Greta Thunberg Just Reminded Us That This Is The Final Call For A Fight Against Climate Change

"You have stolen my dreams and my childhood with your empty words. People are suffering. People are dying. Entire ecosystems are collapsing. We are in the beginning of a mass extinction. And all you can talk about is money and fairy tales of eternal economic growth. How dare you!" said Greta Thunberg, at the U.N. Climate Action Summit on Monday.

Greta Thunberg speaking at United Nations

This brilliant 16-year-old climate activist couldn't have said it better. We are literally on the verge of a mass extinction, and none of the world leaders seem to care. These policymakers have deep ties to industries that are the biggest contributors to planet-warming emissions. They are hostile to protests and seem to dismiss the reality of climate change by using climate science denial as a cover.

Since our leaders won't do anything to save the planet, it's time to take matters in our own hands. And the following ways will ensure how all of us can fight against climate change. Because in numbers, we have strength and power.

1. Find and participate in a global strike near you.

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On September 27, people will take to the streets and continue protests against burning fossil fuels. The aim is to ensure that businesses - commercial and industrial - should operate keeping in mind climate change.

2. Join a local campaign or start your own.

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Not everyone needs to be a superstar or claim fame in order to bring about change. If you and your friends start bringing in simple changes like asking your favourite restaurants to go plastic-free entirely, you have made a difference. It could be recycling, buying less clothes, saving water, reducing your carbon footprint. Once you make these changes, trust me, people around you are bound to notice and join. So make it happen.

3. Change the way you eat.

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Changing the way you save our planet from a ton of CO2 emissions. It's simple: eat less dairy and meat and eat more of fruits and vegetables. Food production is responsible for a quarter of all CO2 emissions, with meat and other animal products making up half of that. Cutting meat and dairy from your diet can reduce your own carbon footprint immensely.

4. Start to purchase energy-efficient appliances.

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Two great things will happen when you switch to appliances that save energy instead of using a lot of it. First, you will be saving the environment. Second, you will be saving money by paying less for your electricity bills.

5. Educate yourself and others about climate change.

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Individual action is key. Once we all get a reality check about how this is officially the final call for action in order to save the environment, your actions will automatically become more intense. Fantastic literature is available on the Internet, about climate change. Take for instance, a documentary called True North (2018) - what's unique is how small episodes of 11-16 minutes brilliantly come together to highlight the bigger issue of climate change.

6. Vote for environmental action.

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In order to overturn climate change (if that can be achieved), we need to put only those individuals and political parties in power that care about saving this planet that we call home. So vote carefully and don't be afraid to demand environmental action.

7. Ban palm oil completely.

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The United Nations Environmental Programme (UNEP) estimates that by 2022, 98% of Indonesia¡¯s tropical forest will be destroyed for palm oil production and illegal logging. As tropical rainforests are destroyed, there¡¯s fewer trees to convert carbon dioxide into oxygen and that's why need to stop its product by applying a complete ban on it. Common products that contain palm oil include bread, chips/crisps, ice cream, pizza bases, instant noodles, shampoo and chocolate. Try to purchase items that contain a different type of oil, such as olive oil.

8. Act against any sort of forest loss.

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We have the power to undo any sort of development that takes place at the cost of cutting trees. We need to mobilize and come together in order to prevent our leaders from deforestation. It was amazing to see how all green activists and residents of Mumbai came together to protest against the government's decision to cut down trees in the Aarey Forest. By mobilizing we got the government to listen to us and hold off that decision.

9. Stop investing in polluting companies.

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One of the best decisions you will ever make is by putting a ban on any company that is contributing to this climate catastrophe.

10. Ask for an e-billing option.

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Whether its your bank statements or any kind of bills - phone, electricity or maintenance - start requesting for bills to be sent to you via email and NOT paper bills. It's obvious, you will be saving paper and thereby saving millions of trees from getting cut.

11. Plant more trees.

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This has been said time and again but we can't stop restating this. In order to effectively fight climate change and reduce the adversity of fluctuating weather patterns, we NEED to plant trees. Organise plantation drives and get people around you involved in planting more trees. Take care of your home plants. It's these little steps that will have a huge impact.