Six ways to lower your carbon emissions quickly

Tackling climate change on a global level is an immense challenge – but some small, easy actions are accessible to most people.

This Earth Day, Future Planet examines some of the most impactful, immediate changes you can make today to help lower your emissions. 

A blanket ban on flying would be unthinkable, of course. But decreasing the demand for flights is entirely possible, and doesn’t mean you can’t travel. You could try taking the train or bus, which have far lower emissions, one or both ways instead. Or you could try to fly half as often for twice as long. Flying economy also tends to be far lower emission than flying business or first class. (Read more about how you can reduce your emissions from flying.)

Private transport is one of the world’s largest sources of greenhouse gas emissions, and in countries like the UK and the US, the transport sector – dominated by cars, trucks, buses and motorbikes – is now responsible for emitting more greenhouse gases than any other. 

For longer journeys (and where it’s available), public transport tends to be a far lower carbon option than driving. (Read more about .)

Another effective way to reduce your heating emissions is to install a heat pump, which, rather than burning fuel, concentrates heat energy already present in the air, ground or water, and pumps it through pipes. If the electricity is generated using renewables, heat pumps emit no carbon. (Read more about how to cut carbon out of your heating.)

Other changes like using cold water to wash your clothes and air-drying them rather than using a tumble dryer can also save carbon in your home – nearly 0.5 tonnes CO2e per year. 

It might not be the most obvious way of reducing your carbon footprint, but how you save, invest and give away your money can make a big difference for climate change. 

Your pension, on the other hand, is usually directly invested. The enormous amount of money invested globally in pensions means they have a serious influence over the direction of the global economy. Despite that, most people don’t even know where their pension is invested. (Read more about how to make your pension more sustainable.)

Isabelle Gerretsen, Jocelyn Timperley, Martha Henriques and Stephen Dowling contributed to this article.