Climate Synthesis

Take Action on Climate

Often the difficulty in climate is not passion, but finding avenues to express your passion and feel ultimately like you have had an impact. Thankfully, due to the interconnected and global nature of climate change, there are endless possibilities to take action. No matter if you are alone or with a group, no matter your funding levels, there are actions you can take to make a difference, no matter how small. Do not fall for common fallacies like the perfectionist fallacy. No action is perfect, and no action will solve our issues in a single fell swoop. All you can do is to stand up, and do what you can. While we utilize the term “action” for the lists below, some are direct one time actions, while others are more akin to lifestyle changes.

In addition, do not fall prey to the paradox of choice. No action is the best, and yet they all are. You could spend 100 hours debating each potential action, based on effort and reward, and yet it is better in many cases to instead choose one and get to work. You will learn from the actions you take, you will grow in confidence as your impact grows, and together we will begin to push back against the coming storm.

The actions below are for individuals and groups, but please note that many of the changes necessary to lower emissions and improve our connection with the natural world requires systemic change that is not possible for a single individual. For example, while carbon footprints are a tool, we must also require accountability from businesses and leaders, as actions here will lead to the largest amounts of change.

The actions listed are not fully comprehensive, and instead are mostly designed to show you examples, and allow you to express your creativity. What works for one household or community will not work globally, and you should not judge yourself against anyone else. We cannot all afford to be vegan, or invest in solar panels. Some of us might have more time, and some of us less. Help those around you when possible, and take a step forward whenever you can. Because, as Kris Kringle once said:

If you want to change your direction
If your time of life is at hand
Well, don’t be the rule; Be the exception
A good way to start is to stand