As we crawl out of bed to face the first day of another year, we have an opportunity to decide what we are going to do about our Co2 emissions over the next 365 days. A reasonable ambition would be to work out how we can produce less in 2014 than we did in 2013.

A helpful first step might be the size of our current footprint, and that’s a bit more than just light bulbs, the thermostat, equipment on standby, and insulation in the loft, though they are not insignificant. There are some useful carbon calculators on line, such as the WWF one. It seems the average UK resident produces about 15 tonnes of Co2 a year, and at that level of consumption the world population would need three planets to support it. I was shocked to find I still produce more than ten tonnes of Co2 despite my efforts, even though I don’t have a car, and won’t fly. If we were all like me we would still need more than two planets to meet our needs, so it seems that the challenge will be rather demanding, and is likely beyond us as individuals.

We may not be able to do much about the house we live in, particularly if it has solid rather than cavity walls, nor about our heating system, though we could always turn the thermostat down a notch. It’s the same with getting to work, particularly if the public transport is patchy, but we could car-share, and try to ensure that the children walk to school. If we do drive, then we should do so economically, and aim to cut out one journey a week. An annual mileage reduced by 1,000 means less Co2, and more money.

However the real opportunities come with decisions about our personal behaviour, and the first is to insist that most of our household waste goes into the recycling bin which is then placed at the kerbside, every fortnight, without fail.

Where possible we could shop locally, buy local produce, and make our clothes last longer. A move towards a more vegetarian diet, with a reduction in red meat, means much less Co2, and could be healthier.

We could go on holiday by train, and not by air, and perhaps we should consider the size of our family. Two children are enough, and additional ones are available ready made.

The rest, though, is up to the politicians who will determine whether our energy supply is carbon-free or not. Individuals can’t decide on nuclear power and wind farms – politicians can.

We should nag them to get on with it, as we are already doing our bit.