"Nothing I can do will make a difference to climate change."
It's a comment we've all heard from someone, sometime. Maybe it's how you feel, too. After all, the endless doom-and-gloom news reports and lack of action from those in charge can leave you feeling pretty powerless. Even if you do want to act, it's not always easy to find reliable information. And then there's the noise and confusion caused by misinformation and fake news...
No wonder so many people struggle to understand what they can do to make a difference.
While most people agree that climate change is a critical issue, the challenge often lies in turning the desire for change into concrete actions. You see, the reasons for inaction aren't always down to apathy or ignorance; they can also stem from uncertainty about what steps to take or skepticism about whether our individual efforts will actually make a difference.
Perhaps you’ve already switched to paper straws, avoided single-use shopping bags, or made other small adjustments, only to feel like you're shouting into the wind and nobody's listening. Maybe you've wondered if you should take the next step and stop flying, or cut out eating meat. But how can you know what will make the most difference?
Fortunately, the I-CHANGE project has the answer.
The Shifting Behaviour Cookbook: A recipe for change
The I-CHANGE Shifting Behaviour Cookbook isn't your conventional recipe book. Instead, it's a unique collection of 'recipes' designed to inspire meaningful climate action.
The I-CHANGE team has carefully evaluated different ideas for tackling climate change at the individual level and selected 25 of the most impactful, innovative and practical ways individuals, businesses and organisations can make more sustainable choices and reduce their environmental impact.
Each ‘recipe’ provides detailed instructions, including the necessary ingredients (resources), preparation steps (how to implement the action), expected outcomes (positive environmental benefits), and variations (alternative approaches for those who face challenges or constraints).
From cutting down on food waste and adopting energy-efficient habits to rethinking consumption patterns and raising awareness, every section of the cookbook offers straightforward guidance that is both accessible and actionable. The goal is to empower people with realistic steps they can integrate into their daily routines while making a meaningful contribution to a sustainable future.
Many people around me, including my parents, understand how urgent climate action is. But after making a few initial changes, their efforts often stall because they’re unsure what else they can do. Sometimes they don’t know exactly how to proceed or aren’t clear about the societal benefits of their actions, which makes it harder for them to stay motivated—especially since changing habits is never easy.
The ultimate goal of I-CHANGE is to demonstrate that individual behavioral changes are possible and that these changes do have an impact on one’s environmental footprint. This cookbook complements the citizen science activities developed by the project by connecting them with other initiatives and showing people that there’s still plenty they can do.
Juan Esteban Quintero, Cookbook contributor
While most of the recipes are geared toward adults, the cookbook is designed for use by individuals as well as schools, workplaces, and community groups seeking practical ways to drive environmental change.
To download your free copy of the Cookbook, visit the website.
About I-CHANGE
I-CHANGE - Individual Change of HAbits Needed for Green European transition - is a European Horizon 2020 project which runs for 3.5 years (Start date: 1 November 2021). The project aims to face the challenge of engaging and promoting the active participation of citizens for addressing climate change, sustainable development and environmental protection in the framework of the European Green Deal, the European Climate Pact and the European Biodiversity Strategy for 2030. The activities of I-CHANGE are strongly rooted in real society through interaction, co-development and cooperation with eight interactive Living Labs across Europe (Amsterdam, Barcelona, Bologna, Dublin, Genoa, and Hasselt), Israel and Burkina Faso. This project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under grant agreement No 101037193.
To learn more about I-CHANGE, visit the website or follow the project on social media at LinkedIn, X and YouTube.
Disclaimer
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