Skip to main content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

What Can I Do?

Effective beginning 5/20/2025

This website, and all linked websites under the control of the agency is under review and content may change.

Check out these tips for reducing the effects of climate change:

"Two people digging with a shovel"
Forest Service partnered with the non-profit Chattooga Conservancy to restore giant cane (Arundinaria gigantean) along the Chattooga Wild and Scenic River in South Carolina.

  • Plant trees: As trees grow, they take up carbon from the atmosphere. Strategically placed trees help cut energy costs in your home. They provide cooling shade in summer and block cold winter winds.

  • Use alternative energy: By reducing the use of fossil fuels, fewer greenhouse gasses are released into the atmosphere.

  • Recycle: Recycling reduces waste and decreases the consumption of resources.

  • Eat local: By getting your produce from a local grower or farmers market, you reduce the distances driven by carbon dioxide-emitting trucks.

  • Think water: Join a local stream cleanup or water monitoring project to improve and maintain the quality of our watersheds.

  • Support conservation education: Education is one of the strongest tools for combating climate change. Having knowledge of our effects on the environment better equips us to fight back.

  • Adjust the thermostat: Raising the temperature in your home by two degrees in the summer and lowering it by two degrees in winter can help cut down on energy consumption in your home.

  • Take other small steps: Switch off the light when you leave the room. Turn off the water faucet while you brush your teeth. Don’t run the dishwasher or washing machine unless you have a full load. Don’t leave your car running.