Climate change
How you can help
There is a lot you can do about climate change.
For more information on nine steps you can take to help with climate change, visit Imperial College London: 9 things you can do about climate change.
To help you understand your personal carbon footprint and how to reduce it, there are some free apps and websites you can use:
There are some social media accounts that provide information and advice:
- Hubbub (@hellohubbub)
- Love Food Hate Waste (@lfhw_uk)
- EarthRise Studio (@earthrise)
- Possible (@wearepossible)
Opportunities in South Tyneside
There are lots of opportunities in South Tyneside for you to support the local environment and lower your carbon footprint.
Switch off your engine
You should turn your car engine off when you're waiting for more than a few seconds, for example:
- when waiting outside a school / business / hospital, or other place where you're picking up or dropping someone off
- when waiting at a level crossing
Keeping your car engine running unnecessarily when you are stationary:
- pollutes the environment
- costs you money
- is illegal if you are on a public road
Eat for the planet
How you can eat for the planet:
- Waste less
- Eat more vegetables
- Eat seasonally
- Reduce packaging
- Think 'quality not quantity' with meat
Things in South Tyneside:
- Apply for an allotment
- Zero-waste refill shops
- Zilch Weigh House (South Shields)
- Community food forest
- Foraging with Williby Rocs
- Fighting food waste
- FoodCycle community meals (Newcastle, Gateshead, Durham)
- Olio food sharing app
- Lucie's Pantry social supermarket
- Sea Change cafe
For more information on eating for the planet, see:
Travel sustainably
What you can do to travel sustainably:
- Walk more
- Cycle more
- Take public transport
- Car share
- Go electric
- Drive less
- Fly less
Things in South Tyneside:
- Electric car charging points
- Information on cycling in South Tyneside
- Information on public transport
- Free guided walks - see Walking For Health: South Tyneside Walking Works Wonders
- Tyneside Outdoors youth bike sessions - see Tyneside Outdoors: Get involved
- Car sharing - see Liftshare
For more information on sustainable travel see BBC Future: How are daily travel harms the planet.
Protect our wildlife
What you can do to protect wildlife:
- Add greenery to your yard, garden, windowsills and balconies
- Go chemical free
- Volunteer in local parks
Things in South Tyneside:
- Love South Tyneside
- Build a community garden
- Take part in a litter pick
- Become a street champion
- Volunteer in our parks
- Parks
- Walks and wildlife sites
- Eco arts and crafts with Williby Rocs
For more information on enhancing your greenspaces, see:
RSPB: Green living
RSPB: Nature on your doorstep
RHS: Garden inspiration
National Trust: How to garden in small spaces
Waste less
What you can do to waste less:
- Reduce, reuse and recycle
- Buy less
- Choose second hand
- Mend and repair
- Share
- Avoid single-use items
- Regift
Things in South Tyneside:
- Recycling
- Home composting
- Groundworks recycling shop
- Facebook: Sunderland and South Shields Cloth Nappy Library
- Facebook: Plastic Free South Tyneside
- Facebook: The Party Exchange - South Tyneside - Share, sell and reuse party decorations
- Zero-waste refill shops
- TerraCycle recycling points
- The Medicine Packet Recycling Programme (East Boldon, South Shields)
- The Bread Bag Recycling Programme (South Tyneside District Hospital)
- The Crisp Packet Recycling Scheme (Marsden Road Health and Wellbeing Centre)
- Free Recycling Programmes
Save energy
What you can do to save energy:
- Waste less
- Be energy smart
- Insulate your home
- Choose a green energy tarrif
- Install renewable energy technology
For more information on how to be energy smart, see: