From protests to pensions: The unexpected ways to tackle climate change.
From protests to pensions: The unexpected ways to tackle climate change.
Surprising ways to make a climate impact
While many people focus on recycling or going vegan, a new wave of research shows that less obvious personal actions—like voting, banking choices, and workplace influence—can have a massive effect on climate change.
The Shift project, co-developed by scientist Kimberly Nicholas, aims to guide people toward high-impact climate decisions tailored to their lives.
Introducing the shift guide
The Shift guide (Super High-Impact Initiative for Fixing Tomorrow), launched with Project Drawdown, identifies five key roles each person can play: consumer, citizen, investor, professional, and role model.
These roles were backed by a 2021 academic paper and referenced by the UN’s IPCC report in 2022.
The goal? Help people use the power they already have to drive real change.
The “superpower” criteria
The Shift quiz starts with three questions:
- Do you earn over $38,000/year?
- Do you live in a liberal democracy?
- Do you have a college degree?
In an interview med BBC, Nicholas says that answering “yes” to all three means you hold all five climate superpowers – a group that includes less than 10% of the global population, yet they’re among the most powerful people on Earth when it comes to climate influence.
Why citizenship is so powerful
Voting can have huge climate impacts. In Canada’s 2019 election, one study found that choosing a pro-climate party could save up to 34.2 tonnes of CO₂ per year.
Beyond voting, actions like contacting representatives, joining advocacy groups, and peaceful protesting have been shown to drive policy changes and reduce emissions.
Work smarter, not just harder
Your job could be a climate action hub. Nicholas highlights workplace efforts like:
– Getting your company to join the Science Based Targets Initiative
– Divesting workplace pensions from fossil fuels
– Using your professional skills—from HR to design—to drive sustainability
Even small shifts within a profession can influence entire industries.
Make your money talk
Your savings could be part of the problem—or the solution. Many banks and pension funds invest in fossil fuels.
Even small account holders can make a difference by moving their money to climate-conscious institutions.
For the top 0.1% income bracket, investment choices are often the largest source of personal emissions.
The consumer: Four key habits
Consumer power comes down to four high-impact actions:
- Flying less
- Driving less
- Eating less meat
- Switching to renewable energy
These were identified through research on household emissions.
But Nicholas warns against carbon footprint obsession, noting that 90% of the world already lives sustainably—it’s the top 10% who need to reduce overconsumption.
The power of role modeling
Even if you’re not wealthy, educated, or living in a democracy, you can still help by inspiring others.
Starting a climate book club, having open conversations about sustainability, or simply making eco-conscious choices in public can shift community norms.
Research shows that when one person gets solar panels, neighbors often follow.
Grassroots over gloom
Disillusioned with politics? Grassroots action is the answer.
While global climate talks are important, bottom-up leadership is where the momentum builds.
Nicholas encourages people to commit just 20 minutes a day to climate efforts—enough to complete Shift’s guide and start seeing impact in their lives and communities.
Unlocking our hidden power
Many people feel overwhelmed or powerless in the face of the climate crisis.
But as Nicholas says to the BBC: “There is so much unused power in the world.”
Her advice? Pick something you care about, find like-minded people, and take consistent, joyful action.
You don’t need to do it all—just do what you can, regularly.
This article is made and published by auk1, which may have used AI in the preparation
