Actions

See below the EcoTracker 12 Top Actions which are typically the most impactful things you can do to reduce your environmental impact in terms of CO₂ emissions and ecological footprint. You can filter the actions to match your other goals and preferences, such as whether you want to:

• spend little or no extra money
• save money, little or no money spent upfront
• invest money upfront, save it in the long run
• improve your health and wellbeing
• develop and learn a new skill
• save water
• maintain your lifestyle

Visit our Approach page to learn more about how you can effectively set yourself up to progress your journey to minimise your environmental impact and get to net zero carbon.

Make The EcoTracker 2030 Pledge to commit to a meaningful and achievable target to reduce your personal environmental impact; this involves aiming to complete all 12 EcoTracker Top Actions by 2030.

Visit our Method page to learn about method and how our Top Actions have been selected.

You can have an even bigger impact by extending your influence and choosing to take further / wider actions such as:

• Discuss environmental issues with others, share progress made and encourage them to act. If you have found EcoTracker useful, do refer them to us… For tips on how to have successful climate conversations, such as finding common ground, read this handbook by Climate Outreach.
• Inspire your children, grandchildren, nieces and nephews, and other young people to appreciate environmental issues and to make sustainable living a habit for life.
• Sign environmental petitions.
• Discuss environmental issues at work and encourage your company to explore eco-friendly opportunities.
• Email your MP or other local politicians to let them know you care about environmental issues. Some campaigning organisations provide template letters which can be personalised. Use WriteToThem to quickly identify your local UK politicians and send them a message.
• Respond to your Local Plan consultation and demand that this includes policies to help local residents reduce their environmental impact and promote sustainable living.
• Join or support nature conservation organisations, and / or make carbon offset payments to support natural schemes.
• Join or support a local community group fighting for sustainable change.
• Seriously consider limiting your family size, given that having additional children is estimated to be the biggest environmental impact resulting from any personal choice at 59 Tonnes of CO₂ per additional child per year for “developed countries”. This estimate by Wynes and Nicholas (2017) relies on various assumptions about the long term future and so will be less accurate than estimates of our typical current personal lifestyle impacts, however its large magnitude suggests that having additional children is likely to have an even bigger impact than all of the EcoTracker Top Actions added together. If you do already have children or would like to have another child, it is critical that you choose to take responsibility for minimising their environmental impact and guiding them to do the same in their adulthood. If you would like to have another child, consider adoption, which is an eco-friendly opportunity to take an existing child without a home into a loving family.
• Seriously consider whether getting a new large pet is right for you, given their significant environmental impact estimated at up to 1.4 Tonnes of CO₂ per year, as outlined by the Independent. If you are especially keen to have a pet, consider smaller pets and / or those with a vegetarian diet, and / or source pet food following guidance from the Eat an eco-friendly diet EcoTracker Top Action. Also consider getting a rescue pet, which is an eco-friendly alternative.
• Make or join protests. These are powerful opportunities to make your feelings known for those who are comfortable with such approaches; they could be typical peaceful protests such as marches or sit-down protests, or you could take non-violent direct action such as that organised by Extinction Rebellion (if you are personally willing to accept the risk of legal and social ramifications).