Debra Hendrickson, M.D.

“But what can I do?”

Climate change is an enormous, global problem, but each of us can do something. As the scientists on the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) have said, “Every action matters, every bit of warming matters, every year matters, every choice matters.”

Start by thinking of your life as a series of spheres, each representing a layer of community. At the center is yourself, your family, your home; the next layer out is your job and your kids’ school; then your neighborhood, city, county, state, country, and world. We have the most control at the center, so begin there and inventory the fossil fuel use or greenhouse gas emissions produced by your own home, transportation, and diet. Do you drive a gas-powered car? What powers your stove, water heater, and clothes dryer? Where does your electricity come from?

Take just one step to reduce these emissions (or, if you’re in an apartment, ask your landlord to), and tell others about it. A list of possibilities is in the handout below (and in this “Decarbonize your Life” site) and some of them are easy and cheap, and can even save you money. For example, a home energy audit is free through many utility companies, and public funding for home weatherization programs is available in many cities and states. Many other actions qualify for federal tax credits and deductions, at least through 2025, and some states have their own incentives as well. If you feel you’ve done what you can at home (or just want more to do), move your focus out to the next sphere, like your place of work or your child’s school (where you might advocate for electric school buses or decarbonizing school buildings), or join a community or parent group concerned about climate change (such as Mom’s Clean Air Force). And try to take every opportunity to speak up at public meetings about decisions that will affect your child’s future.