Ways We Citizens Can Combat Climate Change - Lethal Heating Editor BDA

Climate change isn’t just about energy—it’s also about habits, investments, technology, and your voice at work. Below are eight strategies can help you shift the carbon curve. 

We’ve all heard the standard tips: fly less, eat green, ditch plastic. But what if you’ve already made those changes? As climate change escalates, so should our solutions. From your lawn to your inbox, here are novel, science-backed actions anyone can take—and most are easier than you'd think.

1. Clean Up Your Inbox

Digital pollution is real. Every email generates emissions due to energy used by servers and data centres. In the UK, if every adult sent one fewer "thank you" email per day, it would save 16,433 tonnes of CO₂ annually¹. Deleting old emails, unsubscribing from newsletters, and avoiding unnecessary replies can collectively make a dent.

2. Rethink Where Your Superannuation Sleeps

Your retirement fund might be financing oil, gas, or coal. A 2021 study found that shifting your investments to ethical portfolios can cut emissions 21 to 27 times more than lifestyle changes like flying less or reducing meat². Explore sustainable superannuation options through platforms like RIAA.

                 💡 Summary

• Email declutter → Cuts data centre emissions
• Sustainable super → 27x more climate impact
• Native gardens → Act as carbon sinks
• Shopping trackers → Steer low-carbon purchases
• Carbon removal → Verified CO₂ removal
• Remote work → Cuts transport emissions
• Workplace advocacy → Drives systemic change
• Repair culture → Reduces manufacturing waste

3. Convert Your Lawn Into a Climate Asset

Mowing, watering, and fertilising traditional grass consumes water and emits greenhouse gases. Instead, switch to native ground covers or drought-tolerant species. Deep-rooted plants help sequester carbon and reduce runoff³. Plus, they boost biodiversity.

4. Use Apps That Track the Carbon Cost of Shopping

Try apps like Thoughtful or Joro that estimate emissions tied to your spending. These tools guide you toward low-impact brands, helping consumers reduce emissions by up to 30%⁴.

5. Pay for Carbon Removal—Not Just Offsets

Tree planting isn’t always reliable. Instead, companies like Climeworks and Charm Industrial offer verified carbon removal via direct air capture and bio-oil injection. These services permanently remove CO₂ from the atmosphere—something offsets can’t guarantee⁵.

6. Work Remote—But Smartly

Not everyone can work from home full-time, but even partial remote work cuts commute emissions. A 2020 report by the IEA suggests remote work could reduce transport emissions globally by 54 million tonnes per year if managed efficiently⁶. Virtual co-working platforms help maintain productivity and community.

7. Influence Your Workplace from Within

Start where you work. Whether you're in HR or IT, you can help green your organisation—switching cloud providers, reducing office energy use, or making climate part of the corporate mission. Groups like ClimateAction.tech show how collective action inside companies creates real change⁷.

8. Join the Repair Revolution

Fix, don’t replace. Extending the life of a phone, appliance, or shirt significantly lowers your personal footprint. One study found that extending smartphone lifespan by just one year reduces emissions by 31%⁸. Support Right to Repair laws and visit local repair cafés. 

🔍 Footnotes

1. OVO Energy, “Think Before You Thank”.
2. Ethical Investment Impact Study, Australian study (2021).
3. Climate Council Australia, “Gardening in a Changing Climate”.
4. Joro, Joro App Impact Report.
5. Climeworks, Direct Air Capture Overview.
6. IEA Report, “Digitalisation and Energy”.
7. ClimateAction.tech, Official Website.
8. The Repair Association, Right to Repair Facts.