With the ever present threat of climate change looming overhead, the environment situation looks bleak. However, there are things you can do to improve the situation. Pushing for green initiatives in the government and corporations is the best way to achieve widespread, long term solutions, but there are also lifestyle changes you can make the world a slightly better place by investing in eco-friendly solutions. Here’s what you need to know.

Electric Cars

The main villain of the story of climate change is carbon dioxide. CO2 emissions come from a variety of sources, and they are produced en masse, creating the massive buildup of CO2 that traps heat in the atmosphere and causes global warming. The two primary causes of mass carbon emissions are factories and cars. Addressing the former is a matter of voting, and voting with your wallet, to affect policy change from the top down. The latter can also be approached in the same way, but you have the option of getting in on the ground floor by embracing electric cars.

Electric cars are great for the environment, because they have replaced the traditional combustion engine and fossil fuels with a simple battery. However, it’s worth noting that electric motors are simply less powerful than combustion engines, at least at this time. On top of that, the battery life of an electric car leaves something to be desired, meaning that making the switch is a bit of a sacrifice, and a major investment. However, hybrid cars provide a mixture of the benefits of electric and combustion engines, allowing you to cut back on carbon emissions where you can’t eliminate them. Luckily, you’ll often find lower insurance quotes when it comes time to insure electric and hybrid cars as an incentive for those who opt in to this green solution.

Solar Panels

Another great way to do your part to save the planet is to invest in clean, renewable energy. Traditional electricity is generated using coal, meaning that it’s another major contributor to carbon emissions. On the other hand, solar panels are relatively clean sources of energy production, and they are accessible. Their accessibility is what makes them the most popular clean energy option, because individual panels are affordable and small. To get the most out of a solar power setup, you'll also need a  much more costly solar panel battery. However, the initial investment pays for itself in relatively little time, because solar power will save you money on your electric bill each month. That also makes the switch to solar a no-brainer if you can comfortably afford the buy-in price.

Solar panels are less efficient than traditional electricity, so it may take more than one to meet all of your needs, and possibly more if you want 24/7 access to electricity. However, better clean energy options aren’t visible for the average person, while solar panels are not only small, but also modular, meaning that they can fit onto any home or property with ease. while they’re not the best around, they’re certainly the best for the average person.

Diet

While it may come as a surprise, the other heavy hitter in terms of problematic greenhouse gases is methane. This is primarily attributed to factory farming, and beef in particular is the primary offender. This makes factory farming the henchman to the villain that is CO2, and even that is debatable. Again, policy change will be necessary for the kind of change needed to reverse climate change. However, simply reducing the amount of beef in your diet makes a difference. This is more of a spiritual sacrifice, because it means fewer burgers and steaks, but it can potentially save you money, and there are health benefits to white meat when compared to red meat like beef. This means that chicken instead of beef can be better for you and for the environment.

While climate change may be scary, and taking meaningful action against it takes time, these tips can give you as an individual a place to start right now.