On Monday, the UK Environment Agency released its official "to-do list", a compilation of the 50 most important actions to take right now to combat the effects of climate change.

The Agency asked a series of experts (from authors and policy-makers to religious leaders) to rank in order of importance the 50 most pressing matters that we need to address both as individuals and with the help of the government. We have often heard about things that could be done to "save" the environment, what is different in this case, is the fact that the experts decided to rank 50 of the most common (and not so common) actions in order of their importance and efficacy.

This is a little exerpt from an article from the Guardian, a UK newspaper:
"Many of the suggestions are now so well aired that most of us are probably growing a little weary of hearing them: putting on a jumper instead of turning up the heating (ranked a lowly 49 out of 50 on the list); cycling more (31); and growing your own vegetables (23). But the list offers a few surprises too. For example, for a government agency to publish a list that ranks "buying less" in the top 10 appears quite a bold statement, given that we are constantly told that avid consumption improves our lives and fuels the economy.

"My hope is that we come to see consumption as slightly naff, something you do only when you have to," says Chris Goodall, author of How to Live a Low-Carbon Life, and one of the expert panellists."

To read more, click here: http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2007/nov/01/ethicalliving.g2

To read more about the complete top-50 list, click here:
http://image.guardian.co.uk/sys-files/Environment/documents/2007/10/31/50top.pdf

Here are some examples:
Dramatically improve the energy efficiency of electrical goods
Encourage the widespread use of solar power throughout the world
Secure a meaningful post-Kyoto treaty on reducing the emissions that contribute to global warming
Tackle the rapid growth in aviation emissions
Wean ourselves off dependency on petroleum

I will read through the document more carefully and come up with a list of things I am already doing and things I could work in the short-term future. For now, I commit to walking over taking the car!

Are there things on this list that you are already doing? Do you think the panel missed some important points?