1. Change the Way You Think

What You Can Do to Fight Climate Change

Biking to work

Climate change poses a fundamental threat to the places, species and people’s livelihoods WWF works to protect. To adequately address this crisis we must urgently reduce carbon pollution and prepare for the consequences of global warming, which we are already experiencing.

Make a Climate Change Pledge

Simple steps such as carpooling to work or using mass transit can help reduce your carbon footprint. To reduce your emissions further and to better prepare for climate change, pledge to do one or more of the following:

Contact your representative. Contact your member of Congress or the Senate. Ask him or her to support climate legislation. Find a member of the House here and a member of the Senate here.

Write a letter to one of your elected representatives at the local, state or Federal level. Tell them you believe climate change is important; and that you support the development and implementation of a climate action plan to reduce emissions and prepare for climate change impacts.

Polar bear

Learn more about your carbon emissions. There is much more you can do to reduce your household carbon emissions. Find out more about your emissions and where you can best reduce them by using an online “carbon calculator.” See the one maintained by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

Commute by carpooling or using mass transit. More than a quarter of the vehicle-miles travelled by households are for commuting to and from work—usually with one person in the vehicle. Carpooling and mass transit are among options that offer big reductions in carbon emissions.

Plan and combine trips. A lot of driving involves frequent trips nearby, to go shopping or run errands, for example. Plan and combine trips to reduce the miles you need to travel. Better yet, take someone with you so they can leave their car behind. Replace your vehicle with one with better mileage. For details go to http://www.greenercars.org or http://www.epa.gov/greenvehicles/Index.do

Drive more efficiently. In particular, observe speed limits and avoid rapid acceleration and excessive breaking. Don’t drive aggressively.

Switch to “green power.” Switch to electricity generated by energy sources with low—or no—routine emissions of carbon dioxide. Contact your electricity provider to find out about the “green power” options available to you.

Learn more about WWF's work on climate change...