My last post was pretty long, so I’m going to keep this one short and sweet. I recently spoke to a young college graduate who told me she knew she should do a better job of reducing her impact on the environment—but then she’d think about how everything she does it just “undone by the fossil fuel industry,” so she doesn’t do anything. I know her family—they’re outstanding supporters of environmental causes—so this came as a big surprise.
I can see where she’s coming from. Climate news can be terrifying, and it’s clear that fossil fuel companies have worked long and hard to keep us addicted to their products to the detriment of the entire planet. There are definitely days when it would be easier to just give up and go back to the older (easier) way of doing things.
But doing nothing compounds the problem.
Yes, big changes need to happen, and those will come in the form of laws and regulations that curb use of fossil fuels and reduce damage to ecosystems. The economy is transitioning, making renewable energy more affordable than fossil fuels in many places.
Big things are happening.
So where do we come in? Our smaller steps can help shift the balance even faster by altering demand for products and services. As more people adopt new habits, those impacts are multiplied.
Here’s an example: Recycling one aluminum can saves enough energy to power a computer for three hours.1 If one million people each recycle a single can, the energy savings can power one million computers for three hours—or three million computers for an hour. That’s a pretty phenomenal impact.
Remember that every step you take counts—and the more steps we take together, the bigger the result. On days when you’re feeling overwhelmed, keep doing the good work—and invite someone else to join you. It’s easier when you know you’re not alone.
If you like One Simple Thing, please forward to a friend who might be interested in taking steps toward a healthier planet!
EPA. Environmental Factoids. https://archive.epa.gov/epawaste/conserve/smm/wastewise/web/html/factoid.html