There are three spheres of influence everyone has in doing something about climate change: as an individual, as part of your community, and as a citizen.
As an individual
- Drive less by combining trips, taking public transportation, and riding your bicycle
- Get a vehicle that uses less fuel or, ideally, an electric vehicle (EV)
- Take fewer airplane trips
- Buy carbon offsets for the remainder of your carbon footprint
- make sure your home is energy efficient (good insulation, Energy Star Rated windows, ducts and pipes wrapped)
- install solar panels or join a community solar program, if that isn’t feasible
- eat less (or no) meat and buy food that is locally grown in soils without chemicals
As part of your community
- Bring up the importance of climate change in your conversations with neighbors (schools, book clubs, over the fence chatting about the weather, etc.
- Make your personal actions to reduce your carbon footprint visible (rooftop solar panels and an EV in the driveway are great)
- Promote community organizations and activities that support climate action
As a citizen
- vote and support candidates who support climate action
- support legislative bills and government policies that lead to a renewable energy society
- write letters to the editor about climate action (e.g., the need for carbon pricing)
- comment on EISs about and demonstrate against fossil fuel infrastructure projects (coal, oil, natural gas ports)
- write letters to your state and national legislative representatives telling them you support climate action
- go to representatives’ town halls and tell them you support climate action
- Join organizations that are promoting climate action (like Citizens Climate Lobby to promote a national carbon fee and dividend)
Additional resources from ECAM’s April 19 Earth Day 2020 online workshop.