When it comes to saving the planet, we’re all beginners. But the fires, hurricanes, and derechos battering communities across the United States are sending a clear signal that it’s now or never if we’re going to step up and reverse course on climate change. Without the leadership we need on board, it’s going to take all hands on deck to steer markets and movements in the right direction. But the good news is that there are plenty of relatively simple, impactful ways that each of us as individuals can affect big change.
YOU REAP WHAT YOU EAT
If you’re going to make one adjustment, We Are the Weather author and climate change virtuoso, Jonathan Safran Foer, suggests you start with breakfast. If you’re an American, there’s a good chance you eat a lot of meat and a significant amount of cheese. Like, a vastly disproportionate amount in comparison to the rest of the world. Unfortunately, current methods of animal agriculture are a major source of greenhouse gases and a leading cause of deforestation. Thus, the more meat we eat, the warmer the planet.
Contrary to popular belief, it’s possible to survive on a plant-based diet and you don’t even have to go totally vegan to make a difference (unless you want to!). It’s not always easy to avoid animal products in a keto-friendly world, but going meatless a few days a week and skipping the cheese on your veggie burger are a start.
DON’T WASTE YOUR ENERGY
Powering your home through a public utility generally means burning loads of fossil fuels, but there are often fully and partially renewable options available, if you poke around on your provider’s site. For me, it just took a 3-step online process to upgrade to fully renewable offsets for my rental. It might mean paying slightly more to power your home in the short term, but renewable energy costs are falling and it’s an investment in a healthy planet over the long term.
If you’re interested in going the solar panel route, but are deterred by cost or the limitations of renting (I’m with you!), you can still harness the sun’s energy for home or office use. Options range from a small window charger for electronic devices to solar co-ops that distribute electricity to a community of subscribers. Either way, renewable options are more readily available than ever and set-up can be fairly painless.
TAKE A WALK
It‘s no secret that planes, trains, and automobiles top the list of everyday polluters. And the infrastructure of so many nations and cities are built to be driven, meaning that this one may take a little more effort than swapping out a beef patty for a veggie burger. Walking, biking, rollerblading, cartwheeling — any human-powered form of transportation is the obviously the cleanest way to get around, so it starts with embracing those possibilities when making local trips. If public transportation is available where you live, that’s a second runner-up. Big cities like New York and San Francisco are even transitioning to hybrid, electric, and biodiesel bus fleets. But when a car is the only option, you can try to consolidate activities, carpool when circumstances permit, and avoid idling, of course.
If you’re in the market for a new car, but aren’t sure about going electric, it might be more a viable option than you think. While not a perfect solution, the carbon footprint of an electric vehicle is much smaller, many charging stations draw from renewable sources, and you’ll feel good knowing that your car isn’t spewing harmful emissions everywhere you go. There are a number of increasingly affordable electric vehicles on the market, each with a decent driving range. Homeowners can have the necessary equipment for charging installed with relatively little hassle and, for renters who don’t have that option, charging stations are popping up everywhere. You can also get a little extra boost in a pinch with a portable charger and 110-volt outdoor outlet.
BID PLASTICS ADIEU
Plastic is ubiquitous and can seem impossible to avoid (thanks to oil tycoons who tricked us all into believing it could be recycled indefinitely). But the ramifications of current production methods contaminate the environment from conception to long after its disposal. If you want to give up your plastic addiction, start by investing in some reusable bags for your groceries and produce items (I was absurdly excited to find this super affordable cloth produce bag for only 99 cents). And even better if you shop your local farmer’s market where packaging is rare and you can fill up your own produce bags while buying fresh, local fruits and veggies. Stores like Sprout’s and Wegman’s also offer extensive bulk food options that allow you to stock up on goods like lentils, nuts, and dried fruit without all the packaging.
Household and beauty products can pose an even greater plastic conundrum, but refill services like common good, cleancult, and fillgood.co are on a mission to banish the crinkly stuff from your life forever. Some even deliver the refills right to your door. In my experience, upfront costs feel a little steep, but the products are long-lasting and the superior quality is worth the extra pennies.
GET THE MOST FROM YOUR COMPOST
This one can be messy and malodorous, yet surprisingly simple. All those uncooked, leftover food scraps aren’t just a benign heap of garbage. When buried in landfills, food scraps don’t just take up space. All that seemingly innocuous organic matter emits methane, ultimately contributing to global warming.
Composting is a fairly easy way to curb those emissions. For indoor composting, it’s as simple as finding a suitable compost bin and tossing any raw food scraps in the heap during clean-up (there’s even one that does all the work for you!). If you’re composting outdoors, you can throw in your yard scraps as well. Just select a dry, shady spot and add moisture as needed (you can find more details on the process here.)
Some cities collect compostable material along with recycling and garbage, which makes this effort a breeze. If not, don’t dismay — you still have options. That compost can be used in your potted plants, shared with neighbors, or donated to a local garden or farm. If you don’t find any takers and you have the budget, there are a growing number of private organizations that will pick up your compost for a reasonable fee.
PUT YOUR MONEY WHERE YOUR MOUTH IS
Many of us may not even be aware that the pennies we’ve scraped together and left to slowly appreciate in a stagnant bank account are also quietly lining the pockets of fossil fuel execs who benefit financially as they fuel climate change. If you keep your liquid assets in a bank like JP Morgan Chase or Wells Fargo, chances are they’re funding corporations that damage the planet. Fortunately, there’s a growing movement toward shifting money out of the fossil fuel industry.
Institutions like Aspiration offer “sustainable cash management services and investment products” that don’t fund fossil fuels and even donate 10% to charities selected by their customers. Additionally, organizations like Fossil Free California are an invaluable guide if you want to go even further and put pressure on policy makers to divest your tax dollars from environmentally hazardous projects.
THE END IS NEAR
Saving the planet is a hyperbolic prospect that can be paralyzing. But the cumulative impact of adopting just one of these changes can make a difference. While continuing to agitate for more climate-conscious leaders and legislation, let’s not forget to relish the power in our own hands. Even if it just means saying sayonara to those sausage links at breakfast.
