To contribute towards preventing climate change, the first and foremost thing required is the WILL TO DO something about climate change in the first place. As of now, the WILL TO DO anything purposeful is just not there among countries. There are just so many differences in opinion about who has to do what. There's the divide between developing and developed nations as to whose responsibility is greater towards cutting emissions.

I think to start of with - we need to educate the common folks about the issue of climate change. A deeper understanding of the issue is required by the folks who drive gas-guzzling cars and SUV's. If each of us can resolve to cut down on our use of these polluting beasts - we've made a positive, albeit small start towards contributing towards a less-polluted tomorrow.

I would prefer that citizens start this movement as I've given up hope of the countries taking any positive initiative in the near term at least. All they do is debate about who pollutes more and who is responsible more - blah blah. There's nothing substantive that the politicians have done thus far for climate change themselves. I think it would be realistic to say that the politicians won't deliver; they are just so busy pandering to their lobbies. They have a prejudiced view of climate change.

I think we as citizens must take it upon ourselves to make a positive change. I think we can do the following things for a start to make an impact.

1. Cut down on our paper use/don't waste paper liberally. We'd protect more trees from getting cut down that way. Use recycled paper.

2. Cut down on air travel as much as we can. Airplanes are amongst the worst polluters compared to other means of travel like railroads or cars.

3. Cut down on automobile use as much as possible. Use a bicycle instead, if pratical, for short distances. Cycling is a healthy and pollution-free method of transportation.

4. Choose products that are environmental friendly whilst shopping. Look for environmental-friendly signs.

5. Recycle what you can. Reuse things instead of buying more plastics for example that can't be disposed off in an environmental-friendly way. Plastics don't break down and can be seen floating all around seas, rivers, etc. Hence, recycle.

6. Help and support renewable energy products by buying them.

7. Buy goods and products that have less or minimal packaging. Less packaging = less garbage to dispose off.

8. Grow fast-growing plants like bamboo that produce more oxygen provided they are suitable for your area. Grow other trees otherwise, but do plant more trees.

9. Use public transportation as and when feasible. That's one less polluting car on the road. You might think it would make no difference to the bigger picture - but it does and it is a start.

I think we have to be selfless as people and NOT selfish if we are to make a change towards climate change.