Ten Good Things We Can Do for a More Sustainable 2025

By Jose Luis Gallego, environmental communicator (@ecogallego)

We are nearing the end of a year in which we crossed the threshold of 1.5 degrees Celsius of warming. This year we also witnessed the grave consequences of the climate emergency up close.  In memory of the victims of the devastating DANA storm in Valencia, and in solidarity with all of the people affected by increasingly extreme weather events – their severity multiplied by global warming – let’s take a moment to consider how we can change our habits to help the environment and combat climate change in 2025. 

This brief list only includes a handful of actions – small things we can do as individuals and in our own homes – to personally and collectively contribute to climate action and mitigate the acceleration of a phenomenon that represents the greatest threat that we are facing as a society and species. Putting them into practice is up to us.

USING ENERGY MORE EFFICIENTLY

Saving energy isn’t about not consuming it but doing so in a more reasonable and sustainable manner. No one is saying we should live in the dark, freeze inside our homes or stop using technology. It is about using energy more efficiently – in other words, making a better use of it, saving energy wherever we can, and taking care not to waste it.

Wind turbines generating clean energy in an open field

BETTER WAYS OF GETTING AROUND

The way we get around can do a lot to help the planet. Plus, what is good for the planet is usually also good for our health. Whenever possible, walk from point A to point B, or take a bike or an electric scooter (riding responsibly, of course!). See what public transport options are available in your area. Suggest taking the train the next time you and your family are contemplating a short getaway and avoid flying whenever there is an alternative. 

TIME TO GO ELECTRIC

If you do need to drive, consider switching to an electric car. They are increasingly affordable, subsidies and tax incentives are still available, their battery life is improving all the time, and the network of charging stations is expanding steadily. All of these advances make this a great time to switch to an electric car, the most sensible option from an ecological and financial standpoint. 

REDUCE AND RECYCLE WASTE 

The best kind of waste is waste that never exists in the first place. This is the principle that should guide our relationship to garbage. Pick the product with the least amount of packaging and bring your own reusable shopping bag. Separate your waste material and make sure to deposit it in the right containers. By doing this, we contribute to the process of turning waste into resources, thereby promoting a circular economy. 

Various recycling bins for managing household waste

PICK CLOTHING THAT FITS…AND LASTS

The low-cost mass production of the clothes we wear is driving up textile waste, which already comprises 7% of our household waste. Check out the provenance of the fabrics and the conditions under which the clothes were made. Let’s join forces in making fashion more sustainable and call on the industry to treat the planet and people with respect.  

SAVE WATER NOW TO NOT RUN OUT LATER

Climate change is threatening safe and reliable access to drinking water around the planet, even in the big cities of the most economically developed countries. This is why we, as citizens, need to do our part and make sure we are using water responsibly.  It comes down to the many small things we can do to save water – things that all of us know so well by now. 

REPAIRING RATHER THAN DISCARDING

Buying a new item is usually not the cheaper way to go. Don’t let them fool you: since this year, the European Union obliges all manufacturers of electrical and electronic devices to provide a three-year warranty. Demand that your rights be respected and ask the company to repair the broken device, and this includes your mobile phone. Repair shops are becoming increasingly common, and they are required to provide swift service.  

A repair shop

BUY LOCALLY, BUY SUSTAINABLY

Bananas from Costa Rica, kiwis from New Zealand, dried fruit and nuts from California…have you considered the environmental cost of transporting goods from one side of the planet all the way to your local fruit and veg shop or supermarket? Opt for local products whenever you can and shop at your local stores. Shopping sustainably benefits us all.

A reusable shopping bag

NATURE IS NOT A GARBAGE DUMP

Littering is a blot on society regardless of where it happens – but when we dump our garbage in nature is also becomes a serious environmental problem.  It makes no difference if it is an urban green area, the forest on the outskirts of a village, the beach or a mountain peak: these are not garbage bins. The rubbish doesn’t find its way back alone. Take it with you, recycle it, and help prevent turning our natural spaces into garbage dumps.  

SPREAD THE WORD

Tell others about what you do in your daily life to help the environment and combat climate change. Explain why and encourage them to join the growing ranks of people defending the planet. 

Hands caring for and protecting a plant

Share these actions with people you know. We need all hands on deck, and we need them now.