Despite being a recently more discussed topic, climate protection is still overwhelmingly unclear for most people. Citizens need to actively change their behaviour towards a greener future, so they need to become more aware of the environmental challenges, measures to be taken and lifestyle changes. This is especially the case for climate education. The My Ecotrack Project aims to provide basic knowledge on climate and environment supporting youth workers who work with young people without any proper climate education. This presentation is part of a climate Factbook for youth workers which will be published online at https://myecotrack.eu/. It addresses lifestyle changes we can make to support the drive to net zero.

1. CLIMATE FRIENDLY LIFESTYLE
My Eco Track
Project Nr. 2021-1-IS01- KA220-YOU-000028985

2. OPTIMIZE YOUR ENERGY CONSUMPTION
(1)
THIS WILL ALSO REDUCE YOUR BILL
Action points, ideas:
 Reduce the average
temperature
difference between
inside and outside.
Instead of staying in
your T-shirt in winter
at home, turn the
thermostat down a
little and wear a
sweatshirt.
Action points, ideas:
 The same goes for
using the air
conditioner in summer.
Experts write that for it
to operate in its
optimum energy
saving mode, the
difference between
outside and inside
temperature of the air
should usually be
between 7 and 10
degrees C maximum.
Action points, ideas:
 Check the
instruction manual
for your AC to find
out more.

3. OPTIMIZE YOUR ENERGY
CONSUMPTION (2)
THIS WILL ALSO REDUCE
YOUR BILL
Reduce the leakage of heat from the
building.
 This can be done by improving the
building’s insulation,
 for example by installing shutters on
windows (the highest % of exchange
of heat goes through the windows
and the shutters can reduce it)
 or by putting some fluffy blankets /
insulation in the loft.

4. OPTIMIZE YOUR ENERGY CONSUMPTION (3)
THIS WILL ALSO REDUCE YOUR BILL
Increase the efficiency of the heating system.
 If you are not ready for big
investments/changes you
can do something simple
as placing heat-resistant
radiator reflectors between
exterior walls and the
radiators.
 If it is time to invest in a
new heating system, take
your time to research the
best options for your case
and consult with an expert,
this might help you save a
lot of energy.

5. OPTIMIZE YOUR
TRANSPORT (1)
 According to European Environment
Agency data, in 2017, 27 % of total
EU-28 greenhouse gas emissions
came from the transport sector.
 Among these the highest contributor
is the road transport sector with
71,7%,
 followed by aviation and maritime
transport.
 Road transport has the highest
impact because it is by far the
widest used mode of transport.

6. OPTIMIZE YOUR
TRANSPORT (2)
Based on the data we suggest the
following action points and ideas for
optimising your transport:
 Whenever possible, leave the car at
home and take the public transport.
 Use shared public transport (especially
electric trains, trams and buses).
 They are far more energy-efficient than
individual car-driving.
 Try to share trips, use the car with 2 or
more people.
 Riding a bike is a great option if the
place, where you live is bike friendly.

7. OPTIMIZE YOUR
TRANSPORT (3)
When you have to use the car, you
can still save energy by:
 travelling at a steady speed,
 avoiding using the breaks,
 travelling more slowly.
If you are about to choose a car,
choose one with lower CO2
emissions.
There are many sources of
comparative data such as:
https://www.nextgreencar.com/emis
sions/make-model/

8. OPTIMIZE YOUR
TRANSPORT (4)
The data shows short flights produce
the highest greenhouse gas emissions
per passenger kilometre (gCO₂e).
Travelling in business and first class
doubles and triples the emissions.
 If you have to fly, fly longer
distances and
 choose economy flights.
 You can also buy a package for
offsetting greenhouse gas
emissions.

9. OPTIMIZE YOUR FOOD (1)
 Experts have calculated that by reducing our consumption of
animal protein by half, we can diminish our diet's carbon
footprint by more than 40%.
 Food waste is estimated to make up 8% of global greenhouse
gas emissions.
 At the same time in 2017 there were about 1 billion starving
people in the world.

10. OPTIMIZE YOUR
FOOD (2)
How can you change your diet, so
it can be more climate friendly?
 Eating less meat and dairy
products is a good way to start a
climate friendly diet.
 This is also good for your the
health.
 The healthy food pyramid shows
red meat should be eaten
sparingly.
 Use more chicken and fish.
Image Source: Copyright © 2008. For more information about The
Healthy Eating Pyramid, please see The Nutrition Source, Department
of Nutrition, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health,
www.thenutritionsource.org, and and Eat, Drink, and Be Healthy, by
Walter C. Willett, M.D., and Patrick J. Skerrett (2005), Free
Press/Simon & Schuster Inc.”

11. OPTIMIZE YOUR FOOD
(3)
In developed countries the main food waste
comes from food rotting on the shelves in the
shops or at home.
 Think about how you can start throwing away
less food.
 You can try using a food waste reducing app,
like TOO GOOD TO GO
(https://www.oddbox.co.uk/blog/7-apps-that-
are-helping-reduce-food-waste). On these
apps, restaurants, cafes and bakeries list
leftover food that would otherwise be thrown
away and users can pick up a bag of food for a
fraction of the original retail price.
 Choose seasonal and local products. This
reduces the carbon emissions from transport
and long-term preservation of food. Recently
experts assert that this is also more healthy.

12. OPTIMIZE CONSUMPTION
AND WASTE (1)
 By choosing what and how much we
buy we directly affect the climate.
 We vote with our wallet for or against
faster climate change.
 Everything we buy has a carbon
footprint, either from the way it is
produced or from the way it is
transported, or both.
 For example, the clothing sector
produces around 3% of the global
greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.
 Every time we decide to buy new
clothes, not because we need them,
but because they are more
fashionable, we vote for faster
climate change.

13. OPTIMIZE CONSUMPTION AND WASTE (2)
Choose carefully what you buy.
 Review the brands policy on ecology, sustainability and climate
change.
 Look at Initiatives like the ETHICAL CONSUMER
(https://www.ethicalconsumer.org/) or THE CONSIDERATE
CONSUMER (https://www.considerate-consumer.com/). They
provide guides how to shop ethically and also some insight in
different industries.

14. OPTIMIZE CONSUMPTION
AND WASTE (3)
To make your choice easier you can
learn to understand the labels.
For example, the most reliable
sustainable certification schemes in
fashion can be seen at
https://www.considerate-
consumer.com/certified-fashion

15. OPTIMIZE
CONSUMPTION
AND WASTE (4)
Reuse and repair things.
 You have the choice to repair
things or buy new ones. The
cost in money terms may not
be so different,
 but there is a big difference in
terms of the carbon footprint of
a new appliance, when
compared with a spare part.
 Whenever possible repair and
reuse clothes, shoes,
appliances.
 Give life to second-hand
goods.

16. OPTIMIZE CONSUMPTION
AND WASTE (5)
Recycle correctly.
 Read the labels on packages carefully.
 Identify what can and cannot be
recycled.
 Check instructions on the condition in
which the plastic, paper and glass
should be provided for recycling.
 Check recycling web sites in your area.
 To a large extent what you can and
cannot recycle depends on the company
that is responsible for this in your region.
Check their instructions.

17. “THE JOURNEY OF A
THOUSAND MILES
BEGINS WITH ONE
STEP.”
Lao Tzu