How to fight the climate crisis in 2020
The new years offers a fresh start. Here’s how we can stand up for the environment in 2020
The new year is almost upon us and that means it’s time to reflect. What went right? What lessons can we take into 2020 to fight climate breakdown?
It’s easy to say this about any year, but 2019 was turbulent.
We had unprecedented climate strikes — from Extinction Rebellion to the Fridays for Future school protest movement. The UK even recognised the climate emergency in formal terms.
In contrast, we saw the Amazon burn, Arctic ice cover fall to its second-lowest on record and Australia record its two hottest ever days, along with devastating bushfires.
And in the UK, an election saw the Conservatives gain a large majority — despite their continuing failures to act on the climate crisis.
So where do we go from here?
The new year offers new hope. It’s a time to get some rest, reflect and begin again with vigour.
Before we charge back into holding power to account, striking for the climate and making our voices heard, take a second. Your mental — and physical — well-being might need a little TLC.
With the added stress of the festive period, many of us will start 2020 feeling exhausted. From personal experience, we can tell you this isn’t ideal. And it’s not sustainable.
Pause for a while and don’t feel guilty about it. The climate crisis is ongoing but it won’t be helped if we’re all emotionally burned out.
We’ve written a few things to help you rest, recharge and reconnect with the sustainability movement.
- 6 outdoor trips for your mental well-being
- Sustainability and looking after your mental health
- 5 ways to reconnect with sustainability
Feeling rested? Here’s the plan for 2020
A well-rested environmentalist is an effective environmentalist. If you’re feeling back up to speed, here are some tips to change the world in 2020.
Change your routine
The climate crisis is fuelled by a ‘business as usual’ mindset. We go to the same places, eat the same food and buy from the same brands. That must change.
Change your energy supplier to a renewable one. It shouldn’t cost you a penny more and you won’t be funding the fossil fuel industry.
Reduce your meat and dairy intake. They are among the biggest causes of climate breakdown and deforestation.
Shop locally and seasonally where possible. Living by the natural rhythms of the land will reduce emissions and force you to think differently.
Use your influence
We all have a sphere of influence. We all possess the power to encourage people in a certain direction or open them up to new things.
Tell your close friends and family about the urgency of the climate breakdown. Tell them that our planet’s brightest minds are absolutely certain about it. No longer is there any doubt.
Tell them what you’re doing in your own life to help, and explain how you’ve struggled to get there. Humanising the problem makes it more palatable and achievable. Nobody’s perfect and nobody likes to be preached at.
Use the language you always use and don’t try to be too clever. It comes across as patronising and that’s a real killer for the movement.
Get hands-on
Sustainability can seem like a faraway ideal rather than real, everyday actions. That needn’t be the case.
Get in touch with local conservation groups and help plant trees, audit species and build new green spaces. Volunteering in nature is one of the best ways to reconnect with sustainability.
And you can look beyond nature reserves, too. Sustainability is about people, so think of ways to help your local community that put your skills to good use.
For example, creatives could help charities with their marketing output as there’s often a shortage of these skills within the nonprofit sector.
Audit your company’s sustainability
In business, decision-makers hold huge power when it comes to sustainability. Modest changes can make a big difference, from your energy supplier to your marketing output.
We help companies put sustainability at the heart of their operations — starting with a sustainable marketing plan.
Responsible brands can’t just make token gestures anymore. It’s time to make your values a central part of your day-to-day running. It sounds daunting, but it starts with an open, honest conversation.
How do you want your brand to be remembered? We want to be known as a leader in the climate fightback so we designed our business to help us get there.
We hired people with a passion for the environment, we rebranded with a powerful story in mind and we put out messages that show we’re serious.
If you want to do the same, we’d suggest doing a full and frank audit of your company’s sustainability. That means your suppliers, daily processes and the messages you put out. It also includes the way you treat your staff and your attitude to people.
Being a sustainable company in 2020 means more than using recycled paper. We can help you get there, but finding the motivation is up to you.
