Although it seems hard to believe, the actions we take and the things we buy in the UK can directly affect environments, people and species around the world. We are currently living beyond our means and if everyone in the world lived as we do in the UK we would need three planets to support us. This is a major problem as it leads to global issues such as deforestation, the melting of ice caps and flooding of low lying areas.

In June 2007, there will be a full public launch of WWF's new One Planet Living ® campaign which aims to help people everywhere lead happy, healthy lives within their fair share of the Earth's resources. Part of the campaign will look at ways in which we as individuals can make a real difference to limit our impact on the planet by making small changes in our everyday lives. Some of them may even save you money!

Read on to find out how you can move towards one planet living or use the links on the right for more ideas on how you can make a difference as an individual.

Save energy - reduce your carbon dioxide emissions

• Switch off all lights and electrical appliances when not in use - your TV left on standby can still use a quarter of full power.
• Choose energy-efficient appliances and light bulbs.
• Turn down your thermostat by just 1°C and save one tenth of your home heating bill.

• Recycle as much as you can - if there are no recycling facilities near you, contact your local council.
• Don't buy products with excessive amounts of packaging and, where possible, choose products with re-useable containers.
• Take your own bag or re-use plastic carriers when shopping

• Reduce your CO₂ emissions by using public transport, cycling or walking.
• Don't travel by air if you can avoid it - air travel uses large amounts of fossil fuels and creates greenhouse gases. If you do travel by air, make a donation to My Climate based on the length of your flight. This organisation supports the development of renewable and clean energy projects that reduce carbon dioxide emissions.
• Start a car sharing scheme at work or with your friends. This can also save you money!

• Buy recycled or recyclable products such as toilet tissue and stationery.
• Look for the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) logo when buying wood products - from paper to raw timber. This ensures the wood comes from a well-managed forest.
• Set your printer to print both sides, and recycle paper after use.
• Buy wines with cork stoppers - cork is a natural and biodegradeable material which comes from a renewable resource - the cork oak tree. Buying cork helps to conserve the cork oak forests.

• Choose locally produced food where possible or visit your local farmers market and when you're not buying locally sourced products, buy fairly traded products as much as possible.
• Buy fruit and vegetables that are in season to help reduce the enormous transport costs that result from importing produce.
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  When buying fish, look out for 'eco-labelling' such as the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) logo, eat a variety of non-endangered species and buy local fish if possible.

• Install a Hippo Water Saver in the cistern of your toilet. This can save between 2.5 and 3.5 litres of water each time you flush.
• Install a water-butt to collect rainwater for your garden. Water-butts can be bought at local garden centres.
• Don't leave the tap running while you clean your teeth, and take a shower instead of a bath.

• Encourage wildlife in your garden - put up nest boxes, build a pond and plant a wide range of native flowers and plants. Visit our Earthly Goods online store for unusual bird boxes made of wood from well-managed forests.
• Choose environmentally friendly cleaning products containing plant extracts that degrade quickly when washed down the drain - visit the WWF Shop website to see our range of these products.

• Take all rubbish home with you. At the seaside this is especially important as turtles are often killed by plastic bags they've mistaken for jellyfish and many items take years to degrade as well as being dangerous.
• Be careful what you choose to bring home as a holiday souvenir. Many species from coral and conch shells to elephants and alligators are endangered because they are killed for curios or souvenirs. There are more than 800 species that it is illegal to import into the UK, and over 25,000 more require a special licence.

• Health, happiness and saving the planet can go together very well. By improving the insulation in our homes, we feel warmer and cosier in the winter - we also feel a lot happier when the bills arrive in the spring!