Ask HN: What can one do for climate change that is bigger than just local

Hi,

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?