Earth Matters: 15 Individual Actions to Address Climate Change

19 Jul Earth Matters: 15 Individual Actions to Address Climate Change

The 21st century adage, “Think Globally, Act Locally,” continues to ring a bell of truth as humanity sails into the future. Increasingly, local communities that have rightfully become inpatient with our country’s polarized political gridlock and corporate greed are seeking out solutions to address critical global issues like water scarcity, food security, environmental degradation, disease outbreaks, and a multitude of other devastating impacts caused by human-induced climate change.

Although the magnitude of present and future climate change impacts has inhibited many individuals from taking action, leaving them frozen like deer in the headlights of an oncoming car, the pathway to a sustainable future is obtainable and your individual efforts will make a difference.

The following list provides 15 simple, cost saving, co-beneficial individual actions to address climate change at a local level that are rewarding and will have a positive global effect.

Reduce, reuse, recycle    

Less is more. Avoid buying items that cannot be reused or recycled. Make an effort to consume less.

Leave your car at home

Walk, bike, car pool, or use mass transportation. Not only will that reduce greenhouse gas emissions, it will also give you a “warm glow” feeling.

Support “green” businesses

Make the effort to support business that use environmentally friendly practices and have invested in technologies that reduce energy use. Your purchasing power counts.

Conserve water

Waste water treatment plants are energy intensive so reduce water use. Also avoid buying bottled water, especially in plastic bottles, because it takes 300% more energy to produce a unit of bottled water compared to the same amount of tap water.

Support local farmers

Buying from local farmers reduces the carbon footprint of food production, supports the local economy, and builds community.

Buy local products

Buying locally made products reduces the distance products are transported, and in turn their carbon footprint. That also creates new job opportunities and builds community.

Don’t waste food  

Americans throw 40% of their food into the garbage. Food production is energy intensive and commonly relies on the combustion of fossil fuels, which creates greenhouse gases that cause global warming. Reducing food waste also helps with global food security. Last year, 2 million children died of malnutrition.

Speak up

Tell local, state, and federal politicians you support climate change planning and demand they take action.

Share information

Talk to your friends and share information on the Internet.

Lower the heat and turn off the lights   

President Jimmy Carter had it right. Put on an extra layer instead of  turning up the heat. If you leave a room, turn off the light. Avoid leaving your outdoor lights on overnight. Besides saving money and lowering your carbon footprint, you will reduce light pollution and see more stars.

Get involved

Join a climate change advocacy organization, attend events, and meet new friends.

Pick up trash

Trash degrades our environment. Give a hoot and don’t pollute. Better yet, pick up at least one piece of trash that is not yours every day.

Vote for politicians who support climate change initiatives  

Your vote does count. Vote for politicians who don’t want to give subsidies to the fossil fuel industries and who support renewable energy development.

Divest from fossil fuel companies

Check your personal investments and request that your local schools and government divest from fossil fuel companies.

Plant a tree

Trees absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, which helps reduce global warming.