Ask HN: What can one do for climate change that is bigger than just local
I'm trying my best every day on improving my lifestyle in order to reduce my carbon footprint - going by foot/bike, recycling, reducing the amount of plastic, etc.
But this feels local. I feel like it has a minimal impact and it's clearly not enough compared to the global crisis.
One would say that I could "lead by example" and hope that more and more people will follow up. I agree with that, but it's not enough.
What I'm trying to do is find a way to drastically change things. Something that will have a resonating impact - at least on my area. Bigger the better.
And I'm stuck here.
I could go into politics, but discussing with my "conservative" (to say the least) father made me realize that I will have to fight against opposition about any ecological suggestion I might have.
I could build a website to interest people about the matter, but I think "ecological influencers" are doing a better job that I ever will.
I'd love to go into chemistry, and find an efficient way to absorb CO2 in the atmosphere - that would definitely have the biggest impact - but I don't have the knowledge to do so, and going deep in this road might lead to nothing in the end (there is no guarantee to find a solution).
I could educate my children about it - which is what I'm already doing - but it's a job that will take years, with a "return of investment" in two decades, where it might be too late.
So here I am, thinking about what I could do that is bigger than just me and my surroundings, and I fail to find a solution.
I know there are some brilliant minds on HN, and I'm hoping this will bring enough suggestions to feed more than me on that quest.
Thoughts?