Feeling Hot and Hopeless? Here Are a Bunch of Everyday Lifestyle Changes Which *Actually* Help Fight Climate Change
The next decades of our lives will be hotter than we’ve ever experienced. The temperatures we endured this summer will be our new average. They may even be considered mild. ‘Anxious’ doesn’t quite cover it. Many of us are just plain scared about what’s coming.
Maybe you were mildly concerned before but you thought climate change would happen in 100 years. Now, you know exactly what it’s like to live day after day in 40˚C heat. You know how it feels to smell smoke in the air from wildfires miles away. You’ve realised this is our new normal. Your mild concern has been replaced by late night googling “what is El Niño?” and “is my house at risk of flooding?”.
It’s hard to know what to do when your anxiety is spiralling and you just want to stand in front of your open freezer. But that’s why this article exists. I want to give you a little hope- we can still make a difference to climate change if we act now.
It’s a classic good news, bad news situation.
Bad news: we are definitely going to hit a global temperature increase of 1.5˚C. That’s the tipping point which triggers more heatwaves, wildfires, droughts, flooding, rising sea levels, failures in infrastructure (including power), destroyed agriculture, and ecosystem extinction. In worse news, we’re barrelling towards a global temperature increase of 2˚C. At that temperature, we’ll have all the consequences of 1.5 ˚C, but more severe.
Good news: any reduction to our carbon emissions now can stop us hitting 2˚C. We can still avoid the worst of the looming climate change emergency. It’s not too late. Yes, radical improvements can only happen at a governmental and industrial level. But, individually, we can reduce our carbon footprint and limit the impact of climate change with simple, straightforward actions.
There are five parts of everyday life where ordinary people can be more sustainable. These are diet, fuel, politics, money, and shopping. I’ve identified a genuinely impactful small, medium, and large lifestyle change for each of these. Choose whichever “level” of action works for you, depending on your circumstances.
This isn’t about perfection or righteousness. It’s about everyone pulling together and doing what we can, while we can.
Stats for the climate change sceptics still clinging on to denial
Just in case you’re telling yourself how great the summer was and the odd wildfire isn’t anything to worry about, check out the data.
2026 is the hottest summer on record. In fact, 2026 and 2025 are officially number one and number two of the hottest summers on record. The summers of 2018, 2006, 2003 are the others in the top 5. (The often-referenced super-hot summer of 1976 is at number 7 in the top ten list.)
Nine of the last 10 summers have reached temperatures above the long-term norm
n May and June 2026, there were 2,877 “excess deaths” in the UK because of the heat. Almost 3 thousand people are not here anymore. In 2025, there were 1,504 heat-associated deaths
It’s hard not to feel bleak about the future of the planet. It’s tempting to deny and distract and ignore because the reality is incredibly uncomfortable. But, the evidence is clear now. Climate change isn’t coming for some distant generation or some distant land. It’s happening to this generation, in this land. Climate change is here. Now.
Diet: eat less meat and dairy (in a way that works for you)
Small change: Stop eating beef
Farming, transporting, and slaughtering livestock causes a lot of pollution. As well as this, the land and fertilizer used to grow the animal feed means meat consumption is very bad for the environment. In fact, if we all ate less meat it would be ‘like taking 8m cars off the road'.
If eating meat is really important to you and you can’t significantly reduce it, simply cutting out beef- the most pollution-producing meat- will lower your carbon footprint.
Medium change: Adopt ‘Meat Free Mondays’ or another ‘rule’ that works for you
There are a number of reasons someone can’t reasonably give up eating meat entirely. So, find the balance of reducing your meat consumption in a way that works for your life. Perhaps one of these examples:
· “I don’t eat meat on Mondays”
· “I only eat meat on weekends”
· “I only eat meat at dinner (so I only have to cook one dish for everyone)”
· “I’m vegetarian, but I still eat bacon sometimes”
· “The only time I eat meat is if it’s from the local butcher because I know it’s high-quality”
Finding your ‘rule’ means you can easily reduce your meat intake, help the environment, and still eat meat.
Large change: Become vegan or vegetarian
This is the biggest lifestyle change but has the most positive impact for the planet. Stop eating meat all together and become a vegetarian or a vegan. Like all big changes, it’ll take some getting used to. There will be new recipes, new snacks, and lots of reading labels until everything becomes easy. Don’t worry though, loads of everyday foods are already vegan- fruit, veg, nuts, beans, lentils, oat milk, bread, crisps, chips, ketchup, dark chocolate, and lots of wine. All the good stuff. You don’t have to become vegan or veggie overnight. Start with some research and slowly make the changes you can.
Ps. Chocolate’s also a big contributor to climate change. Luckily Tony’s Chocolonely exists.
Fuel: consciously choose how you use energy (and save money)
Small change: Switch your energy supplier
It takes about 30 minutes to transfer your electricity and gas supplier. Move away from fossil fuels and choose the UK’s greenest energy company- Ecotricity. Other energy companies have green tariffs (even though some are not fully green and still supply traditional fossil fuels). Compare all your green energy options and find the cheapest with the Uswitch green energy deal comparison page.
Medium change: Switch up how you travel
This one’s going to take a bit more effort and time, but it’s definitely achievable. Considering “95% of the world's transport energy still comes from fossil fuels” any reduction is a win. If you’re able to, driving less and taking the bus, walking, or cycling hugely decreases your carbon footprint. You’ll probably need extra time for your journey and you might need to invest in a (sustainable) high-quality waterproof coat. But, the benefits are huge. As well as improving your carbon footprint, you’ll save money (since cars, petrol, and parking are expensive), and more time outside can only be good for your mental health.
Depending on how much you fly, cutting air travel is great for the planet. Switch flights for trains (expensive) or coaches (very cheap) whenever possible. Avoid flying abroad all together and holiday in the UK.
Large change: Install a heat pump in your home
This one’s a chunky change because, while heat pumps save a huge amount of energy, they’re expensive to install. They cost up to £30,000 but the cheapest I’ve found is from Octopus and costs £4459. The good news is there are government grants available to help with the cost.
Heat pumps are more efficient than gas boilers and run on electricity (supplied by your new green energy provider!). They’re great for the environment. And! More good news! Since they’re so efficient, your bills will be cheaper. Read more about heat pumps here.
“Adaptation planning should assume that a 1.5°C world represents a near-term reality and that the climate conditions of the 20th century no longer exist.”
UK Government | 2026 | ‘Understanding the 1.5°C global warming level: Implications for policy and adaptation’
Politics: use your voice and be heard (digitally)
Small change: Email your MP and sign some petitions
First of all, find your MP’s email address here. Then, write to them and tell them you’re worried about climate change. Here’s an email template, but you can write whatever you want while you’re sharing your concerns. Ask them to do something specific or ask them to consider the planet whenever they’re voting.
Once you’ve sent your email, look for some climate change petitions you can sign. Like this one from Friends of the Earth demanding the biggest polluters pay to fix the damage from climate change. Or, like this one from Greenpeace demanding fossil fuel businesses be banned from donating to political parties. You’ll also find petitions on the official government page- change.org.
Medium change: Take action in your community
This one’s a little bit politics, a little bit making connections with your neighbours- win win! Find a local climate change action group near you. Even getting involved for an hour a week, or a morning a month makes a difference. Your local green spaces, wildlife, coastline, and infrastructure need protecting and you’re the best person for the job. From litter picking to protesting- you’ll be helping the planet and neighbourhood.
Large change: Join the Green Party
Depending on your politics, this could be a little lifestyle step or a huge lifestyle leap. Joining The Green Party means you’re actively supporting a greener future. Sitting governments set mild, ineffective targets for climate change and then fail to meet them (such as The Paris Climate Agreement in 2015).
The Green Party is the only political party which puts climate change at the centre of its mission. They’re pushing for a zero-carbon society before 2050. While you’re taking individual steps lower your carbon emissions, they’ll be fighting for the planet nationally and internationally.
Money: more positive impact on climate change than going veggie
Small change: Switch bank accounts
Mainstream and high street banks use your money and invest it to make (themselves) more money. They choose the most profitable investments to guarantee their return. Unfortunately, the most sure-fire investment portfolios are fossil fuels, weapons, deforestation, mining, tobacco, gambling, and other unethical, harmful industries.
Choosing an ethical bank means your money cannot be used to fund climate change. The most ethical banks in the UK are- Triodos, Nationwide (since it’s a building society, not a traditional bank), and The Co-Operative Bank. Switch your bank account to one of them in the time it takes to fill in a form. It couldn’t be easier- the banks themselves handle the actual switching.
Medium change: Borrow and save with your local credit union
Credit Unions are small financial institutions which support one group of people. Often, they are for people in just one area, or they are for people in one profession. Members of the credit union share any profits via interest rates and dividends. Any money you save or borrow with credit unions is protected by the FSA (just like banks are). Instead of funding global polluters, credit unions fund people and projects in your community. For other ethical investing advice, check out this Which? guide.
Large change: Switch your mortgage or pension
This is a big task, so speaking to an ethical financial advisor is a good place to start.
The banks or organisations you take your mortgage with earn a huge amount of interest from you. Where they invest that money depends on the ethics of the mortgage provider. You can see a list of ethical mortgage providers here (unsurprisingly the most well-known banks are the most unethical). When it’s time to remortgage, consider choosing a mortgage provider from the ethical list.
UK pension schemes invest a staggering £88 billion in fossil fuel companies. So, the organisation you trust with your pension has an enormous impact on the planet. Setting up a private pension is straightforward- you can find a list of the most ethical UK pensions right here. However, most UK pensions are managed through employers. If yours is, request they choose a more ethical pension fund. Share the UK Pensions: Climate Action Report with them and ask them to consider saving your money in a climate-friendly pension.
An enormous “80% of the British public are at least “somewhat” worried about climate change.”
Yale School of The Environment | 2025 | Climate Change in the British Mind
Shopping: buy less and buy intentionally
Small change: Boycott the biggest polluters
Simply, never buy from Shein, Amazon, or Temu again. In enormous, energy-hungry factories and sweatshops, employees work in slave-like conditions. They manufacture plastic toys, polyester clothes, and mass-produced, poor-quality products. Your purchases are flown and shipped across the world to arrive at your front door. Whatever you’ve bought inevitably breaks or is not fit for purpose and goes into landfill.
Shein alone is the biggest polluter in fast fashion and has been for years
Amazon has increased carbon emissions while publicly saying they’re working towards climate goals
Temu aggressively promotes over-consumption and ships over 1.6m packages a day. The UK is Temu’s largest European market
We all have far too much stuff. Borrowing from a neighbour, using what you already have, or buying second-hand are vastly more sustainable and cheaper.
Medium change: Buy clothes, electronics, and furniture second-hand
Before buying anything new, check out Back Market for second hand electronics; Gumtree for second-hand furniture; and Vinted for second-hand clothes.
Perhaps the best incentive for buying preloved items is that you’re going to save so much money, but there’s a huge benefit to the environment, too. These items already exist and are unwanted. You’re saving them from going into landfill and you’re still getting the phone, bookcase, or jumper you need.
Large change: Challenge yourself to a ‘No Buy Year’
This one might sound extreme but a ‘No Buy Year’ doesn’t mean you can’t buy anything at all. It’s up to you what your ‘No Buy Year’ looks like. Rather than a list of rigid rules, the goal is to massively decrease consumerism.
For example, you could commit to not buying any more clothes, shoes, make-up, toiletries, or homewares for a whole year. Or, perhaps you’ll commit to not buying food from supermarkets for a year. Instead, you’ll grow your own food, use the Too Good To Go app, or get involved with a local food swapping group. Maybe you’ll have a ‘No Buy’ wedding or challenge yourself to a year of not spending money on transport.
Your ‘year of not buying things’ will be shaped by your creativity and problem solving. When things run out or break, you can’t nip to the shops! Check out buynothingproject.org/ for how to get started, and look out for local groups, too.
One small change to diet, fuel, politics, money, and shopping…
It’s easy to think other people aren’t doing anything or doing enough. Forget that. Focus on you- the things you care about, the things you can do. If making the changes I’ve suggested here don’t work for you, then find the ones which fit you better.
Now’s the time for action, optimism, and curiosity. We can’t make things better unless we work together.
However fierce the future summer heatwaves are; however torrential the winter storms, you’ll know you did everything you could to make it better. You’ll be able to tell your children and grandchildren you made a difference. You’ll know you tried. And, that’s got to be better than the alternative, right?
Written by Bonnie Harrington, a Bristol-based freelance copywriter. She hates generative AI and loves writing website copy and articles for joyful small businesses. Find her services on her website wordsbybonnie.com.
