10 Simple Ways to Adapt a Climate-Friendly Lifestyle

Africa Climate

The Earth’s changing. So why aren't we? 

According to Al Jazeera, Africa faces a disproportionate burden from climate change compared to the global average. Multi-year droughts continue to devastate regions like Northwest Africa, while extreme floods are causing catastrophic losses.

Crops have failed in several countries, with 27 million people at risk of hunger according to the World Food Programme.

If Africa, responsible for only 4% of global carbon emissions (about 1.45 billion tonnes), is already bearing the heavy impacts of climate change, what actions can we take now to cope, to thrive, and to reclaim control over our future?

What is climate change?

Imagine the air we breathe as our Earth's skin. It happens to be extremely thin, measuring around 5-7 miles, and so fragile, like the skin of an apple, surrounding a massive ball. 

The skin insulates and regulates temperatures in a range that's just right for water and life, just as we know it. Inside the skin, all of life is nourished, protected, and held. 

For most of modern history, we’ve powered our lives — homes, factories, transport, everything — by burning fossil fuels like coal, oil, and gas.

These fuels release greenhouse gases (GHGs), such as carbon dioxide (CO₂) and methane, into the atmosphere, thickening this “skin” unnaturally and turning it from a protective shield into a suffocating layer that overheats the whole system. 

According to the  Paris Agreement (2015), temperatures beyond 1.5°C risk catastrophic impacts (droughts, floods, crop failures, water scarcity, health crises, and displacement), increasing sharply.

At the current rate of emissions (~40 gigatons of CO₂ per year), the IPCC (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change) predicts the remaining “carbon budget” to stay below 1.5°C will be used up in just a few years, by the early 2030s.

How do we solve climate change?

That’s where you come in.

Adaptation refers to the adjustments in lifestyles, agricultural practices, infrastructure, and planning systems that enable communities to endure and recover from climate-related shocks.

It’s not just about surviving the floods, the droughts, and the heatwaves — it’s about learning to live differently so we can still flourish, no matter what the climate throws at us.

Here are 10 powerful and practical ways to start being part of the solution — not the emissions.

1. Save energy at home

   
   

Much of our electricity and heat is powered by coal, oil, and gas. Use less energy by reducing your heating and cooling use, switching to LED light bulbs and energy-efficient electric appliances, washing your laundry with cold water, or hanging things to dry instead of using a dryer. Get more energy tips for your home here.

2. Change your home's energy source.

   
   

Consider switching to renewable sources such as wind or solar by installing solar panels on your roof to generate energy for your home. This can reduce your carbon footprint by up to 1.5 tons of CO2e per year. 

Learn more about why switching to renewable energy is key to tackling the climate crisis.

3. Walk or switch to electric transport.

   
   

Walking or riding a bike instead of driving will reduce greenhouse gas emissions -- and help your health and fitness. For longer distances, consider using electric transport. 

Switching from a gasoline or diesel-powered car to an electric vehicle can reduce your carbon footprint by up to 2 tons of CO2e per year.

Discover how eWAKA Mobility Limited is redefining transportation for businesses and gig workers in Africa. 

4. Reduce, reuse, repair, and recycle

   
   

Items we buy, like electronics, clothes, and plastics, cause carbon emissions at each point in production. From the extraction of raw materials to manufacturing and transporting goods to the market. To protect the climate, buy fewer things, shop second-hand, and repair what you can.  

5. Eat more vegetables

   
   

Producing plant-based foods generally results in fewer greenhouse gas emissions and requires less energy, land, and water. Shifting to a mixed or a vegetarian diet can reduce your carbon footprint by up to 500 kilograms of CO2e per year (or up to 900 kilograms for a vegan diet).

Learn more about the connections between food and climate change.

6. Throw away less food. 

   
   

When you throw food away, you're also wasting the resources and energy that were used to grow, produce, package, and transport it. And when food rots in a landfill, it produces methane, a potent greenhouse gas. 

So purchase only what you need, use what you buy, and compost any leftovers. Cutting your food waste can reduce your carbon footprint by up to 300 kilograms of CO2e per year.

7. Plant native species

   
   

Plants, animals, and insects depend on each other. Most insects will not eat non-native plants, which means they lose a food source. Biodiversity suffers. Even a single native tree or shrub planted can offer a refuge – remember to skip insecticides and other chemicals.

8. Clean up the environment.

   
   

Participate in local clean-ups of parks, rivers, beaches, and beyond. Every year, people throw out 2 billion tons of trash. About a third causes environmental harm, from contaminating water supplies to poisoning soil.

9. Make your money count. 

   
   

Everything we spend money on affects the planet. You have the power to choose which goods and services you support. To reduce your environmental impact, buy products from companies that use resources responsibly and are committed to reducing their carbon footprint and waste. 

If you have money that is being invested for you, through a pension fund, for instance, make sure your savings are invested in environmentally sustainable businesses, which can significantly reduce your carbon footprint.

10. Speak up and educate others.

    
    

Speak up and educate others to join in taking action. It's one of the quickest and most effective ways to make a difference. Talk to your neighbors, colleagues, friends, and family. 

Let business owners know you support bold changes – from plastics-free products and packaging to zero-emissions vehicles and appeal to local and world leaders to act now. 

Conclusion

From the floodplains of Kenya to the drought-prone highlands of Ethiopia, climate change is disrupting lives every single day.

Communities are feeling the effects in their water, harvests, and incomes.

During the Africa Climate Summit 2025, held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, from September 1-6, 2025, countries focused on accelerating the translation of climate decisions into tangible action, with a strong emphasis on implementation and practical solutions across climate finance, technology, and other sectors, and putting adaptation at the heart of development.

Projects from our Africa portfolio actively participated on site, showcasing tangible solutions in line with the Summit’s focus on implementation.

The Kenya – Small Vehicles E-Mobility project was featured alongside two other initiatives — Kenya Post-Solar Cooling and South Africa Steel — through events and partnerships with other organisations.

As climate pressures grow, we must all act now.

The question is — what will you do about it?