We don’t need to lecture you about the sad reality of climate change. If you’ve joined us on one of our trips up here in the Arctic, you’ve probably experienced some of the super warm temperatures we had this winter. You might’ve seen the weather fluctuate wildly from -36°C to +5°C. You already know what’s happening. So, let’s skip the convincing and get straight to what we can do about it.

With the help of our amazing guide, Jen Stretton, we want to share how you can actually make a difference in the fight against climate change.

Jen, when she’s not guiding you through Lapland, runs a charity called Mieux Donner which provides evidence-backed charity recommendations to help people make meaningful contributions to the most effective causes. Thanks to Jen, Sidetracked Adventures is now proud to be a member of One Percent for the Planet. This means we commit to donating 1% of our total annual revenue to support the incredible work being done by the Clean Air Task Force to combat climate change.

As a small business, we’ve always believed in giving back. But like many of you, we’ve often struggled with how to make the biggest impact. That’s where Jen and Mieux Donner have really helped us focus our efforts—and we want to share what we’ve learned with you.

So what actually makes a difference?

There are lots of ways you can have a positive impact, and we believe combining all of these actions will make a huge difference:

1) Make Lifestyle Choices That Influence the Market

The choices we make every day—what we buy, what we eat, and how we travel—can push industries toward more sustainable practices. When you choose eco-friendly products, support companies with strong environmental ethics, or opt for plant-based meals, you're signaling demand for greener alternatives. The more people make these choices, the more businesses will respond, leading to larger shifts in the market. Think about shopping second-hand, reducing waste, or choosing brands that are committed to sustainability. Your money talks, and the market listens!

2) Political Action

While individual actions matter, systemic change is crucial to tackling climate change on a large scale. Voting for leaders who prioritise climate policies, supporting climate-focused legislation, and pushing for stronger environmental regulations can have a much larger, long-term impact. Get involved by contacting your representatives, participating in local or global climate movements, and spreading awareness about key climate issues in your community. Political pressure helps ensure that the right policies are in place to support sustainable growth and reduce emissions.

3) Leverage Your Influence

No matter who you are, you have influence—whether it’s among friends, family, or online communities. Use your voice to educate, inspire, and encourage others to get involved in climate action. If you are the first of your friend group/family to go plant-based and you influence others to cut down meat or to join you, this can have a massive effect. You have a bigger impact if you are the ‘first mover’ or an early adopter. If you decide to get an electric car and talk about it, the ripple effect of your influence can lead to a much bigger collective action.

4) Donate to the Most Effective Climate Charities

If you're looking for a direct way to make a significant impact, consider donating to high-impact climate organisations. Not all charities are created equal—some have proven to be much more effective in tackling climate change. Giving Green is an amazing charity who work out which charities are making the most impact, and compiles a list of who to donate to, For example, we’ve chosen to support the Clean Air Task Force, one of the most impactful climate organisations out there, focusing on transforming the global energy system to prevent catastrophic climate change.

For example, a £50 donation to Clean Air Task Force would equate to:

600 tonnes of emissions
Planting 7500 trees and letting them grow for a year
Avoiding 95 long haul flights
Equivalent of 60 people going car free
Avoiding 15 people’s total emissions (average of 10 tons per person)

So what are we doing about it?

When we explored the research on the incredible impact of donations, we realised we could do far more than just reduce our own carbon footprint—we could actively drive positive change for the climate. By supporting highly effective charities, we can help tackle the crisis at scale.

That’s why Sidetracked Adventures joined 1% for the Planet, committing 1% of our turnover to the Clean Air Task Force, one of the world’s most rigorously evaluated and impactful climate organisations.

You can be part of this movement too. Join us in making a real difference—donate today.

Donate Here*

*If you donate and let us know we will enter you into our prize draw for gift vouchers for our trips & expeditions or merchandise.

Climate change - We Know what the Problem Is, But What is the Solution? ❄️