The average British person produces 11 tonnes of carbon emissions a year. Ideally, we would halve our carbon footprint by 2030 if we to reach Net Zero by 2030. But this seems like a very big task. Do we need to make very big changes in our lifestyles? Dr Hannah Ritchie suggests that we focus on actions that make the most impact on reducing our carbon footprint. There is misunderstanding about what actions make a big difference. Recycling bottles and avoiding plastic straws are a good thing to do but make a small difference to our carbon footprint. If we focus on energy suppliers we use, making our homes more energy efficient, what we eat and how we travel, this would be far more effective. With the right information, it is much easier than you think to significantly reduce your carbon footprint without spending huge amounts of money or living a lifestyle you don’t enjoy.

Switch to a renewable energy supplier: save 1.5 tonnes

Switching to a renewable energy supplier has an immediate and big impact on your carbon footprint. Energy makes up a of our home carbon emissions, which is why using a renewable energy supplier makes such a big difference. Renewable energy suppliers either produce renewable energy or buy it from independent producers. They sell it to their customers, creating a greener energy mix. Using a renewable energy supplier does not mean the energy you use in your home produces zero emissions. You are simply giving money to companies who are investing in renewable energy.

Investing in solar panels and heat pumps and making your home more energy efficient is a win-win situation for you and the planet. This will save hundreds of pounds of your energy bill and the investment will pay off within a few years. It will also take up to 3 tonnes off your carbon footprint when solar panels and heat pumps are combined.

Adopt a plant-based diet: save 1.1 tonnes

If everyone in the world ate a plant-based diet, we could produce food sustainably for the world population without destroying the planet and increasing carbon emissions. With a plant-based diet, meat can make up to a third of your diet and plants should make up at least two-thirds. Plants are more than just fruit and vegetables, it also includes whole grains, legumes, seeds, nuts, plant milk, spices, herb, condiments and plant-based protein such as tofu, lentils and beans. Also remember that it does not matter whether the food is organic or not. It makes no difference to the climate change crisis. Plant-based diets reduce deforestation and requires less energy to produce your food. This is why it will halve the carbon emissions from your diet. Plant-based diets also come with a huge range of health benefits. Harvard Medical School suggest that it reduces your chances of getting coronary heart disease, diabetes, cancer, stroke, chronic diseases and makes it easier to manage weight. It also can save £560 per person a year, depending on what type of plant based diet you choose, because plants are cheaper than meat.

Drive and fly less: save between 1-2 tonnes a year

Driving cars and flying planes add a huge amount to our carbon footprint, so any reduction in these areas make a big impact. The easiest way to cut carbon emissions is to drive more efficiently because this reduces the amount of fuel used. This involves driving smoothly and avoids unnecessary breaking and acceleration because it uses more fuel. Putting a lot of weight on the car also increases drag and the amount of fuel needed, so only make use of the car roof when necessary. Opening the car window instead using air conditioning cuts energy use of the car as well.

The next option to reduce your carbon footprint from driving is to reduce the amount you drive. It is worth considering how you can reduce car driving because it is estimated if you substituted only a quarter of your car journeys for an alternative form of transport, it will save you £379 a year in fuel costs. Alternative modes of transport can be using more public transport, using an electric bike or walking more.

Buying an electric car is another option to reduce emissions. It will cut yearly emissions by 0.8 tonnes of a year. But the option that saves the most emissions is choosing to go car free. You will save 2.4 tonnes or carbon emissions a year (and the financial savings will be enormous).

Flights make up 9% of a person’s carbon footprint in the UK. If it is possible to take less flights and substitute them for public transport, it will have a large impact. Flights that should be particularly avoided are domestic flights and long-haul flights. If you are traveling within the country, trains are the best substitute for domestic flights. When you are going on holiday abroad, it is best to avoid long haul flights and go on holiday within a six-hour flight from your home.