Climate Action Resolutions for 2021
Written by Communitopia Blogger - Erin Bell
Finally...we’re saying goodbye to 2020 and looking toward brighter days ahead!
The upcoming year will without a doubt be a pivotal one for our nation as we swear in a new president, recover from a devastating pandemic, and continue fighting against the rapidly ticking clock of climate emergency. Science shows that over the next five to seven years, the Earth will reach a series of critical tipping points where the devastating effects of climate change will become irreversible and dangerously destabilizing. Now more than ever, we must think about the role we play in protecting our planet and reflect on changes we can make in our own lives.
Here are some ways you can live a sustainable, climate-friendly life in 2021 and beyond.
Know your representatives--from local representatives and community leaders to state and national legislators. Who are they and what do they stand for? Know how to get in touch with them. Call their offices, write letters, send emails, and vocalize your support for climate action and climate-friendly policy. There are plenty of online resources (like this one) available to help you figure out who your elected officials are!
Pay attention. One of the most basic but critical things you can do is educate yourself about what’s happening in your community (and around the world). Follow climate-focused social media accounts across platforms like Instagram and Facebook. Bookmark online resources, like the DEP’s website, and check in periodically. Subscribe to climate and environmental newsletters. Join mailing lists for climate action organizations at the local and national levels. (See our homepage to sign up for updates from Communitopia!)
Contribute to organizations that share your values. This could mean making monetary donations to climate actions, organizations, or volunteering your time and skills to a local non-profit.
Shop your values. Support businesses and brands that care about the planet as much as you do. Before you buy, research a brand’s practices surrounding sustainability and ethics. Are they eco-friendly in their packaging and production? Do they strive to be carbon neutral? Do they source their materials and/or products ethically? Do they give back to the planet or environment? Do they pay living wages to their employees and provide a safe work environment? When possible, shop small, shop local, and avoid fast fashion brands that exploit their employees and contribute to deforestation.
Ditch single-use plastic as much as you can. Pick up a reusable water bottle instead of using disposable ones. Replace disposable plastic coffee pods with a reusable pod. Use a shampoo/conditioning bar instead of plastic bottles. Always carry reusable shopping bags. There are a million ways to reduce plastic consumption--and the best part is that most of them are super easy!
Don’t waste food. Buy local. Grow your own. Food waste statistics in the US are disturbing, particularly as global hunger continues to increase. Here are some super helpful tips on reducing food waste and some insights as to why it’s important. When possible, shop at farmer’s markets or grow fresh produce right in your own backyard.
Reduce or eliminate your meat consumption in favor of a plant-based diet. This is known to be one of the most impactful climate-friendly changes you can make at the individual level. Animal agriculture generates an enormous amount of harmful greenhouse gas emissions and is the leading global cause of deforestation and biodiversity loss. Even making a simple change--such as participating in the Meatless Mondays movement--can drastically reduce the collective climate impact of animal agriculture. Try out some delicious plant-based recipes, and start exploring meat alternatives. You’ll find that moving towards a plant-based diet is much less intimidating than it sounds!
Switch to a green energy provider. It’s easier (and cheaper) than it has ever been to make the switch to a renewable energy supplier. Call your power company or explore your state’s renewable energy providers to see what options are available to you. You can also explore energy-efficiency options like solar panels for your home. Many states offer incentives and financing for homeowners to make green household investments.
Buy secondhand. Every new item generates carbon emissions during the production process. You can drastically reduce your carbon footprint by shopping secondhand for products like cars, clothes and household goods.
Practice the R’s. Take it back to the basics--reduce, reuse, recycle! Reduce overall consumption of goods and energy. Reduce your waste. Reuse and repurpose items instead of trashing them. And of course, make sure you recycle! The real-life applications are endless here: Use newspaper or paper bags instead of buying wrapping paper; reuse plastic bags instead of pitching them; turn lights off; don’t leave the water running; start composting to reduce the amount of waste you send off to the landfill; carpool when possible; make sure you have an easy recycling system set up at your house. Successfully practicing the 3 R’s is oftentimes just a matter of thinking twice about things. Check out this resource that talks about how you can apply the 7 “R’s” to your life!
Spread awareness. Invite your family and friends to get involved. Teach your children about climate change. Share this list of resolutions with your network. Encourage the people in your life to explore the ways that they can become a climate advocate and adopt climate-friendly practices in their own lives!
From all of us at Communitopia, Happy Climate-Friendly New Year!!
