5 key actions to fight global warming

Rising temperatures, rising sea levels, ocean acidification, more frequent natural disasters… Our planet is in a climate emergency like never before. The consequences of global warming are dramatic, and some of them can't be undone. Fighting global warming is one of the great challenges of our century.

The big decisions may be taken by governments, but each of us can still act. Everyone has the power to make a difference every day, in their own way, through practical actions. Yet it isn't always easy to know where to start when it comes to cutting your carbon footprint. So what can we do to tackle climate change?

Here are 5 personal actions you can take to help fight climate change.

Choose local produce and eat less meat to fight global warming

What we eat has a real impact on global warming. Worldwide, the food supply chain generates 13.7 billion tonnes of CO2. That's the same as all the greenhouse gas emissions of China and the United States put together!

That's why it matters to buy local produce and eat fruit and vegetables in season. Take strawberries: grown in winter, they need overheated greenhouses and 25 times more oil to transport. By buying locally, you avoid emitting 50 kg of CO2 a year. Eating local has another benefit too: you support the farmers and growers in your area.

Meat production, for its part, is highly polluting and adds to the greenhouse effect. According to the UN, livestock farming accounts for 14.5% of greenhouse gas emissions. You could, for example, swap meat for plant-based proteins.

LIFE is one of the organisations fighting global warming. During LIFE's food distributions, the food is bought locally, in the country where it is distributed.

Reduce, reuse, recycle: the 3Rs

Why not become a responsible eco-consumer? Go zero-waste by following the golden rule of the 3Rs: reduce, reuse and recycle. That way you're part of the circular economy and helping to fight global warming. And on top of that, you'll save a good deal of money!

Buying new clothes is tempting, but it pollutes. By avoiding new things, you cut production at the source as well as energy needs. Using fewer raw materials means less waste of resources and less pollution from factories. Making a pair of jeans takes between 7,000 and 10,000 litres of water, roughly 285 showers. Its carbon footprint is estimated at nearly 25 kg of CO2 on average.

In France, recycling waste avoids the equivalent of 5% of the country's annual CO2 emissions! Plastic pollution in the oceans is a major factor in global warming. Every year, between 9 and 12 million tonnes of plastic end up in the oceans, according to UN estimates. Between 2000 and 2019, global plastic production doubled, from 234 to 460 million tonnes, according to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). Plastic is made mainly from oil, which causes huge amounts of greenhouse gas emissions. There are plenty of alternatives to plastic that cut your carbon footprint and help fight global warming. You could, for example, use reusable bags.

Use less electricity

Another effective way to lighten your carbon footprint is to cut energy waste as much as possible. With climate disruption, the use of air conditioning and heating is set to triple by 2050.

In France, heating accounts for 62% of household energy consumption, according to EDF. A good habit is to set your home's temperature to around 19°C, a happy medium between comfort and consumption. Low-carbon heating goes hand in hand with good insulation. Make sure your home is well insulated to avoid losing heat.

Your choice of appliances matters too. Go for energy-efficient ones. Designed to use less energy than standard models, they also pay off in the long run. LED bulbs are one example.

Choose greener ways to travel

How we travel affects global warming, so it's about choosing more environmentally friendly ways of getting around. Where possible, take public transport rather than the car. Taking the metro uses on average 5 times less energy and emits between 2 and 50 times less greenhouse gas than driving. Public transport can sometimes be quicker too! No more long minutes, or hours, stuck in traffic jams.

No choice but to travel on four wheels? Then think about car-sharing

Se déplacer de façon responsable et lutter contre le réchauffement climatique, c'est aussi préférer le train à l'avion pour des longues distances. Pour un trajet similaire, un avion consomme généralement 6 fois plus d'énergie que le train, et émet en moyenne 30 fois plus de C02.

Tackle digital pollution

Cutting waste to fight digital pollution? Yes, and here's why! Little known as it is, it may account for up to 2.5% of CO2 emissions in France, according to the French Agency for Ecological Transition (ADEME). That's the equivalent of 13 million cars on the road! Digital pollution means the pollution caused by new technologies and the impact of digital tech as a whole. You can't see it, but it's very real.

Manufacturing our computers and devices accounts for more than 50% of the digital sector's total emissions. So it's about doing all we can to make our equipment last longer. Rather than throwing your old phone away, get it repaired.

Remember too to unplug and switch off devices after use, delete old, unneeded emails and stream less… Small everyday habits that help fight global warming.