Simple steps you can take to protect the environment

While the climate crisis may feel overwhelming, we can all take small steps to help mitigate climate change. This guide offers a mix of actions everyone can take — from curbing food waste and reducing plastic use to supporting clean air policies and conservation efforts.

Whether you’re swapping single-use bags for reusables or starting a petition to advocate for better environmental policies, your efforts can make a difference. By taking action and making sustainable choices, we can reduce our carbon footprint and help combat climate change. These simple steps can help you get started.

From food scraps to reusable bags: Reduce waste

Waste is one of the top drivers of the climate crisis. Plastic pollution contributes to climate change, while food waste releases greenhouse gases once it hits landfills, and generates carbon emissions when it’s produced. 

In general, consumer habits are responsible for a major portion of climate change and environmental damange. By some estimates, household goods and services drive up to 60% of global emissions. Want to reduce the avalanche of excess? Here are some actions you can take.

Reducing plastic bags

Plastic use is a prime pollution culprit. Plastic is ubiquitous, clogging our landfills and oceans. Over 1 million plastic shopping bags are used each minute. The average use time per bag? Just 15 minutes. Beyond reducing our own plastic bag use, anyone can advocate for policy and legislation to decrease the spread of these wasteful receptacles, like these examples of waste management solutions from around the world. 

Advocacy win → This victorious petition to safeguard California’s plastic bag ban garnered almost 50,000 signatures.

Take aim at food waste

By some measures, the United States wastes more food than any other country in the world. Americans throw away a jaw-dropping 120 million pounds of food each year. Waste occurs at all levels of the supply chain—from farm fields and grocery stores to homes and restaurants. There are many daily, simple steps you can take to reduce your own food waste, and a collective effort can go a long way. 

Advocacy win → This petition which earned over 60,000 supporters encouraged companies to donate food that might be wasted to alleviate hunger and led to the passing of the Food Donation Improvement Act of 202 in the House and the Senate.

Cut consumer consumption

In an era of fast fashion and overnight delivery, “stuff” is the enemy and conscious consumption is the new status symbol. From carrying a reusable water bottle to making better shopping decisions, bringing fewer things into our lives has many benefits, like reducing our carbon footprint. 

Advocacy win → Advocacy for other solutions, like this victorious petition asking major fast food chains to stop giving plastic toys with fast food meals, can help stem the tide of waste.

Breathe easier: Clean air actions for clear skies

Greenhouse gas emissions are public enemy #1, the main culprit behind the climate crisis, and create unhealthy air for humans. An estimated 130 million Americans are breathing polluted air each day. 

Cutting emissions by reducing the use of fossil fuels is one of the best ways to protect the environment, and taking action to help reduce pollution is the way to get there. Here are some ways you can help make our air cleaner.

Go renewable

Powering our homes with renewable energy is ideal. Up to 20% of greenhouse gases stem from residential power use. While not everyone can install solar themselves, many utility companies have contracted with renewable energy suppliers to supply their customers. Find out if your utility is partnered with a renewable energy supplier — and advocate for them to offer renewable energy as an option to consumers if not.

Reduce energy use

If everyone made some simple switches in their daily lives, it would have a dramatic impact on greenhouse gas emissions. Carbon dioxide accounts for a stunning 79.7% of greenhouse gases, and consumer energy usage is a large share of that total. 

Simple switches to save energy can have a big impact. Small steps to reduce energy consumption like swapping in LED lightbulbs, making your thermostat settings more efficient, and using window coverings to mitigate heat and cold can help conserve energy and save money.

Advocate for clean air policies

Programs like these Environmental Protection Agency emission reduction programs accelerate the progress of air quality conditions. Activists and concerned citizens anywhere in the world can urge their legislators to support and implement important environmental policies. For example, this petition to reduce air pollution with almost 180,000 signatures advocates for political action to halt harmful air pollution in India.

Land matters: Rally for environmental protections

Healthy biodiversity and ecosystems play a critical role in regulating the climate. By some estimates, protecting and restoring natural habitats could account for up to 30% of the actions needed to address the climate crisis. 

Healthy landscapes and natural systems also lead to a healthy economy — approximately $44 trillion of global gross domestic product (GDP) depends on healthy, functioning natural systems. Here are actions that anyone can take to help conserve the natural systems our planet depends on.

Protect our planet’s natural resources

Sustainable development is essential for reducing the environmental impact of growth, and the United Nations Sustainable Development (SDG) goals provide a vital roadmap. You can advocate to protect the natural environment at the community, state, or national level. Or, take action like this petition with over 140,000 signatures which aims to halt a golf course development in a Florida state park.

Safeguard wildlife and ecological havens

Protections for ecosystems and wildlife are a critical part of preserving our planet. Play your part by becoming a biodiversity ambassador for the environment, helping with community science and conservation projects, or creating your own campaign for a specific issue affecting your community. For example, this petition to strengthen protections for Ontario wildlife and wetlands has almost 130,000 signatures.

Be water-wise

Water use and pollution are pressing issues that play a huge role in the climate crisis. Polluted water has both environmental and human health impacts. Globally, 1 in 10 people lack access to clean water, and over 1 million people die each year because of the lack of safe water access. Here are some ways you can be a water steward, including simple steps you can take to cut water usage and help keep our planet’s H2O clean.

Cut water use

The United States has one of the highest per-capita water use rates in the world. Reducing that amount can reduce water shortages and energy use. Hot water is one of the biggest energy drains for most households. The EPA estimates that installing water-efficient plumbing fixtures can instantly reduce water use by 20% or more.

Take action to fight water pollution

From ocean discharge to polluted rivers, battling water pollution is a global effort. Steps you can take to help keep our water clean include minimizing household and landscape runoff, ensuring medicines or other potential pollutants never go down drains or toilets, and reporting local water pollution concerns. 

Individual acts of advocacy can also have a huge ripple effect and help protect the environment. This UK petition to better oversee and regulate sewage discharge into local waterways has over 120,000 signatures.

Take the next step to protect the environment

Anyone can do their part to protect the environment. Whether you’re switching to reusable bags, reducing your online shopping, or installing solar, taking steps to decrease your carbon footprint can help reduce greenhouse gas emissions and protect the environment—and also your wallet.

Take action by starting a petition, reducing your consumption, or advocating for sustainable policies. Small steps today can lead to a big change tomorrow.