DecisionNodes provides services to a wide range of companies, some of which focus on sustainability matters. In this regard it always interests us to read articles about what individuals, industries and policy makers can do to reduce our carbon footprint. The group Project Drawdown has ranked the 80 most effective climate change solutions.

Top ten list of what can be done to reduce our carbon footprint

1. Refrigerant Management

Controlling leakages of refrigerants from existing appliances through better management practices and recovery, recycling, and destruction of refrigerants at the end of life.

2. Wind turbines (onshore)

Onshore utility-scale wind power technologies. This solution replaces conventional electricity-generating technologies such as coal, oil, and natural gas power plants.

3. Reduced food waste

Minimizing food loss and wastage from all stages of production, distribution, retail, and consumption. This solution replaces current reported trends in food waste by region.

4. Plant rich diets

An individual dietary choice: to 1) maintain a 2500 calorie per day nutritional regime; 2) meet daily protein requirements while decreasing meat consumption in favor of plant-based food items; and 3) purchase locally produced food when available.

5. Tropical forests

The restoration and protection of tropical-climate forests.

6. Educating girls

In addition to or in concert with family planning, female education is one of the proven, cost-effective long-term solutions for addressing unsustainable rates of population growth in high-fertility countries.

7. Family planning

Slowing the momentum of human population growth in a way that upholds human rights is an important factor in slowing carbon dioxide-equivalent emissions.

8. Solar farms

Utility-scale solar photovoltaic (PV) systems for electricity generation. This solution replaces conventional electricity-generating technologies such as coal, oil, and natural gas power plants.

9. Silvopasture

The addition of trees to pastures for increased productivity and biosequestration. This solution replaces conventional livestock grazing on pasture and rangeland.

10. Rooftop solar

Distributed solar photovoltaic (PV) systems, typically sited on rooftops, that include both residential solar PV and community-scale solar PV systems with under 1 megawatt of capacity.

Norwegian perspective

Solutions that receive a lot of attention in Norwegian media, like Offshore wind turbines is ranked 22, moving to electric vehicles is ranked 26, wave and tidal is ranked 29, reduction in ships emission is ranked 32, LED lighting is ranked 44, smart thermostats is ranked 57, bike infrastructure is ranked 59 and electric bikes is ranked 69.

Controlling leakages of refrigerants has 8 times higher potential in reducing our carbon footprint compared to moving to electric vehicles…

CNN Quiz

Also, take the time to check out this quiz made by CNN based on the above report. How much do you know about what can be done to fight climate change? The results might surprise you.