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We can do this.
Our world is warming up, and if we want to keep living well, we need to make some big changes.
Can one of us cool down the climate by planting a pollinator garden? Probably not — that would be a serious butterfly effect. The massive changes have to come from industry and government. We need to stop subsidizing fossil fuels and pump that same money into the clean tech that will power our future. We need healthy food without hormones and Roundup. We need excellent public transit — high speed trains connecting villages to cities so we can leave our cars at home. We need global standards for health care, clean drinking water, fair labour, and education across all genders and social classes.
But to get the government to do those things, we need a population that demands it. We need to grow this movement from the ground up, to make it mainstream — not the wild fringe — to expect good policy and believe that it can work. Sustainable Steps is based on the fundamental principle that through collective action, we can shift the momentum, fix this planet, and make it enjoyable to live here for generations to come. But we have to actually do it.
This is where we lose a lot of people. It’s really hard to look at the scope of what’s happening globally and feel, as one individual, that we’re capable of doing anything game-changing. Collective action, on the other hand? That can turn the tide. Consumer demand changes what companies produce, and voter demand changes what governments do. All we have to change is what we’re asking for.
Sustainable Steps is a series of simple, everyday steps that each one of us can take — in any order — to help grow the movement to create a world that works.
I take a lot of inspiration from the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals — a collection of 17 building blocks that, in theory, will create a society that thrives when we can get them all working in tandem. I love the way these goals break down a big, daunting challenge into smaller, achievable chunks.
The secret? Each of us should choose the steps that sound fun for us. This battle is a long game, and we might as well enjoy our lives as we fight for the world we want to live in.
Ready to Get Started?
Click on any of these categories, or dive into blog posts at your leisure:
shop well
Every time we spend money, we’re telling businesses what to make more of. Check out this section for steps that help you vote with your wallet.
eat well
The food that’s good for us is usually also good for the planet — and vice versa. This section shares tips about what to put in your grocery cart to keep your family (and the world) healthy.
get political
It’s easy to feel powerless against the machine, especially when we see tyrants and bullies ruling powerful countries around the world. But there’s actually a lot each one of us can do to shape the political long game. Seek out candidates who stand for sustainable policy. Support them with your vote, with a coffee party to introduce them to friends, or by knocking on doors. Write letters, organize rallies, or take it all the way and run for office yourself. The more support a great candidate can rally in one election — even without winning — the more the groundswell will be behind them going forward.
travel well
Sooo much carbon is burned up when people and products move from place to place. Follow these tips to minimize your footprint.
plant well
Every plant in our house and garden is a chance to pull some carbon out of the atmosphere and support our local pollinators. It’s also a beautiful hobby that connects us with nature.
dwell well
Renovating? Need a new fridge? Shopping for cleaner cleaning products? Browse these tips to make eco-friendly choices for your home.
educate our kids
Foster a love of nature so they grow up with the drive to protect it. Teach them to challenge authority in a respectful way that can change an adult’s mind. Show them that their actions have impact, a ripple effect. Plant gardens, do crafts with recycled household goods. Give them a voice, and the confidence to trust it.
lead by example
Not all our friends will agree (yet), and that’s okay. But if they see us making cleaner choices, and we explain those choices if they ask, maybe the consciousness will seep into their decision-making too.
stay positive
Change can’t happen unless we think it can. I often talk to people who feel defeatist about the state of the world, so they continue to vote for the same old political parties and keep the same unsustainable habits — might as well have those creature comforts if we’re all going up in smoke. But all is NOT lost, and if we focus on the future that we want to see, we can and will get there…one sustainable step at a time.
