If I have $50k I am willing to spend with this goal, what should I do? Should I replace my Subaru with an electric car, buy solar panels, buy another 5 acres and plant trees, replace home appliances, ...?
The problem is so large now, only centrally-organized action that reorganizes a substantial fraction of the world economy will make a dent.
Donate it to a 501(c)(3) lobbying organization devoted to environment causes. Donate to political candidates that pledge to do impose a carbon tax.
"turn off the faucet when brushing your teeth" --> Sure, I'll do that, it's easy.
"Use a paper straw" --> sure, why not.
"Stop flying on planes at all, ever again" --> um, maybe not..
"Stop eating beef. You can eat crickets." --> Nope!
It's not that hard. It doesn't have to be absolute: eat beef 2 meals a week rather than 8-10 and you're saving a lot of CO2.
It's not just that people don't sacrifice real value. They often don't want to make even the smallest choices. They just look past the vegetarian options each and every single time they sit down at a restaurant.
Presenting it as "veganism and crickets or no alternative" is just a way of deflecting. (Besides, vegans don't eat crickets.)
Assuming everything is as dire as they say, doing the "small" things simply isn't enough. And it will take a lot of people doing a lot of large things. Everyone wants the government to force people to do the things that they aren't willing to do themselves.
Yesterday my wife said "I wish I wanted to eat cicadas, but I don't."
I hate sea bugs, I mean, lobster and prawns, but I know loads of people that love them because they grew up eating them.
Fortunately, tech people are moving to Texas and Florida and other places where their vote and donations will matter.
I will probably go back to working in the office, but I commute with a professor/lab scientist who can't reasonably work from home, so me going into the office adds a total of 120mi of car trips per year.
Wind turbines, solar panel factories, grid operations, etc.. all need lots of software -- you could be the one to write it.
Of course, it means giving up a comfortable career in tech.. :/