Climate action

Why take action?

Reducing carbon emissions is essential for protecting the environment, improving health, supporting a sustainable economy and securing a better future for everyone.

What can we do?

Everyone can have an impact in reducing carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions! Instead of driving to school, you could walk or take a scooter. Other ways to reduce emissions can involve communicating about the need for action on climate change. You can reach out to politicians, governing bodies and businesses. You could write to your local politician asking for better low-carbon transport around your city.

Reducing your own impact begins with understanding it. Once you know where your emissions are coming from, you can find opportunities to cut down. You can calculate your carbon footprint online to see where most of your emissions are coming from.

How to reduce your carbon footprint

A carbon footprint is the total amount of CO₂ and other greenhouse gases that are released into the air because of our activities. These gases come from things like driving cars, using electricity, buying goods and even eating certain foods. The more we do things that release these gases, the bigger our carbon footprint.

Even though we can’t control everything that affects the carbon footprint, there are many ways to help reduce it and make the world a cleaner place. Here are some ideas:

• Walk or bike instead of driving. If it’s safe, walk or ride your bike instead of getting a ride in a car. This helps reduce the carbon emissions from cars.
• Turn off lights and electronics. When you’re not using a light, TV or computer, turn it off to save electricity. This reduces the amount of energy needed, which helps lower emissions.
• Plant trees. They help absorb CO₂ from the air, so planting trees is a great way to fight climate change.
• Save water. Taking shorter showers or turning off the tap while brushing your teeth saves water and energy. Heating water uses energy, and saving it reduces emissions.
• Eat more plant-based foods. Eating more fruits, vegetables and grains can lower your carbon footprint because farming animals releases a lot of greenhouse gases.
• Recycle and reuse. Try to reuse things like water bottles or clothes, and recycle paper, plastic and cans. This helps reduce waste and the energy used to make new things.
• Don’t buy so many new things! Making things requires energy that can come from fossil fuels, so to reduce emissions, we can buy second-hand things and only things we need.
• Talk about it. You can share ideas with your friends and family. The more people who understand it, the bigger the impact we can have together!

To reduce carbon emissions, we need to make changes in many areas. This includes using clean energy, saving energy, practising sustainable farming, supporting cleaner industries and encouraging low-carbon transportation. Every action, big or small, helps lower our carbon footprint and fight climate change, leading to a healthier and more sustainable future.

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• Climate action
• Mitigation, innovation and action
• Agency in the Anthropocene
• The environmental footprint of electric versus fossil cars
• Renewable energy sources
• Biodegradability, compostability and bioplastics
• Plastics and recycling
• Global action

Related activities

• Drive it Down! – reducing emissions at your school
• Drive it Down! – climate change discussions
• Utilising Our climate, our biodiversity, our future
• Climate change – challenging conversations
• Ko e feliuliuaki ‘a e ‘ea – ko e talanoa fakakoloa
• Carbon dioxide emissions calculator

Related media

• Can we stop climate change? – video
• What can I do to stop climate change? – video
• Don’t give up hope – video
• Exploring climate change education in primary schools – webinar
• Exploring climate change education in secondary schools – webinar

Useful links

• School Strike 4 Climate – website set up by high school students to rally support for government action on climate change
• Generation Zero – youth-led climate justice organisation
• Force of habits – video to get young people thinking about what they could do in their everyday life to make a difference around climate change, Mātai Media