Originally published January 28, 2013. Updated November 13, 2023.
Business as usual is wreaking havoc on the Earth and causing a disruption in weather patterns. I know–you’re thinking, What can I do? I’m just one person. I can’t make a difference. And even if I did do something, there’s still China, India, all those other people, etc., etc. etc.
NOT TRUE! It comes right down to each one of us and the choices we make in our daily lives. It also comes down to joining with others to make a difference. Remember that Margaret Mead quote?
Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.
The latest UN report on climate is devastating. Climate crisis is transforming the world more quickly than scientists had thought. This summer was the hottest on record–we actually were at 1.5 degrees Celcius for a few months. The global average temperature for November 2022 to October 2023 was 1.32 degrees Celsius. The world is on track to race past 1.5 degrees Celsius in the early 2030s. That means we only have approximately 6 years to stop climate crisis from becoming uncontrollable.
As you can see, we are short on time to make a difference, so we all need to take immediate and sustained action. Every action counts! There are plenty of groups working to mitigate climate crisis. Pick one that appeals to you. Join or start one in your neighborhood.
We are getting close to the physical limits of what people can endure. Stopping climate disruption NOW is essential for our survival. Think about what we are already experiencing–severe weather, floods, droughts, wildfires, heat waves, sea level rise, crop failures, poverty, climate refugees, biodiversity and species loss. Imagine what the future holds if we don’t take action immediately.
Personal lifestyle changes are now an absolute necessity to mitigate climate disruption. How could you be more environmentally conscious in the way you live, work, create and consume? Think about it. I know it’s hard to take those first few tentative steps, but when you do, it’ll be like a snowball rolling downhill.
Here are some suggestions to get you started.
Travel
- Take the no fly pledge
- Purchase or lease a hybrid or electric car NOW.
- Drive less
- Carpool
- Combine shopping trips in one trip.
- Walk or bike instead of driving whenever possible.
Home
- Switch from oil heat and an air conditioning unit to a heat pump or geothermal heating and cooling.
- Keep your thermostat at 68 in winter and 78 in summer
- Replace old windows with energy efficient windows
- Insulate walls, attic and basement
- Install an energy efficient roof
- Use the dryer for 10 minutes to soften clothes—finish drying on a rack.
- Even better, hang clothes outside to dry
- Switch to LED light bulbs indoors and yellow LEDs outdoors.
- Use energy efficient appliances
- Install solar panels on your roof or in your yard.
- Switch to a solar or wind electric company if your house is not suitable for solar panels.
- Use only non-toxic cleaning products.
- Use less plastic
Garden
- Plant native plants and trees. They are essential for healthy ecosystems.
- Remove invasive plants
- Reduce the size of your lawn
- Use hand tools or electric-powered tools instead of gas-powered tools.
- Compost all appropriate materials from your kitchen.
- Use finished compost for your veggie garden.
- Protect our pollinators and other essential insects by not using pesticides of any kind.
- Leave the leaves instead of cleaning them up. Some pollinators and other insects hibernate in leaf litter.
- Write or call your legislators and urge them to pass a Rights of Nature law.
Food
- Reduce food waste
- Grow as many veggies as you can
- Buy most of your food from a farmer
- Shop at a Farmers Market
- Join a CSA
- Forgo processed food (it’s bad for you anyway)
- Cook meals from scratch
- Have potlucks with friends instead of going to a restaurant.
Water
- Use 0.5 gpm faucet aerators and 1.5 gpm showerheads.
- Use a travel mug instead of buying bottled water.
- Do the wash in cold water.
- Stop watering your lawn.
- Better yet, replace your lawn with a veggie garden or native plants.
- Mulch your garden with shredded leaves so you don’t have to water.
- Install a dual flush toilet
Miscellaneous
- Send text messages instead of email–it uses less energy
- Shop thrift stores and consignment shops instead of buying new
- Even better, shop at the Media FreeStore
- Buy only what you absolutely need
- Live and shop local
- Join a Timebank
- Avoid malls and fast fashion
- Don’t replace anything until it’s totally worn out and not fixable
- Reduce, reuse, recycle, repurpose, and repair
- Swap items you no longer want with your friends and neighbors
- Use cloth bags instead of plastic bags
- Use cloth napkins and cloth handkerchiefs instead of paper and kleenex
- Go to the library instead of buying books
- Use recycled printer paper
- Opt out of all junk mail, catalogs and magazines
- Find a hairdresser within walking distance of your house
- Think about EVERYTHING you do—how will it affect the Earth?
- Write/ and or call your legislators. Keep on writing and calling until they listen and take appropriate action.
Christmas
- Use less Christmas lights and make them LEDS
- Give food or herbs from your garden as gifts
- Give handmade gifts
- Use cloth instead of wrapping paper.
- Decorate with greens and pine cones collected from Mother Nature
- Send ecards instead of paper Christmas cards
- Give tickets to concerts, plays, movies, sporting events
- Make a donation to your friend’s favorite charity
- Keep it simple
I wouldn’t suggest you make changes that I haven’t made myself, so I can tell you from experience that all of the above is completely doable. And if you have any other ideas, let me know! Leave a comment. I’m all ears.
Need support to get rolling? Go to transitiontownmedia.org and UN’s advice on actions. Read Circle of Simplicity by Cecile Andrews and The Climate Action Handbook by Heidi A. Roop, PhD. Check out our Transition Town Greater Media blogs. Follow our Protecting Biodiversity FaceBook page. Find out what kind of help Cool Block offers for neighborhoods. Go to NW Earth Institute web site. Explore Shift. Let’s go, team. We can do this!
Originally published January 28, 2013. Updated February 16, 2024.