Joy can strengthen our resolve, help us unlock creativity and strengthen our resilience. In Fix’s Joy Issue, we explore the importance and power of finding joy in the face of sadness, anger and a changing climate.
It’s safe to say that these questions have haunted everyone in the climate movement at one point or another. An individual can never truly do “enough” when faced with a problem as complex and overwhelming as the climate crisis—and will never feel like enough when we care, as we should, about the fate of our planet, our communities, and ourselves. .
When you go vegetarian, should you go vegan? After attending one climate protest, should you organize the next one? When you start volunteering with a climate organization, should you quit your job, sell your car, and devote every ounce of your energy to climate solutions? “You’re going to burn out if you think you can be everything at once,” says Kristy Drutman, an environmental justice advocate, host of the Brown Girl Green podcast, and a 2022 Grist 50 winner. As a passionate young professional in the climate movement, she had to recognize her strengths as well as her limitations. “I can’t be at every protest,” says Drutman. “It’s not necessarily the job I want to do.” Accepting that doesn’t make her any less of an advocate — it just means she’s found more effective ways to channel her unique skills toward solutions.
It’s hard to completely contain the guilt and anxiety. But one antidote may be to really think about the actions you want to take, and then allow yourself to let the rest go. I should be doing more feels vague and worrying. I show up at every march in my town – but needing beef to fuel me while I walk is specific. That’s on purpose.
“I try to think small, not big,” says Nathaniel Stinnett, founder and executive director of the Environmental Voter Project and a 2016 Grist 50 honoree. , as one person, can overcome this huge problem,” says Stinnett. Instead, he suggests focusing on the climate challenges and opportunities in your life and how you can succeed in them.
So here are some ways you can succeed: 13 ideas for actions you can take (or leave) for the planet — as suggested by people who spend their time thinking about it — by changing your lifestyle, using your voice, or volunteering your time. Find those who bring you joy and commit to them, but don’t resent others. It’s not about perfection. It’s about doing the most and the best you can for your planet, your community and yourself.
Vote in every election
Exercising your right to vote is one of the most fundamental ways to make your voice heard – especially if you do it with the climate in mind. To see also : 502 Black Business Week offers exposure to locally owned businesses.
The 2020 presidential election saw record turnout, but about a third of eligible adults did not vote. For local elections, which are arguably an even more important opportunity for influence, the turnout trend is even worse. Choosing not to vote often comes down to feeling like your voice doesn’t matter. But more than a dozen US elections have been decided by one vote or ended in a tie over the past 20 years. And, like all climate action, voting can be seen as contributing to collective change, rather than taking the full weight of the movement onto your own voting shoulders.
“I think most Americans feel appropriately cynical about politics,” says Nathaniel Stinett of the Environmental Voter Project. People often believe that politicians will say or do anything to win. But that’s not bad, he notes. “That realization actually shows us how much power we have.”
The Environmental Voter Project seeks to turn environmentalists who skip the polls into “super voters.” Stinnett believes that if everyone who cares about the climate voted consistently, the movement could become an unstoppable political force. When citizens talk about their priorities, especially around elections, politicians are more inclined to listen – or risk not being elected. Given the environmental and political climate we find ourselves in, it has never been more important for individuals to do their civic duty. “Simply participating in the process, simply voting, means you will have a huge impact on climate policymaking,” says Stinnett. Register to vote, check your registration, find your polling place, and even set election reminders at Vote.org.
Go to protests
Another classic way to get your voice heard is to carry a megaphone and march down the street — literally. See the article : Bozeman’s “Montana on the Rise” summit highlights the state’s high-tech economy.
Climate demonstrations attracted millions of people in cities around the world, especially in the years before the pandemic. These protests are increasingly youth-led, organized by groups such as Fridays for Future, Zero Hour, Earth Guardians and the Sunrise Movement. (Check out any of their websites to find out about upcoming events near you or other ways to get involved.)
Protests are not necessarily happy experiences in themselves. “It’s not always a happy feeling,” says Leah Thomas, climate activist, writer, and founder of Intersectional Environmentalist (and a 2021 Grist 50 winner). “Sometimes it’s a sense of sadness or urgency.” But it’s like running a relay race: you work hard and you may be sore, but the sense of collective achievement afterwards is what makes the effort worthwhile – and, of course, a celebratory drink with your mates. “Just coming to hang out with activists and talk about things that have nothing to do with the environment, those moments bring me a lot of joy,” says Thomas, “when we realize that we can fight for our planet, but also have a good time together.”
Speak out on social media
If you are active on any social network, be it Twitter, TikTok, Instagram or even LinkedIn, you have a platform. Read also : With the end of Roe, Texans will have to travel long distances for legal abortions.
With so much of our lives happening online, social media is increasingly being used for things like activism and education, as well as for connecting. While there isn’t a ton of definitive research on the effects of social media advocacy, studies suggest that it can play a positive role in influencing opinions, knowledge, and behavior about climate change. If you’re already active on social sites, it’s also very easy to get started. Supporting climate causes online can be as simple as retweeting your favorite organizations or advocates (or even sharing climate memes).
Some people may insist that social media is the world’s toilet. But others, like Kristy Drutman of Brown Girl Green, have found meaningful connection and joy in engaging on social platforms. “Part of my activism is to learn about the initiatives and efforts of [other environmental organizations] and find ways that I can amplify and support,” says Drutman, who has nearly 65,000 followers on Instagram. Listening to and raising the voices of others – especially people and organizations on the front lines of the climate crisis – can be just as important as using your own. If you have a microphone, try adding it. Check out groups like the Uproot Project, the Environmental Journalists of Color Network (Grist is a founding partner), or Green Voices of Color to listen, learn, and amplify.
Have ‘the climate talk’
Do you have friends or family who are completely out of the loop on climate issues? (Aren’t we all?) Personal conversations matter — perhaps even more than what you say behind a literal or metaphorical megaphone.
Friends and family are some of our most trusted sources of information. And for people who are already aware of climate change, the conversation can be an important way to process the chaotic emotions that come with living on a changing planet, while also reminding us that we are not alone.
A 2019 study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences found that discussing climate change can create a positive feedback loop where people are more likely to continue learning about the issue and then have more discussions with more people. So maybe there’s real value in being “that friend” who won’t shut up about climate change. The How to Save the Planet podcast has an episode on how to approach climate conversations with friends or relatives you don’t see eye to eye with.
Eat more plants
The greenest choice on the menu is always to avoid animal agriculture that chews up the land, pollutes the water, emits carbon and methane.
Although meat and dairy products are beloved for their taste and importance in many cuisines and cultures, we know that the future of food will look less meaty and more vegetarian. Whether that seems like a sacrifice depends on how you look at it.
You don’t have to be vegan to reduce carbon in your diet. But for those who do decide to embrace veganism or vegetarianism (or some other -ism), there are many reasons to love it. For Todd Anderson (who goes by the name Turnip Vegan on Instagram), avoiding animal products came down to health concerns. After a particularly bad hangover after a trip to Vegas, Anderson watched the documentary Food Choices and learned, among other things, that humans are the only animals that drink milk from other species. “By the end of the documentary, I decided to try going vegan for a few weeks and see how that went,” he says.
As he nears his sixth year of vegan living, Anderson has made it his life’s work to share the learning and joy with others through his Instagram account, two recipe ebooks, and his San Diego coffee shop (which is closed during COVID, but probably will reopen soon). “These have been the happiest five and a half years of my life,” he says.
Although it is possible to eat an unhealthy vegan diet, eating mostly plants can lower blood pressure and reduce the risk of heart disease and diabetes. This isn’t some modern health or eco trend either – plant-based eating has deep roots in the African diaspora, as well as many Asian cuisines. Even the idea of fake meat has been around for centuries. Food choices are deeply personal, so understanding the history of a plant-based diet, as well as the climate benefits, can help determine whether it’s the right move for you.
If you’re curious about cutting back on meat, Anderson suggests not putting too much pressure on yourself. Try preparing a plant-based version of your favorite dish, or find a vegetarian or vegan restaurant that makes something you love. Treating yourself to delicious vegan food may defy your expectations of the culinary delights you’ll find in a different diet.
And don’t forget the fungi. One of Anderson’s current faves is the lion’s mane mushroom — “I’ll use it to make anything from crab cakes to a vegan Nashville chicken sandwich.”
Choose sustainable fashion
Not only is it #ontrend, greening your wardrobe can be a real pleasure. Fashion, like food, is deeply personal, so of course we want it to be in line with our values.
And it’s well known that the fast fashion industry is an environmental nightmare, accounting for 10 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions (that’s worse than air travel) and 20 percent of wastewater. Kristy Drutman has found that sustainable fashion is one of the most tangible forms of climate action in her personal life. “It’s how we express ourselves and how we wear our creativity, while also thinking about the planet,” she says. For her, green fashion didn’t just involve hunting for vintage finds and researching upcycled clothing, but also developing closer relationships with the companies she buys from.
In Drutman’s case, that meant meeting the producers behind the brands she supports and seeing firsthand how those brands treat workers and embrace sustainability. While that level of engagement isn’t possible for most people, delving into a company’s sustainability claims can help you distinguish the greenies from the ones you really feel good about spending money on. “It was all embedded in a process of questioning my relationship with the things I own, and it brought me a lot of happiness,” Drutman says of his experience. Another surefire way to green up your wardrobe is simply to stop adding so much to it – wear, repair and find more joy in the things you already own. (For more sustainable fashion inspo, check out Grist’s Umbra guide on how to dress for the planet.)
Walk and bike places
“Trying to drive as little as possible is one of the best decisions I’ve made in my life,” says Nathaniel Stinnett of the Environmental Voter Project.
With the transportation sector being the largest single source of CO2 emissions in the US, we hardly need to get into the climate benefits of choosing carbon-neutral modes of transit. But let’s talk about the mental health benefits. A 2015 Preventive Medicine study found that giving up driving in favor of walking, cycling or public transport made people less stressed and better able to concentrate on work. Being able to do other tasks (like reading on the bus) has been shown to make the journey more enjoyable – and one of the most desirable activities is simply chatting with other passengers. Before the pandemic, more than three-quarters of Americans drove to work independently each day, so carpooling could be another option for reducing carbon and increasing happiness.
“Sure, walking to work or to the grocery store or taking our kids to school on our cargo bikes takes longer, but it’s the furthest thing from sacrifice,” Stinnett says. For him, the extra minutes are time to enjoy the sights of his city or to call his family. “Honestly, I don’t even think about it as a climate decision anymore,” he says. “It’s something that makes me happier and healthier, and it makes my kids happier and healthier, and my brothers and my parents, who I talk to on the phone while I’m walking – it makes them happier. It’s just a wonderful part of my everyday life now.”
Do an energy audit
When you think about how to green your energy use at home, your mind might immediately jump to installing solar panels or a heat pump — which is great, if it’s feasible for you. But a cheaper and easier approach could make your home more efficient.
Energy efficiency could reduce national greenhouse gas emissions by 50 percent by 2050, and the average American household can save about 25 percent on utility bills by minimizing waste. (Instead of sending that money to the utility company, you could do something fun — like buy a cargo bike!) Even if your home is new, you may find ways to use less energy, according to the U.S. Department of Energy. You can do a home energy assessment yourself or hire a professional to figure out where you might be wasting energy due to things like air leaks or substandard insulation, and then prioritize upgrades. Think of it as a scavenger hunt where the thing you’re looking for is … trash.
Energy efficiency measures may not get the attention or praise of something like rooftop solar panels, but Logan Atkinson Burke, executive director of the Alliance for Affordable Energy, sees it as a strength. “A lot of energy efficiency measures are really set and forgotten,” says Burke, who made our Grist 50 list for 2020. And when they’re in place, people benefit, she says, from lower electricity bills and more comfortable homes.
Help mobilize voters
There are many ways to get out the vote for climate action. You can volunteer with a specific candidate you believe in or with an organization focused on climate or justice such as the Environmental Voter Project or NextGen America.
“At the Environmental Voters Project, we’re active in dozens of elections every month,” says CEO Nathaniel Stinnett, “and every one is an opportunity to be part of a climate victory.” The organization has over 6,000 volunteers who help mobilize pro-environmental voters across the country. “I know they’re not doing it because they enjoy knocking on doors, writing postcards or talking to constituents on the phone,” Stinnett says. “They are looking forward to the results.” It may sound corny, but winning is fun – and feeling like you played a part in the outcome of the election can be empowering. Stinnett believes we must embrace those small victories to remain viable in the climate movement.
Providing transportation or other support on election days can also be a great way to not only increase turnout, but also protect the right of others to vote.
Find pro-bono opportunities
If you’re not a climate professional and love what you do for work, pro-bono opportunities can be a way to have your cake and green it.
Using your unique skills, talents and training to help an environmental project or organization can be personally and professionally fulfilling. The benefits of pro bono work on things like job satisfaction, skill development, and a sense of purpose are well documented, especially among those in the legal profession.
“Even though I wasn’t getting paid for my efforts, I felt happier and more satisfied with my work than ever, and that led to more professional success,” wrote environmental attorney Matt Karmel in a recent op-ed for the Fix. Karmel was looking for a job with a New Jersey nonprofit that helps community gardens expand their composting operations, but he also shares other ways to find opportunities in his work. For lawyers, there is the Environmental Law Institute’s Pro Bono Clearinghouse. For professionals in human resources, marketing, finance and technology, the Taproot Foundation offers connections with organizations for social change, ranging from long-term projects to one-hour virtual consulting sessions. And people who have 10 or more hours a week to contribute, especially those considering a possible career change, might consider applying to join the Climate Fellows professional volunteer network, part of the Work on Climate initiative which aims to recruit more qualified professionals from a variety of sectors . working on climate solutions.
You can also contact the organization you are interested in working with and start a conversation about what you might have to offer. Community organizations, especially those led by people of color, tend to be particularly resource-constrained. Pro-bono services can go a long way in helping them get things done. “Don’t be discouraged if you don’t connect right away,” Karmel writes. “Changes are needed, and only accessibility can make a difference.”
Clean up your favorite park
If you have a beloved green space near you, spending some time picking up trash (or joining an organized cleanup) could be a great way to connect more deeply with the earth and its corners.
Youth climate activist Edgar McGregor spent 589 days cleaning up Eaton Canyon, a popular hiking area in Southern California, and didn’t stop until he declared the park completely trash-free. That’s more zeal than the average bear might have for collecting litter, but it clearly gave McGregor a great sense of accomplishment. (“I DID!!! WOOOOOO!!!!!!!!” he tweeted.) In a Q&A with Fix last year, McGregor advised other climate-curious people to start small. “The hardest part about becoming a climate activist is taking the first step,” he said. And a good first step to cleaning up trash is much smaller than the entire park. “One good way to start your climate activism: the next time you see precipitation in the forecast, go clean the trash out of the gutter,” McGregor said. “If there’s trash in the street gutters, when that rain comes, it’s going to dump trash into your local parks, waterways, rivers, or worse, the ocean.”
Plant some trees
“When I was in college, I volunteered at this restoration program twice a week,” says Intersectional Environmentalist founder Leah Thomas. “I would go out and get rid of invasive plant species along the shoreline and then nurture the new seedlings. It was really fun.”
Most recently, Thomas helped restore native chestnut trees in the Bronx, New York. Foliage offers tons of benefits to the neighborhood; In addition to cleaning the air and making us happier, tree cover can lower hot summer temperatures by up to 10 degrees F.
As a starting point, Thomas recommends checking out organizations like One Tree Planted and American Forests.
“I tend to look for urban tree-planting projects,” she says. “I think being involved in your local community is even better, because then you can see that tree grow over time. It feels like you’re doing something good for your community.” If you want to plant trees outside your own garden, so to speak, and help ensure tree justice, just be sure to follow the example of the locals.
Savor nature — with others
OK, this isn’t exactly volunteering. But spending time enjoying the beauty of the earth (especially with other earth lovers) can be a key way to stay sustainable in the climate movement — and connecting with nature can take many forms.
Leah Thomas of Intersectional Environmentalist likes to venture into partner organizations like Outdoor Afro and Hike Clerb. “Being with women of color, rediscovering what it means to be outdoors for yourself and finding community, being outdoors together—those are the moments that bring me the most joy,” says Thomas.
She emphasizes that protecting those moments of pure happiness and connection is especially important for people of color in the climate movement. She quotes climate justice writer Mary Annaïse Heglar as saying that climate change is not the first existential threat facing Black and Indigenous people in this country, and eco-anxiety is far from the only stress weighing on people experiencing systematic oppression. That’s why Black Joy has taken root as a form of rebellion, while art movements like Afrofuturism and even the wonderful TikTok trend of “frolicking” have proudly displayed it.
“Climate optimism can sometimes feel on the surface, or it can feel like you’re ignoring or running from the truth,” says Thomas. “But in fact, finding joy in spite of everything is one of the most revolutionary things humans can do.” So don’t forget that taking time to appreciate the Earth and its inhabitants — to enjoy, not to save — is also part of climate and justice work.
Explore more from Fix’s Joy Issue:
