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Some Ideas to Get You Started

Many take less than a minute, and all of them make a positive impact.

Here are a few simple ideas in the Awareness, Action and Advocacy categories; these are quick actions you can take any time.  Browse the lists for inspiration, explore what resonates, and use these ideas to spark your own.

  

Already made an impact today?  Don't forget to be counted in through the Planetary Action Atlas and you'll receive a thank you from our community.

We refresh the lists of ideas every month so come back often.  And see the "Your Ideas" page for items submitted by our growing community! 

 

Need even more ideas?  The "Eight Rs" can be a source of inspiration as we go about our daily lives: 

1. Refuse, 2. Reduce, 3. Reuse, 4. Repurpose, 5. Repair, 6. Rot/Compost, 7. Recycle, and 8. Remove.

Pinned, highest-impact idea if you only have time for one:

Read about the four Advocacy Ideas and then email your representative about the four ideas using this downloadable template (also available on the Advocacy Ideas page).

  

If you do, let us know that you did and to whom you wrote - we'll post it anonymously on the Your Ideas page. Every letter counted helps make the silent supermajority visible to itself, and representatives gain more ability to act on climate when they can see momentum building across their country and others.

To let us know: submit to the Atlas, click one of the Advocacy boxes, then fill in the text box at the bottom before clicking "Count me in!"

Awareness

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Print the "Cut Costs, Cut Carbon" Food (protein) page and post it on your fridge

⏱ 5 minutes • 🌍 Turns small daily food decisions into meaningful carbon and cost savings.

Discover the climate footprint of something you use every day

⏱ 2 minutes • 🌍 Makes emissions tangible.

Watch a short video on the Planetary Boundaries

⏱ 4 minutes • 🌍 Shows how Earth systems interact.

Read a hopeful climate story

⏱ 1 minute • 🌍 Builds optimism and motivation.

Compare the carbon footprint of travel modes

⏱ 1 minute • 🌍 Makes travel choices more informed.

Explore sustainable diet choices

⏱ 1 minute • 🌍 Connects food choices to climate impact.

Explore sea level rise in your region

⏱ 1 minute • 🌍 Makes long-term risks visible.

Learn about circular economy basics

⏱ 3 minutes • 🌍 Shows how to reuse, repair, and reduce emissions.

Find one local sustainability initiative

⏱ 1 minute • 🌍 Connects you to community action.

Explore food system emissions

⏱ 1 minute • 🌍 Builds understanding of food-related climate impacts.

Action

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Choose an experience instead of a physical gift

⏱ 1 minute • 🌍 Avoids production, packaging, and shipping emissions from physical goods. • 💚 You help save many potential kg CO2e

Refuse

Choose a reusable water bottle

⏱ 1 minute • 🌍 Avoids single-use plastic bottle production and disposal. • 💚 You help save 0.05-0.1 kg CO2e

Refuse, Reuse

Read about Home Energy savings and implement one idea

⏱ 5 minutes • 🌍 Small improvements in heating, cooling, or appliance use can lower emissions and reduce monthly bills. • 💚 You help save potentially hundreds of dollars and tens of kgCO2e

Reduce

Choose a "use-what-you-have" day

⏱ < 5 minutes • 🌍 Reduces consumption and avoids emissions from new production. • 💚 You help save 1-10 kg CO2e

Reduce

Choose a lower-impact snack like nuts or fruit

⏱ 1 minute • 🌍 Avoids packaging and high-footprint ingredients. • 💚 You help save 0.05-0.2 kg CO2e

Reduce

Choose to declutter one drawer

⏱ < 5 minutes • 🌍 Keeps items in circulation and reduces demand for new goods. • 💚 You help save waste

Reuse, Recycle

Choose a reusable shopping bag

⏱ 1 minute • 🌍 Avoids single-use plastic or paper bags. • 💚 You help save 0.02-0.05 kg CO2e

Reuse

Choose a bring-a-dish gathering

⏱ normal meal prep • 🌍 Reduces packaging and food waste. • 💚 You help save waste

Reduce

Choose a vacation within driving distance

⏱ < 10 minutes • 🌍 Avoids emissions from short and long-haul flights. • 💚 You help save tens to thousands of kg CO2e

Reduce

Refuse an item this week (like single-use chopsticks)

⏱ 1 minute • 🌍 Helps reduce deforestation, cut hidden carbon emissions, and avoid unnecessary single‑use waste. • 💚 You help save 20-50 g CO2e

Refuse

Advocacy

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Read about Climate Footprint Labels. Email your representative using the downloadable template if you like this idea.

⏱ 5 minutes • 🌍 Supports systemic transparency and consumer empowerment. • 💚 You help save potentially Gt/yr

Read about Geo Zero Products. Email a company using the downloadable template if you like this idea.

⏱ 5 minutes • 🌍 Signals demand for clean, affordable consumer options. • 💚 You help save potentially Gt/yr

Read about Abatement Pathways. Email your representative using the downloadable template if you like this idea.

⏱ 5 minutes • 🌍 Supports cost-effective climate progress. • 💚 You help save potentially trillions/yr

Read about Regulating All Emissions. Email your community using the downloadable template if you like this idea.

⏱ 5 minutes • 🌍 Builds public understanding of long-term climate policy. • 💚 You help save potentially Gt/yr

Ask your workplace about recycling options

⏱ 1 minute • 🌍 Improves workplace systems. • 💚 You help save many potential kg CO2e

Share a climate-friendly gift idea

⏱ 1 minute • 🌍 Promotes low-impact gifting. • 💚 You help save many potential kg CO2e

Invite one friend to try the Atlas

⏱ 1 minute • 🌍 Increases collective impact. • 💚 You help save many potential kg CO2e

Thank a neighbour for a sustainable action

⏱ 1 minute • 🌍 Strengthens community norms. • 💚 You help save many potential kg CO2e

Amplify a climate scientist's post

⏱ 1 minute • 🌍 Boosts evidence-based voices. • 💚 You help save many potential kg CO2e

Ask a company about a product's footprint

⏱ 1 minute • 🌍 Signals consumer interest. • 💚 You help save many potential kg CO2e

Thank you for taking action with the A Team

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Contents may be shared and adapted with attribution.

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