But one choice that?s not talked about much outranks them all Quick: What?s the best thing you can personally do to fight climate change" Convert your house to solar, or switch to low-energy appliances" The answer is neither. Both of those solutions pale in comparison to getting rid of your car or eliminating meat from your diet, according to a new study. Yet most climate action messaging focuses heavily on energy consumption.
In a study published in Environmental Research Letters, Seth Wynes and Kimberly A. Nicholas looked at 39 scientific and government reports with recommendations for reducing carbon footprints that originated from the European Union, U.S., Canada, and Australia. The scientists then correlated how the most heavily promoted recommendations compared with real-world impact?and saw a huge disparity. Living car-free, avoiding airplane travel (especially overseas flights), and switching to a plant-based diet were three top solutions that weren?t heavily marketed as low-emissions solutions, yet carried the greatest impact. ?These actions have much greater potential to reduce emissions than commonly promoted strategies like comprehensive recycling (four times less effective than a plant-based diet) or changing household lightbulbs (eight times less),? notes the study.

But the most effective way to address climate change?and one that is already getting plenty of pushback online and in stories about the study?is something that?s har...