New research from three leading institutions has shown that people in well-off countries can help avert climate breakdown by making six relatively straightforward lifestyle changes.
The study, which was undertaken by academics at Leeds University and analysed by experts at the global engineering firm Arup and the C40 group of world cities, discovered that sticking to six specific commitments could tackle drivers of the climate crisis.
The research found that making the six commitments, from flying no more than once every three years to only buying three new items of clothing a year, could account for a quarter of the emissions reductions required to keep the global heating down to 1.5C.
The study which was published on Monday coincided with the launch of a new climate movement to persuade and support relatively well-off people to make “The Jump” and sign up to the six pledges.
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Co-founder of the campaign, Tom Bailey said: “This ends once and for all the debate about whether citizens can have a role in protecting our earth. We don’t have time to wait for one group to act, we need ‘all action from all actors now’.”
Recall that the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), had issued its “bleakest warning yet” last week, warning that the climate crisis was accelerating rapidly with only a narrow chance left of avoiding its worst ravages.
In his reaction, Bailey maintained that as the world reaches the edge of ecological collapse, there was a need for a workable alternative to this ‘universal consumer society’ in the next decade.
“The research is clear that governments and the private sector have the largest role to play but it is also equally clear from our analysis that individuals and communities can make a huge difference,” he said.
The Jump campaign asks people to sign up for the following six key lifestyle changes for one, three or six months:
Eat a largely plant-based diet, with healthy portions and no waste
Buy no more than three new items of clothing per year
Keep electrical products for at least seven years
Take no more than one short-haul flight every three years and one long haul flight every eight years
Get rid of personal motor vehicles if you can – and if not keep hold of your existing vehicle for longer
Make at least one life shift to nudge the system, like moving to green energy, insulating your home or changing pension supplier.
Although the campaign was officially kicked off on Saturday, Bailey said there was already a growing movement emerging in response to the evidence with Jump groups up and running around the country.
Story was adapted from the Guardian.
