(Bloomberg) — Last year was a rough one for climate change. It was almost without a doubt the hottest year on record. There were countless devastating climate disasters, from epic floods in Spain to hurricanes in the southeastern US to raging wildfires in the Brazilian rainforest. And major international environmental negotiations were plagued by bitter fighting and some stalemates.
This year offers a clean slate. While one person alone cannot fix global warming, lots of people taking action can make a difference. There are also many things you can do to build resilience to the impacts of climate change. So why not consider kicking off the new year with a resolution to do more? Bloomberg Green has a whole list of options for ways to start living in a more climate-friendly way for people with all budgets and levels of commitment.
Want to learn more about climate change and have fun doing it? Try playing a new version of the classic board game Catan released last year. In “Catan: New Energies,” players build towns, cities and roads; trade commodities like steel and fabric; and erect power plants. The central decision facing them is whether to move forward with fossil fuels and urban growth or to invest in renewables — a slower and more expensive process that extends the game and offers new routes to victory. New Energies lays bare the complexity of solving climate change, and forces players to think about solutions, which could have real-life applications, says Kelli Schmitz, former director of brand development for Catan Studio. “We wanted it to be positive and forward-thinking,” she says, “leaving this room for hope.” — Olivia Rudgard
Trading beef, even on occasion, for pork, chicken, or, better yet, legumes and veggies is a meaningful way to combat climate change. A 2022 study in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition found that choosing any other protein than beef for a single meal can reduce a person’s carbon footprint for that day by almost half. The more people embrace alternatives, the bigger the dent in food-related emissions. “You don’t have to become a vegan to have a big impact on your carbon footprint,” says Diego Rose, a professor and director of the nutrition program at Tulane University and co-author of the 2022 study. “You just have to swap out beef.” — Zahra Hirji
Cut your plastics use – and exposure
Rating: Easy
Consuming less plastic has both benefits for planet and the people who live on it. Microplastics and their tinier variant, nanoplastics, are being found everywhere and raising concerns for human health. They’ve been discovered in the food we eat, the liquids we drink and throughout our bodies. The biggest way to limit exposure is to simply cut down on how much plastic you use, says Sheela Sathyanarayana, a University of Washington professor who studies the health effects of chemicals in plastics. For example, switch from bottled to tap water or use wood cutting boards instead of plastic ones. Another tip from New York endocrinologist Gillian Goddard: “Absolutely don’t microwave food in plastic.” Instead, tempered glass such as Pyrex is a good alternative. — Matthew Griffin
Rent an EV…
Rating: Moderate
Curious about electric vehicles? The next time you go on a trip, consider renting one. Doing so lets you pick from a variety of models and experience the daily reality of driving an electric car that you won’t get from a perfunctory test drive at an auto dealer. Warning: It may be a bit of a learning experience. If you book a Tesla and have never driven one before, for example, you’ll want to review how to unlock the doors, start the car and adjust the mirrors before arriving at the rental agency. — Todd Woody
…Or lease one
Rating: Challenging
For those already smitten with electric cars but not in a position to buy one outright, leasing could be a good option. In the US, now’s an especially good time to take advantage of particularly cheap leases, though the clock is ticking. That’s because the incoming Trump administration is keen to eliminate the $7,500 federal tax credits for EVs, which would end popular leases that currently allow US consumers to sidestep restrictions on which EV models qualify for incentives. “If you’re on the fence, right now is probably going to be one of your better opportunities to buy or lease an EV at a good price, at least for a few years,” says Chris Harto, a senior policy analyst at Consumer Reports. — Todd Woody
Invest in a heat pump
Rating: Challenging
A big place to start cutting your carbon footprint is by replacing fossil-fuel technology with electrical versions at home. Perhaps no better appliance to switch first is a fossil-fuel heating system with a heat pump, in part because there’s a growing number of subsidies and incentives available on both sides of the Atlantic Ocean to help cut the steep cost of making the replacement. In the US, some states are starting to dole out rebates from the Inflation Reduction Act for heat pumps that can warm and cool homes — up to $8,000, which could cover roughly half the installation cost of some systems. (There are also smaller rebates available for heat pump water heaters, heat pump clothes dryers and induction stoves.) It’s unclear how long these rebates will continue under the incoming Trump administration. Meanwhile, homeowners in England and Wales can get £7,500 from the government to help get a heat pump, making it one of the most generous subsidies in Europe. — Olivia Rudgard and Todd Woody
Learn how to safely sweat
Rating: Moderate to Challenging
Working out is one of the most common New Year’s resolutions, but extreme heat in the summer can make outdoor exercise more dangerous than healthy. It’s a problem that even the world’s most elite athletes are struggling with as climate change turns up the global thermostat. For those training for summer sporting events, this has meant developing a comprehensive heat playbook — from low-tech measures such as proper hydration to sophisticated sensors that help maintain peak performance without sacrificing safety. For example, Swiss startup CORE makes a roughly $300 sensor for tracking heat strain. Athletes can wear it on the same chest strap they already use for heart rate monitors.
For the majority of us who aren’t preparing for the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles, there are some simple best practices for keeping fit when the temperatures rise. Make sure to limit outdoor time on the hottest parts of the day, dress for the heat and stay hydrated. Most importantly, know the signs of heat illness. — Kendra Pierre Louis and Zahra Hirji
Wildfire-proof your home
Rating: Moderate to Challenging
As a warmer, dryer climate worsens wildfire outbreaks in traditional fire zones and spreads the danger into areas where such hazards were once unthinkable, it’s getting increasingly important to prepare yourself, your property and your community for potential blazes.
First, consider upgrading your home with fire-resistant designs and materials, such as installing an ember-proof roof and creating five feet of hardscape around your home to create a firebreak. If you’re not ready to retrofit your home, other simpler practices — that includes removing dead, dry vegetation in your yard and avoid mowing dry grass amid Red Flag warnings — can also reduce your exposure to wildfire risks. As you step up your own protection, help your community to strengthen its readiness, too. One way to achieve that is to encourage your neighbors and homeowners association to conduct a neighborhood-wide risk assessment and eliminate fire hazards across adjacent properties. It’s also important to pay attention to hidden dangers such as fire-induced air pollution. At the end of the day, you should be prepared for the worst: get a go bag for every family member and know your evacuation routes ahead of a disaster. — Coco Liu
Invest in a HEPA filter
Rating: Moderate
Regardless of whether you live close or far to wildfire county, smoke from fires is posing a growing threat. Over the past decade in the western US, wildfire smoke has erased air-quality gains from regulations like the Clean Air Act, according to research published in Nature. When it’s smoky out, every time you open a door or window presents an opportunity for some to get inside, according to Amara Holder, a mechanical engineer with the US Environmental Protection Agency’s office of research and development. “Heating, ventilation and air-conditioning systems can also actively bring in smoke,” she says. The best way to curb smoke indoors is with a HEPA filter, a device that reduces particulate matter from the air. You can buy one, but Holder says it’s also possible to make a version yourself using a box fan with a furnace filter. (The Oregon Health Authority has a how-to video here.) — Kendra Pierre Louis
Listen on Zero: Kim Stanley Robinson Imagines Utopia in 2025
–With assistance from Olivia Rudgard, Coco Liu, Todd Woody, Kendra Pierre-Louis and Matthew Griffin.
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