Ways to take action
Become a Climate Co-operator and tell us what you’re doing to take action by using the hashtag #ClimateCooperators.
These tips can help you take action, practice positive habits, help us find solutions to local issues and influence others to make a change.
Volunteer for a green project in your community
Many national, regional and local groups are committed to delivering green projects and initiatives. You can get involved in one near you. Help to restore peatlands, clean up rivers or do a litter pick up.
- Become a Green Volunteer and improve the local environment
- Become an In Bloom Volunteer and make gardening displays
- Organise a litter pick
Join an environmental group or support a campaign
Fancy yourself as a Greta Thunberg? Become an environmental activist by getting involved with a local environmental group or start your own campaign if you feel passionate about an issue.
There are still lots of people who don’t understand or believe the planet is in crisis. Raising awareness and rallying support will help.
Practice positive habits and encourage others to do the same
Practice positive habits and they'll become second nature. Talk about climate change with your family and friends, tell others what you’re doing and share your tips with them so they can do the same.
- If you're a teacher, you can download a voice play for Year 7 classes
- Book a free interactive and fun recycling sessions for Year 5 primary schools
- Climate change and sustainability resources for schools
Burn better
There is evidence that shows wood burning harms your wallet, your health and the planet. The particles produced from burning wood can damage our lungs and can then move into our blood to reach organs such as our heart and brain. It is also almost always more expensive to burn wood than other forms of heating.
Burning wood also increases air pollution which is bad for nature and is impacting on and contributing to the loss of wildlife. Scientific evidence clearly shows the negative effects of air pollution on plants, trees, fungi, mosses and lichens, with knock-on effects for wildlife and whole ecosystems.
If you have an alternative source of heating, avoid using your open fire or wood burner. If wood burning is the only option for heating your home burn better by only burning dry, “Ready to Burn” certified fuel in a modern Eco-design and Defra-exempted stove.
- Find a "Ready to Burn" fuel supplier
- Greater Manchester advice on burning better, including affordable and green ways to keep your home warm
- Information on smoke control areas, including what fuels you can burn and the Ready to Burn law
- More on bonfires, air pollution and smoke problems
Measure your carbon footprint and aim to reduce it
You can find out how big your environmental footprint is by using an online calculator.
Answer various questions about your lifestyle and habits to find out which of your activities are creating the most carbon emissions then decide what action you’re going to take to reduce them.
Watch our Climate Conversations video on taking action
In this video from 2022, Councillor Tricia Ayrton visits the Green Volunteers at Cooper Fold in Middleton to see how they're taking action against climate change.