21 things for 2021
Leaping into 2021 with an easy climate action plan
Happy New Year, friends!
My family and I leaped into 2021 ready to take action to protect the planet. I hope you’re ready too.
I’ve created a list of actions we can collectively take this year to steward the Earth. Pick one, or join my family and I in aiming to address them all. And if I left anything out, please add more actions in the comments. Together, this year, we’ll enact change in our lives and maybe even inspire the people around us.
Walk and bike for errands and shorter distance outings.
Try to cut as much plastic from my life as possible. I’ll share what to do with what we can’t eliminate in the coming weeks.
Plant and tend to a vegetable/fruit garden and finally start composting.
Make energy-efficient choices for my house, even if, to start, it’s more expensive.
Vote for the climate above all else.
Use social media to make environmental change (more on this later).
Participate in climate campaigns.
Actively communicate about climate issues to local government—get involved in local government.
Make all travel regenerative.
Teach my kids, community, and students about actions they can take.
Capture water and solar power to help make my home a passive house.
Plant trees.
Support local businesses.
Urge my bank to divest from fossil fuels.
Make sure my kids’ schools are teaching about climate issues and that the schools are trying to go green.
Educate myself about climate issues, and always balance problems with solutions.
Get involved with a local climate organization.
Eat less animal products.
Purchase produce from local farms that practice regenerative agriculture
Remember to be gentle with myself because we can not do it all, and we definitely cannot do it alone.
Support and continue to celebrate the solutions already in place.
OK, I couldn’t stop at 21 because I got inspired! Be creative. Find new ways of looking at problems like this amazing innovator.
Friends, we all have a role to play in what the wise eco-philosopher Joanna Macy says is the great turning. Society is waking up. We’re evolving. Each of us can do our part to make change, but we also need to constantly be reminded that change is already out there.
I’m here to share with you the solutions being implemented and (hopefully) inspire you to feel optimistic for our children’s futures.
This week’s action
Make your own list of Climate Actions for 2021. Pick easy things you can actually do, and even better if you can do them with the young people in your lives. Maybe you celebrate the stuff you’re already doing, or make goals for new actions you hope to take. Then share your ideas with us. When we hold each other accountable, we actually get more done.
Celebrating an Earth Helper family
Photo courtesy of Coralissa Delaforce
When the Delaforce clan was in Hawaii visiting family over the holidays, they participated in the new Malama Hawaii travel initiative and planted a legacy tree on Oahu. They joined thousands of people since 2014 in planting an endemic forest across the state. In just a few years, this organization has afforested 400,000 new trees. See how much of an impact one spark of an idea can have?
For the Delaforce Ohana, this simple act of planting a tree became a highlight in their journey to the island and helped make their journey a bit more regenerative. Thanks Delaforce Ohana for doing your part!
Photo courtesy of Coralissa Delaforce
Have you recently been an Earth Helper? Tag me in your stories and pictures (on IG or Facebook) or email them to me. I’d love to share them with our community.