I'm a bad environmentalist. Maybe you can be too.

Last week, I listened to a podcast that really got me thinking. It was about whether or not our individual actions make a difference when it comes to climate change. Spoiler alert; the answer was a pretty resounding ‘no’. Even if we all went vegan, installed LED lights and stopped using plastic, our actions would amount to little more than a blip on a chart whose Y axis is having to be constantly adjusted for the impact of the fossil fuel industry.

You might think this is depressing, but to me it isn’t, because of the conclusion the hosts offered.

This is what they said. Individual actions matter because they are a form of communication. They are a way of signalling to others – our friends, colleagues, governments, industry – that we consider these things important. They create the social proof necessary to tilt big decisions in the right direction.

As someone who communicates for a living, I found this encouraging. We all have the power to communicate about what matters, whether we have a gift for words or not.

I’m a long way from perfect. I’m not vegan (I’m not even vegetarian), I drive a big old SUV, and my kitchen still contains more plastic than I’d like.

Anyone can be a climate advocate. Photo by Ali Wines (c)

But I’m always looking to get better, as an individual and as a business owner. Here are some of the things I’m doing right now, and some of the things I’m working towards.

Right now:

I’m a member of 1% for the Planet, donating 1% of gross revenue to climate causes
I volunteer my time and skills for climate-focussed nonprofits
I prioritize working with clients who share my commitment to the environment and will decline clients in heavily polluting industries
I offset all travel emissions from car trips and the rare flights I take
I use recycled printer paper when printing is necessary
I keep the heat at 18 degrees (Celsius, obviously, I’m not insane) and keep a blanket in my office for cold days.

I’m working towards:

Fully paperless projects (I’m still pretty attached to making notes with pen and paper)
Switching to LED lights, at least in the office
Eliminating all disposable plastic from my home (I’ve made some good progress here lately)
Calculating, and then reducing my full business emissions

Using more local suppliers
Moving all business accounts away from my ‘Big 5’ bank which invests heavily in oil and gas.

I also take every opportunity I can to support a shift away from fossil fuels, because I’m told this is the single biggest thing we can do as individuals to make a difference. The most satisfying thing I’ve done is switch my investments to eco funds (this worked out pretty well financially too), but participating in collective action or starting a conversation over dinner can be just as effective, and none of these things is as hard as you might think.

Like I said, I’m not perfect, but that should never scare us away from taking action where we can. One of my clients, Protect Our Winters Canada, has a great saying: progress over perfection. I’ve made it my new mantra – maybe it can be yours, too. I don’t mind sharing.

From time to time I’ll keep you updated on my progress, and I’ll be honest about my lack of perfection, because I think transparency is important. If you’d like to know more about how it’s going, just ask. And if you’ve got ideas for doing better, please share them – I’d love to add them to my list!

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