Do you feel that you need to do something about the climate crisis unfolding around us? I believe that taking action is the antidote to climate anxiety. And individuals can make a difference. Rosa Parks, Martin Luthor King Jnr and Emmeline Pankhurst all started with no idea of what they were going to achieve. We don’t know what we can do until we try.
Here are 5 ways you can start changing the world for the better today.
1. Educate yourself
Learn about climate change and biodiversity loss from trustworthy media. Don’t be distracted by clickbait headlines about celebrities, or confected outrage on social issues.
The Guardian, The Conversation, and Michael West media produce quality independent reporting in Australia and are free (although you are encouraged to donate, and I do). Get your news from journalists who don’t have to keep billionaires like Rupert Murdoch or Kerry Stokes happy.
2. Be the change you want to see
The most impactful things most people can do are to fly and drive less, and to eat less meat.
You already know to reduce, reuse and recycle, but how about repurpose and refuse? Start small and build up.
3. Figure out what you specifically can do
Who are you? A student, a parent, a retiree? Do you teach? Which organisations are you part of, and how could you influence them in the direction of sustainability?
As a medical doctor I found my role to be in communicating the overwhelming health benefits of climate action, as well as the health dangers of fossil fuels. What’s your personal superpower?
Fiddling around with exchange rates all the time is not worth it!
4. Join an organisation trying to create change
Join the people already pushing for change. This can be at national level e.g. the Climate Council, Friends of the Earth; or more local e.g. the Conservation Council of WA, Frack Free WA.
5. Communicate
You have a circle of influence… family, friends, colleagues, acquaintances, social media contacts. When you start to make a commotion, the ripples expand throughout our circles. You don’t know who you will touch, how it will make a difference to that person, and what they will then do. Humans are social creatures, and I’ve found storytelling and active listening to be much more powerful than simply communicating facts.
What can you do the all make a difference? Share them with us below!