Why Localised Sustainability Activism Matters
Our climate crisis is evidently a global problem, hence the importance and urgency of it. The fact that this is a problem with effects on a global scale is honestly very very daunting.
If you are like me and are constantly feeling some sort of worry or stress about our planet’s state, then there is no surprise that we often feel like there is nothing we can do to actually make a difference and ‘save the world’ or reverse climate change. But what we, as environmental activists need to remember is: this problem is definitely not something we can solve by ourselves. We should not impose the responsibility to save all our planet’s problems on only ourselves.
Some of the things that you can do is advocate for change within your local community; local service is not only impactful to your community but also to the people who pass by and see this radical change.
Starting locally will make your work much easier. Since you know how the community you live in works and you most likely already have some existing connections with various stakeholders. This will make it much easier for you to make it better! Additionally, you will be one of the first people to witness the fruits of your labour.
So you might be asking: how should you start? I think you should begin with identifying the community you most want to make a change in. Then take initiative and do what you can to achieve your sustainability goals. For example, the community that I want to make a change in the most is my school. So I decided to join environmental service groups and actively made an effort to observe and take note of the various ways that my school can do better sustainably. Through doing this, I am now running an extensive school-wide sustainability audit to identify systematic ways we can become more sustainable as a school.
When doing community work, we often underestimate ourselves. We think that it wouldn’t be possible for one person to change a policy or push for better recycling. When in reality, once you ask, someone will naturally provide you with some sort of guidance as to how you should proceed. Hopefully your passion will also inspire others to follow in your path and support you in achieving these goals. I’m not saying pushing for these policy changes will be an easy thing to do, but it is possible.
So,
Send that email.
DM that influencer.
Launch that blog.
Make!
That!
Difference!
Here are some ideas of how you can start:
Join or create an environmental service group
If you are currently a student and your school lacks an environmental group, it indicates that there is not enough conversation and awareness for our climate crisis within your school community.You can find a way to start an environmental service group and through this, you can make a difference within your school.
Bye Bye Plastic Bags (BBPB)
BBPO is a global youth initiative founded by two girls in Bali aiming to reduce and eliminate our population’s plastic use through education, community action and campaigning. You can go onto their website and check whether your city has a branch. If it doesn’t have one, register to establish a BBPB branch for your city!
Start your own blog!
Education is a powerful tool. It’s a key part of environmental activism. The more your community knows about these climate issues, the more inclined they will be to take action. A blog can take the form of an Instagram account or a website like Project Eden. The possibilities are endless!
Join the Project Eden blog and submit a post!
At the end of the day, we are just trying to make the place we live more beautiful. So please don’t hesitate to reach out, do something and make a difference. Every single opportunity you actively choose not to pursue is automatically an opportunity wasted.
