Improving air quality can save 150 million lives. To put that into perspective, that is just under half the population of the United States. Climate change is no joke and we are running out of time. We need to make a climate change investment or risk impacting millions of lives in the wrong direction.
What is climate change?
Climate change includes global warming driven by human emissions of greenhouse gases causing large-scale shifts in our weather patterns. The impacts of climate change are detrimental to the planet, to us, and our economy.
What does climate change impact?
Some of the already prevalent impacts of climate change include extreme weather patterns such as an increase in wildfires and the destruction of homes and habitats. Here are more impacts of climate change:
Five Major Impacts of Climate Change
- Incredible economic hits to industries such as agriculture, fishing, and coal
- Species loss and extinction
- The rise in sea level
- Worsening air quality
- Reduced access to clean water
- Global warming
One impact we are all aware of is the global rise in temperature. But what does this change in temperature mean, exactly? Scientists have high confidence that not only does this create an increase in mean temperature, but hot extremes, a probability of increased drought, decreased precipitation, and an increase in sea level. All of which are expected to worsen over time, if there is no change.
That sounds terrifying. What can I do to impact Climate Change for the better?
There are many things that we can do. To halt climate change at the current rate, it is going to take not only a national movement but a grassroots acceptance and lifestyle changes. We have put together a list of things you can do within your daily life to help mitigate climate change on a local level – share, tell your friends, and together we can make being green a popular choice.
1. Choose Green Transportation
Fossil fuel use is one of the largest human contributors to global warming. Stop and consider the difference in emissions if every person who owned a car changed over to an electric or hybrid vehicle, ride-shared, or choose energy-efficient public transportation. While this may not be a cost-effective avenue for you just yet, take a look at the affordability of electric transportation. It is rapidly declining, while vehicle styles are becoming popular choices for urban and suburban professionals.
As previously noted, a more cost-effective alternative to electric vehicles is choosing to take public transportation as opposed to driving your own vehicle. While this is an option fairly limited to those who live in metropolitan areas, every ride-share, public transit bus, or train is a step in the right direction.
2. Change Your Diet
While it is not fathomable for every person to adopt a vegan or vegetarian diet, it is very doable to make certain choices regarding your diet. Simply swapping out that beef burger for one that is plant-based can have an incredible impact. Think about this- across the world, more than two-thirds of global emissions from the livestock industry are due to cows. Now giving up meat is an awful lot to ask from anyone, but consciously taking the steps to reduce your meat consumption (even slightly) can have a significant impact.
Impossible Foods, a company that has created a plant-based meat alternative that can fool anyone, says that compared to conventional beef production they use 87% less water, 96% less land, emits 89% fewer greenhouse gases, and produces 92% less aquatic pollutants. Talk about a positive impact!
3. Use Renewable energy
A significant section of the UN report focused on renewable energy use. Their staggering requirement: that renewable energy accounts for 85% of electricity production by 2050, with gas energy being just 8% and coal at 0%. Solar, wind, and electrical technologies have improved significantly in the last decade, but are still vastly underutilized due to the societal, economic, and political pressures by large industries.
At home, consider solar panels for energy generation and reach out to your local energy co-op for sustainable options. It is important to note that these renewable energy sources are not for everyone, as they can be incredibly expensive. If you are interested in sustainable and renewable energy, talk to your local provider to receive more information.
4. Make a Climate Change Investment
First of all, what is climate change investing? Impact investing aims to generate specific beneficial social or environmental effects. People choose to impact invest because they want to utilize their money and investment capital to bring change to social issues. Climate change investing is one way of impact investing in climate change.
People who want to invest in climate change wish to create a sustainable future for coming generations. To combat climate change and strengthen your financial return, it is wise to start investing in renewable energy sources and other sustainable solutions. For example, the solar and wind renewable energy industries are top choices. On the other hand, companies today have made incredible advancements in green technology. These include sustainable materials, electric vehicles, and meat substitutes, among many others. Products such as these are the future.
Now more than ever it is important to be smart about where you are putting your money. By choosing to invest in “green” technologies and companies, you are making a difference in the future of our planet as well as your wallet. As an investor, you can make a change for the better when you make a climate change investment.
How can I start investing in climate change?
Investing in climate change is one of the best things you can do to combat a high ecological footprint. At Invested Interests, we make it easy for anyone, even those who are beginners, to invest in climate change. Our clients invest in green companies, alternative and renewable energy companies, and companies promoting sustainability through our environmental portfolio’s wide range.
We avoid oil and fossil fuel companies, companies that are not eco-friendly, and nuclear power companies. Companies like Microsoft or Nike are included in our company environment impact investing portfolio. To invest in companies such as these and many others, start investing with Invested Interests!
If you want to get started in the impact investing world, we would love to hear from you! You can reach out to us here to learn more and begin building your portfolio!
