Six Ways To Make A Climate Difference – Here’s How

Published on: 8 Mar, 2022
Updated on: 8 Mar, 2022

By Hugh Coakley

One of the problems with climate change is feeling overwhelmed by the enormity of it. People question whether they can have any impact when they hear about coal-fired power stations being built by the day or corporations apparently just carrying on as before.

But the climate movement, Take the Jump, officially launched in Guildford on Saturday (March 5), says “individuals and communities can make a huge difference”.

Founder of Take The Jump, Tom Bailey, at the official launch in Guildford on Saturday (March 5). He said: “It isn’t up to you to protect our earth but it can’t be done without you. All it takes is a little jump.”

They say new research shows that people have “primary influence over 25-27 per cent of emission savings needed by 2030 to avoid ecological meltdown”. Government and business still have the largest responsibility, up to 75 per cent, but people are not powerless.

Around 70 people attended Zero Carbon Guildford for the official launch of Take The Jump.

And to mobilise this people power, Take the Jump founder Tom Bailey, is asking people to sign up to take six “shifts” in lifestyle for one, three or six months:

keep electronic products for at least seven years. This will mean more repairing rather than replacing, and not falling for adverts that say we need the next new thing now
take only one shorthaul flight every three years or travel by train, ferry or bus or holiday locally
move to a plant-based diet, keeping to healthy portions and avoid wasting food
buy no more than three new items of clothing per year
try to get rid of your personal vehicle by going by public transport, joining a car share scheme or hiring a car when needed. Take The Jump says “Cars have been made a status symbol beyond their perceived convenience and false economy, but are literally killing us in the process.”
Trying at least one life shift to nudge the system, like moving to green energy, changing your pension supplier to one that doesn’t invest in fossil fuels or even lobbying your MP.

Marvina Newton, trustee of Take The Jump, a new climate movement persuading people to make six relatively simple lifestyle changes to cut global emissions.

Bailey, the lead author of Labour Party’s manifesto at the last election to decarbonise the UK’s energy sector, said: “We need to move away from the consumer culture in just 10 short years. A bit overwhelming but it is definitely possible.

Ben Smith from the global consultancy Arup, who led the research into urban consumption, addressed the Take The Jump launch in Zero Carbon Guildford.

“Take The Jump is a citizen-led movement for less stuff and more joy. We need to shed the idea that we are just our stuff.

“It isn’t up to you to protect our earth but it can’t be done without you. All it takes is a little jump.”

The Take The Jump launch was hosted by Zero Carbon Guildford with Marvina Newton, trustee of Take The Jump and co-founder of Black Lives Matter Leeds, taking the lead on the discussions with the crowd of around 70 who attended.