EDUCATE YOURSELF ON ENVIRONMENTALISM

Educating yourself about current environmental issues connects you with the world around you. Climate change and the environmental landscape is rapidly evolving; staying updated on current issues empowers you to effectively advocate for community projects, policy changes and support sustainable products. 

One thing to avoid is tasking your friends to educate you individually. Climate change does not affect everyone equally. It disproportionately impacts marginalised and vulnerable groups; researching a plethora of opinions is essential to give you a fair understanding. 

Sustainability advocate, Mikaela Loach, says “intersectionality is essential and not an optional extra… it should be ingrained into everything we do”.

Read | The Value of a Whale

Listen | Distinguishing ecofascism and dismantling white supremacy

Follow | Intersectional Environmentalist

SUPPORT ORGANISATIONS

Find organisations led by advocates for inclusion in the climate movement. Support their efforts by donating, attending their events, or amplifying their message through social media. 

Mother Jones is a nonprofit American progressive magazine; focussing on investigative journalism. They revealed that militaries account for almost 5.5 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions annually—more than the aviation and shipping industries combined. This makes the global military carbon footprint—even without factoring in conflict-related emission spikes—the fourth largest after only the US, China, and India. Reading their online articles and sharing them with friends is a great way to stay current with stats regarding global issues. 

Ilyess El Kortbi is a 25-year-old climate activist from the Ukraine. When the war broke out, he was fortunate enough to be able to flee to Berlin and is currently working with other German climate activists to raise awareness about the situation in Ukraine and the climate crisis; which could be argued are inextricably linked.“€700 million are paid a day to Russia for fossil fuels”. 

These are just two examples of environmental advocates you can support.

SHARE WITH YOUR COMMUNITY

Talk, talk, talk with your friends and family about what you’ve learned. Statistics show that yes, younger people are more well-read on the climate crisis, but older people tend to have a more ‘lived experience’ about how the climate can impact a community, are more socially connected and hold a moral authority within their communities. 

‘Legacy thinking’ defines success by the future you leave for others. The older generation are more inclined to make change  if they believe it will have a positive impact on future generations. Talk to your friends and family about what you’ve learned in the hope they hear and see the impact their actions could have.

Read | How To Talk About Sustainability

FOLLOW ACTIVISTS ON SOCIAL MEDIA

One of the most effective ways to amplify an activist’s platform is by supporting them on social media. Boost their reach and engagement by liking, saving, and sharing their posts, which will help spread their messages. This increased visibility can attract media attention and potentially lead to more coverage of the issues they are advocating for.