As frightening new statistics are released every day, summers keep seeming hotter than the one before, and natural disasters seem to be coming harder and more frequently than ever, many people are rightfully concerned about climate change. While it may not feel possible or worthwhile to accomplish meaningful change on an individual level, there are still plenty of actions you can take to relieve your apprehension about our shifting climate and join the fight to undo the damage that's already been caused. This guide shared by The Renewable Energy Hub can help.
Relieving Your Stress
If you're feeling severe unease about our irreparable effect on the environment, you're not alone. Surveys have found most young people believe the climate crisis has reached a potentially world-ending point. Like any kind of grief, it's important to cope with these fears and concerns in a healthy way, rather than repressing your emotions.
While it's important to press on and maintain your life, you must take time to feel and process your feelings. When you understand what specific aspects of the situation you find most concerning, you'll know which areas of your life will require some climate-conscious change. Speak to family and friends that will listen to your worries with an open mind. Climate-aware therapy is also available, with therapists who will validate your very real concerns rather than assuring you that there's nothing to worry about.
It can help to join Facebook groups focused on finding solutions and ways to take action. If you have a single page of resources to share with the group, taking a screen capture may be a good alternative to uploading a PDF. It can be better, however, to upload long resources as PDFs. That way it’s easier for other group members to share.
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Helping as an Individual
It's easy to get discouraged in the fight against climate change. Many people choose to disbelieve overwhelming evidence and deny that there is a problem at all, and even if everyone were on board, it's impossible for individuals to offset the carbon footprint of corporations. Nevertheless, there are steps we can all take to slow the catastrophe down and pressure those in charge to make meaningful changes.
Some of these methods are common and obvious, but important, nonetheless. Recycling and carpooling, the old standbys, reduce the amount of waste and emissions you personally contribute to the environment. Selecting reusable items like water bottles and canvas shopping bags results in less of the landfill coming from you as well. If you're creatively minded, old clothes and other materials can be upcycled into something new, rather than rotting at the dump.
Helping the Planet While Making a Living
It's not necessary to be a full-time environmentalist in the public eye to better the earth while making a living. In addition to professions that are inherently environmentally friendly, such as installing solar panels or operating a recycling centre, there are plenty of steps any business can take to mitigate as much harm from their operation as possible. Making it a point to use sustainable products and supplies will not only help the earth overall but signal to your customers that you care about the environment, potentially drawing more in.
If you intend to start a new business along your climate-defending journey, the importance of a business plan cannot be overstated. This document should function as a roadmap for yourself as well as a highlight reel for potential investors. Consider what goods and services your business will provide, how they will be distributed to customers, what sort of funding is needed, and what profits can be expected. If you need some help developing that business plan, or you need tips on other aspects of building your business, use a business guide whenever things feel overwhelming.
Anxiety regarding the climate crisis is justified and, frankly, expected. To reduce how much stress it causes you personally, process your feelings and take whatever corrective action you can as an individual. To find resources and actionable steps for implementing renewable energy solutions, visit The Renewable Energy Hub today!
submitted by Michael Bourke
