossil fuel investor in Europe and the 11th biggest in the world, with over €37,25 billion worth of shares and bonds in oil alone.

Switching to a bank or pension provider that prioritises sustainable investments—ones that focus on renewable energy or low-carbon industries—can help reduce the financial support of carbon-intensive sectors.

Look for banks and funds that are committed to divesting from fossil fuels and supporting the green transition and aim to move your money away from fossil fuel investments.

9. Reduce Your Energy Use at Home

Something we can all do today is to make small changes in daily habits.  These small changes can also lead to significant reductions in energy use over time. Here are a few easy ways to reduce your home energy consumption:

• Switch to LED lighting: LED bulbs use up to 75% less energy than traditional incandescent bulbs.
• Unplug appliances: Devices left on standby mode still consume energy, so unplugging them can save energy.
• Smart thermostats: These can optimise heating and cooling by learning your habits and adjusting the temperature accordingly.

10. Support Local and Sustainable Products

The transportation of goods contributes to carbon emissions. By buying local products, especially food, you can reduce the emissions associated with shipping and packaging. Additionally, choosing products made from sustainable materials or by companies with eco-friendly practices further reduces your carbon footprint.

Look for certifications like Fair Trade, Rainforest Alliance, and Organic to guide your purchases toward more sustainable options.

Summary

It's often difficult to know where the start when it comes to behaving more sustainably - so the key is finding out where your own "hotspots" are and understand what you can do to reduce them.

By focusing on the high-impact actions we've covered here, you can significantly lower your personal carbon footprint and contribute to global efforts to combat climate change.