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Ask HN: What actions did you take against climate change?

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11–20 of 53 posts

Re: Ask HN: What actions did you take against climate change?

#11

If you commit to choices like these in your daily life, it's net-positive for your health, wallet, and planet! - Stopped eating meat 30 years ago. Easy and healthy. - Installed solar panels on my house 2 years ago. Free installation; leasing the panels for less than the cost of the power they generate. - Buy renewably-sourced power from the grid, and return excess solar-generated power to the grid. Not sure how much…

Very inspiring - thank you!

Re: Ask HN: What actions did you take against climate change?

#12
In order of importance.

I replaced a gas drier with a ventless heat pump one. Replaced a gas water heater with a hybrid heat pump one.

Bought a Prius to replace a E150 cargo van as a daily driver.

I'm relatively poor for a tech bro. And hate flying. That cuts down on high carbon footprint leisure activities.

And didn't have kids.

Re: Ask HN: What actions did you take against climate change?

#13
post #5

The ones listed here: http://www.kimnicholas.com/uploads/2/5/7/6/25766487/fig1full... .

Great, thank you for the picture! Which ones did you do so far? All of them?

Those of high impact: one less child, car-free, avoiding flights, plant-based diet (but not 100%).

Re: Ask HN: What actions did you take against climate change?

#14

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Great, thank you for the picture! Which ones did you do so far? All of them?

Those of high impact: one less child, car-free, avoiding flights, plant-based diet (but not 100%).

Great, thank you. I am wondering: how many children do you have by now?

Re: Ask HN: What actions did you take against climate change?

#15
post #12

In order of importance. I replaced a gas drier with a ventless heat pump one. Replaced a gas water heater with a hybrid heat pump one. Bought a Prius to replace a E150 cargo van as a daily driver. I'm relatively poor for a tech bro. And hate flying. That cuts down on high carbon footprint leisure activities. And didn't have kids.

Thank you for your input and contribution :)

Re: Ask HN: What actions did you take against climate change?

#16
post #5

The ones listed here: http://www.kimnicholas.com/uploads/2/5/7/6/25766487/fig1full... .

The picture mainly focuses on things that we should avoid. Do you know if there is a similar one with things that we can actively do e.g. comparing planting trees to other investments?

I personally think that avoiding things is very relevant and that positive actions (as long as they are not in the flavor of "I remove any sort of waste") can do more harm than good in the long run, since the environment is an utterly complex system.

Re: Ask HN: What actions did you take against climate change?

#19
- Watched "cowspiracy" ~2 yrs ago and other documentaries (like "seaspiracy" ~ 1 week ago) to question my food consumption. 4h invest

- basically turned vegetarian (like 99,99%) in 2014

- joined avaaz.org to sign petitions. 30 mins per month invest

- I'm a minimalist and avoid buying new stuff, avoid buying furniture altogether

- Use the bike to get to work

- did a sticker campaign in 2014 to raise awareness about our lives and the planet (I firmly believe that awareness is a key factor to sustainability)

Re: Ask HN: What actions did you take against climate change?

#20

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The picture mainly focuses on things that we should avoid. Do you know if there is a similar one with things that we can actively do e.g. comparing planting trees to other investments?

I personally think that avoiding things is very relevant and that positive actions (as long as they are not in the flavor of "I remove any sort of waste") can do more harm than good in the long run, since the environment is an utterly complex system.

That makes sense. I am just scared if it will be enough if some people only avoid stuff and thus I wonder if there is more we can do. Something that has no natural limit. Something where we can always do a little more. In the end, there is just so much you can avoid.

I think that we can come up with active actions that will not interfere with the environment or where we are very certain that there won't be (net) negative effects. An example might be convincing your loved ones to also avoid stuff. This is an action that does not manipulate the environment but it's something where we can do more of.

Other actions might be:

  - donating money to organisations that have shown to be efficient at convincing others to avoid more. Not sure if something like this exists
  - signing a petition for a carbon tax. So far, I have never seen that as well in Germany
  - reading books on the topic to be more knowledgable when discussions arise
  - discuss climate change with people in your life
What do you think?
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