12 things we can ALL do to reduce our impact on the environment

I’ve been sharing tons of information this year – my own, as well as working with other legends who care as much as I do – because we are all driven to make a difference, and to help others see the role we can ALL play to start addressing the climate emergency.

Why should we be concerned? Well check out these two articles.

Scientists watch giant ‘doomsday’ glacier in Antarctica with concern tks Kevin Cottam

The ‘doomsday’ glacier is on the brink of collapse

Impact could be two-feet of sea level rise in the next 3-5 years! How would an increase like this hit you? Your family? Your community?

The number one question I always get is: but what can I do about it?

I’ve worked hard to answer that question this year, and I’d love to know if you’ve adopted anything I/we have shared? It would be nice to hear we’ve made a difference.

I know many believe individual action doesn’t matter, but when billions do it, it really does. Equally, when we demand better from the companies who serve us, they change in alignment with us, their customers.

I beg you, do not underestimate the power of our collective action. The truth is, we’ve let this emergency go too far, and from all I’m seeing and reading, billions of us acting is our BEST chance for the future. In fact, I think it’s the only way we can address this crisis.

Us, all doing our part and encouraging everyone we know to do it too. This includes voting in leaders committed to fighting the climate crisis.

Governments will never be able to legislate us out of this, especially if the majority of us are not seeing and agreeing on what needs to be done. Politicians won’t change until they know it means they won’t get re-elected. Another view is to look at how the pandemic is going, especially in countries deeply divided politically? It’s a mess, right?

We can’t afford this division when it comes to dealing with the climate emergency. We will have no chance!

So while the climate is politicized, we have a huge challenge to overcome and a lot of work to do. We need to help the majority understand this crisis, regardless of political affiliations – before it’s too late. We also need to get the world ready in advance, not when the human crisis starts. This is not an easy path, but we need you on it with us.

Equally, businesses are moving too slowly, so if we change, they will be forced to change. Believe me, we have ALL the power here and it’s time to claim it! If everyone changes how they live in the world, looking at the impact their life has on the planet, we will start to see great momentum build.

But we were still too few

One of the things I shared recently, is this video. This is my mission now – to help us all see our role in overcoming the bigger challenge. I’m super proud of this video and hope you can spend a few minutes watching it.

12 things we can all do to reduce our impact on the environment

Let’s start with this fact. We do not need to save the world, we need to save the live-ability of the planet for ourselves, our children and our grandchildren. And we need to do it now, otherwise immense suffering will be unleashed. I will not stop fighting for this. I cannot look my children in the eye if I don’t fight all the way. They deserve it too.

1 We buy less stuff

We buy less stuff! Yes, this is something we must all start to acknowledge. It’s time to shop more consciously and really ask the question – what is the impact to the environment of what I plan to buy? We work harder to understand that and we have keen eyes for #Greenwashing.

We have turned a blind eye to human suffering in the supply chain and the environmental degradation of our shopping habits for far too long – let’s draw a line in the sand and move forward, walking the earth with gentler steps.

2 We eat less meat

Some people will go to their death beds kicking and screaming about their right to eat meat, and to them I say, you do you! For the rest of us who are open to change and reducing our impact on the earth, reducing our meat consumption – especially red meat – will contribute to methane reduction and less deforestation, because we don’t just eat it, it’s used for our clothes, bags, shoes, pet food, and so much more!

Have you started increasing your vegetarian meals? Have you tried vegan? I’ve got a vegan chickpea curry recipe I like and there’s more recipes linked to this one that look great too.

If we all do our part, and reduce our impact, we start to make a difference and drive change. Make sure you share the recipes you’re trying that you love on social media and you might inspire someone else to give it a go.

3 We support local

We support local is something we can all be better at, versus going the “easy” path of supporting the big brands, but it’s more than that. Air flown from Japan or China or Australia, or wherever is the other side of the world for you, is a thing of the past. We are committed to reducing the steps between farm and table, because we know that the total emissions of what we eat needs to be factored into our buying decisions.

4 We say no to plastic

Honestly, if we can all start just saying no, as well as never leaving home unprepared (we take shopping bags, a water bottle, cutlery if we need it, etc…) we can make a difference. If billions of us commit, real change is possible.

The waste crisis is overwhelming our world, more so in the developing world, where I live. It’s atrocious what we are allowing to happen. Our children have never seen clean water or beaches. We cannot continue the way we are going. We must address this and it starts with all of us.

5 We love rot

I started composting three years ago and I definitely don’t love it, but I do love the fact that practically nothing in my home is going to landfill or the incinerator, where it releases methane. Between 6-8% of global methane emissions come from our personal rubbish habits. Equally, up to 60% of rubbish in landfills is organic material – food waste, paper, cardboard, etc…. If we can all work to divert this from our rubbish tips, not only will we massively reduce the amount of waste to be dealt with, but we will also reduce global methane – and if we can reduce methane, we give humanity more time to fix our climate.

Hot tip – if you’re in an apartment building or villa complex, get the community together and invest in a composting solution. This is something we can all do! So will you start loving your rot?

6 We save energy

Inequality is a huge challenge to factor in if we have any chance of reducing the impact of the climate crisis. The poorest in the world need energy to improve their lives, and in order for that to happen, those of us in the wealthiest countries need to reduce our energy consumption significantly.

We also need to make sure the poorest don’t to take on the burden of the cost of increases in energy pricing – which is already happening – because this is what will cause war, desperation and extreme suffering. It’s a complex challenge.

Of course, we need an energy revolution, because energy is always at the core of transformation and the reason humanity takes huge leaps forward. However, the last big transformation is what caused the crisis we are now facing, and the burden of this crisis cannot be left with those who did not create it or benefit from it.

As an individual we do our part. We save energy everywhere we can. We understand energy in all its forms, and even though our individual action feels too small to make a difference, we get the bigger message of collective impact.

7 We drive community change

One of the most powerful tools we have is community. The biggest changes we’re seeing around the world happen when communities come together to drive real change. It’s not top down, it’s bottom up, and it’s a powerful force – something I experienced myself since the pandemic began.

When you gather all of the passionate people together – those who want to see real change happening and are energized to be part of that change – well collectively, it’s amazing what you can achieve. Don’t go it alone. Start with your family, then your street or apartment block, then keep expanding it out, always with your eyes open for other change makers you can partner with, support, encourage and learn from. It ripples out from there.

Community is key in the fight for our collective future. Get recruiting and keep an eye out for the legends in your community.

8 We co-create the circular economy

The circular economy, it’s not really happening, is it? The truth is, the work is all on us, and many who live in countries with recycling programs believe it’s going where it needs to go, but it isn’t. It’s ending up in the world’s oceans and rivers, or in landfills in far-off lands, after being dumped in poorer countries. The evidence is all around.

What can we do – send it back – addressed to the circular economy department. Hot tip, put an FAO to the managing director in the country you’re based in and if you don’t know the name, do a search on LinkedIn. You’ll find it. Oh and don’t put a return address. It is time for them to work out how we deal with our waste crisis and to create products that exist in a circular economy.

White goods, tech, consumer products… start collecting what you use and then send it back, so we co-create the circular economy, by forcing brands to take it seriously. We’ve got a long way to go, but if millions of us did this, you never know, we might just make it happen!

9 We share

We ALL know how bad social media is, because that’s a constant message in the media and on social media. But when you focus on the good – the ability for all of the great people to rise and share their voice, the democratization of information, and so much more, this is not a tool we want to lose. Definitely not in our interest.

When it comes to the climate emergency, it’s a powerful tool in the fight. By sharing knowledge, our opinions on the climate emergency, as well as what we’re doing to change our lives, we can inspire others to take steps in the fight for our future. This is truly an opportunity to create seismic change. So if you care about the climate, own your voice, step up, share, inspire others and let’s create ripples that drive greater change.

10 We speak up

Are you scared to take a stand for what you believe in? Terrified of the potential backlash or criticism? I beg you, it’s time to put those fears aside and step into your voice. Because we know, in today’s complex world, that we must speak up and use our voice to drive change in the world. We do it for our children and all children. We do it for those suffering the most. We do it for the environment.

We overcome our fears and add our voice to the chorus for change, because we know we are powerful, our voice is powerful and future generations are banking on us using it! Unlock your throat, set it free.

11 We reject shame

Feeling ashamed of ourselves, or shaming others in a world not set up to be green, is not going to help us achieve massive change. Besides, when did shame ever drive anything great?

It’s impossible to be perfect right now and we have to work SO MUCH harder to avoid the unsustainable choices on offer. This means, all we can do is our best. Oh and always remember to share the changes you’re making with your community and online, so you can inspire others. It works I promise!

12 We celebrate consciously

When I could go home to Australia for Christmas, I used to go to the main shopping malls and would often find a spot to sit, so I could watch the absolute frenzy going on everywhere I looked. Panic, desperation and very little joy. I would watch it, wondering – would we ever get the message? Would we one day see our part in this global crisis?

All celebrations have waste, but for me Christmas matters, because that’s part of my culture. I recommend everyone looks up waste around any major annual celebration that’s important to you. It’s pretty enlightening and frightening.

Christmas is regularly referred to as ‘the world’s greatest annual environmental disaster’, and to provide a sense of scale, just for Christmas

1. Australia (population 25+ million) unwraps 50,000 trees/year in Christmas paper

2. The UK (population 68 million) throws away 114,000 tons of plastic packaging/year

3. In Europe (population 742 million) 20% of Christmas food is wasted

4. And the US (population 331 million) according to Stanford: Americans throw away 25% more trash during the Thanksgiving to New Year’s holiday period than any other time of year. The extra waste amounts to 25 million tons of garbage, or about one million extra tons per week! If every family reused just two feet of holiday ribbon, the 38,000 miles of ribbon saved could tie a bow around the entire planet!

Let’s celebrate consciously. Let’s remember what it’s about.

The Podcasts on Uncommon Courage relevant to this discussion

Some blogs to dig into if reading is your passion

Time to get moving

What a great use of the holiday season, to work out where we can all start making deep changes in our lives. The best part, you’ll love it – because it really does bring great joy. But it’s a process and it takes time. Go easy on yourself. The important part is getting started.

Do let me know your ideas and what you’re doing? Remember to share on social media too, so we can inspire others to join us and walk our beautiful earth with gentler steps.

Cheers

Andrea

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