10 Ways To Save The Planet

Reports on climate change can leave us feeling helpless in the face of a global warming catastrophe. But there’s plenty we can do to lessen our individual impact on climate change. Here’s what we need to know.

- Helena Cartwright

1 Will adjusting the temperature at home help?

Yes – a lot. Turn down your heating by just one degree and you can save 10% on your energy use over a year. Plus, when you use less power, you reduce the amount of toxic fumes released by power plants and help conserve natural resources. So, set a timer so your heating is off when you aren’t home. Or try Hive Active Heating (£199, including installation), to manage your heating remotely via an app.

2 Are my beauty products harmful?

Palm oil is the world’s most widely traded vegetable oil, found in everything from moisturisers to toothpaste. Millions of hectares of forest in Southeast Asia have been cut down and replaced with palm oil plantations, devastating species such as orangutans, tigers, rhinos and elephants, and releasing millions of tonnes of climate change-causing greenhouse gas emissions. It’s also linked to the burning of peat soils, which has caused a dense “haze” over parts of Southeast Asia, threatening people’s health. So, what can you do? Check labels, ask questions and look for RSPO (Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil) certified palm oil, whose producers must adhere to strict guidelines.

3 Are solar panels for me?