Governmental action is necessary, but individuals can make a difference through choices about consumption. 

Some of the choices are about efficiency of direct energy use -- in heating, light and transportation.  Choices about types of food consumption are also significant.  Finally, of course, there are a host of difficult personal choices about the scale of living -- the size of one's house, the distance one travels for vacation, etc.  Larger lifestyles often entail larger carbon consumption.

All together consumers control roughly 40% of greenhouse gas emissions through choices about efficiency in heat, electricity and transportation consumption and another 10% or more through choices about diet -- see Can we reduce our carbon footprint through food choices?.

The following pages collect information about efficiency and food choices.