Action
Discover What WE can do to Tackle Climate Change
In this page
- Everyday lifestyle changes for a better climate
- Systemic Changes to be implemented
- Global Progress made
Everyday lifestyle changes for a better climate
1. Reduce Energy Consumption
This is because energy production is one of the highest contributors of carbon emissions.
25-30% of all greenhouse emissions come from Electricity production.
Using less power means, less carbon emissions.
Here are some tips to reduce your daily power consumption.
- Switch to using more efficient electronic appliances. Change the lights at home to LED. Buy Energy efficient refrigerators, washing machines etc.
- Switch off appliances when not in use
- If possible, you can power your house with solar panels and install solar powered heating systems.
This will mean lower power bills for you and lower carbon emissions for the globe.
2. Decrease your Carbon Footprint
Carbon footprint is the amount of carbon that an individual releases to the environment directly or indirectly due to their behavior. 15%-20% of all Emissions come from transportation.
You can reduce the amount of carbon emissions that you contribute to by,
- Switching to hybrid/ Electric vehicles. Electric and hybrid vehicles emit much less carbon in comparison to gasoline powered vehicles.
- Drive less. Use public transport when you can. And you can always walk! Better for your health, better for the environment too.
3. Minimize waste
Stick to the 3Rs. Reduce, Reuse and Recycle.
- Slash plastic use: Carry reusable bags, bottles, and containers. Use alternative materials when possible like that are made of glass, porcelain and metal.
- Properly recycle paper, plastics, and electronics to prevent waste.
- You can set up a compost bin in your own yard. Organic waste decomposes naturally, reducing landfill waste and methane emissions.
4. Raise awareness about climate change
5. Vote for climate conscious policies and support clean energy.
Your Individual Actions will
not make
any DIFFERENCE
unless we make systemic changes
Here's why,
https://youtu.be/yiw6_JakZFc?si=yGG6JT5E9sZDo46oSystemic Changes to be implemented
While being better for the environment as individual is a step in the right direction, we will not reach climate goals if we do not make large scale systemwide changes. These changes will have to be implemented across industries, national policies and legal frameworks. These collective efforts focus on transforming industries, policies, and infrastructures to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and foster a sustainable future.
Sri Lanka only accounts for around 0.05%2 of Global Carbon Emissions. But that does not mean it
is not a
significant percentage. Every country needs to take action and we can set an example for many of the countries to
follow suit with energy principles.
Since Sri Lanka is one of the most climate vulnerable tropic countries, we will need to urge nationwide policies
while we urge other large nations to do the same.
1. Decoupling emissions from economic growth
For centuries, Emissions has been linearly correlated with economic growth. Most of the first world countries
were rapidly industrialized during the industrial revolutions that made
them what they are today. Cutting back on coal and emissions is just not possible for developing nations as much
as the developed countries could.
We need to find technology to overcome this barrier where we have cheaper alternatives to carbon based
solutions.The developed nations must be the ones to make major
reforms in their economic structure to go for net carbon zero solutions since they are the countries that can
afford to do so.
2. Transition to renewable energy
Transitioning to renewable energy sources is possible for all nations that being reliant on coal. Governments
and industries need to invest heavily in solar, wind, geothermal, and hydroelectric power.
In Sri lanka alone, over 50% of energy production comes from renewable energy sources.
Solar and wind solutions are far cheaper than coal with the newer technology. and the batteries to store the
energy are getting cheaper each year.
Governments should introduce and enforce energy standards for appliances, vehicles, and industries to ensure
lower emissions across the board.
3. Decarbonize industry
Introduce carbon taxes or cap-and-trade systems to incentivize companies to reduce their emissions. The
industries like cement, steel, Rubber emit the most emissions. Thus moving away from fossil fuel-powered
manufacturing to electrified systems powered by renewables, especially in steel, cement, and chemical
industries.
Sri lanka is more service based than industry based in terms of the economy. Still, by setting industry
regulations towards sustainability would make each effort count.
For the emissions casued by the construction industry, enforce green building codes and certifications like LEED
(Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) to make buildings energy-efficient and reduce emissions.
4. Decarbonize Transportation
Sri Lanka can reduce the taxes for Electrical powered Vehicles (EV) and Hybrid vehicles to increase the adoption of electrical vehicles. Develop infrastructure to facilitate the issues faced by EV owners. The government can also introduce public transport services such as electric trains that can slash transportation emissions by a significant amount.
5. Conservation of Ecosystems and increase Forest Cover
Forests are the lungs of our ecosystem. Increase the percentage of land and ocean designated as protected areas
to prevent deforestation, overfishing, and habitat destruction.
Close to 30% of Sri Lanka is covered by Forest cover. And due to the tropical humid climate, lanka boasts of a
thriving biodiversity.
Action must be taken to maintain and increase this forest cover which can act as carbon sinks in the context of
climate change.
Progress made
people all over the world are talking about this. The public discourse has widened and more and more public pressure to make policy changes come towards administration and policy makers. All efforts including the making of this website is an addition to that collective effort towards urging major changes on how we take care of our world.
The interest about climate change in YouTube over the past 5 years in Google Trends
Is there any good news about Climate Change?
https://youtu.be/g9p5VKd8VkE?si=4JaqWVY0sdorY1TRDid you know this is not the first time we have to globally collaborate towards making changes?
We faced a similar level of a threat with the Ozone Layer depletions.
All countries making changes, passing policies saved the Ozone layer and thus all our lives being endangedered
without it.