8 Ways to Fight for the Environment at Home

The environment is changing fast. Last week, the International Court of Justice called climate change an “urgent and existential threat.” We’re feeling this urgency all around us. In the weather. In our water.

While climate change affects everyone, it hits women and girls hardest, especially in rural areas. And with recent cuts to environmental protections, the risks might be even greater.

The good news is that women and girls are environmental stewards. We’re leading the way on climate change at home, in our communities, and in elected office.

8 ways to stand up for the environment right now

1. Clean up your neighborhood.

Joining a local volunteer cleanup is a simple way to make a difference. It gets you outside (which helps with mental and physical health, by the way). It also helps you meet neighbors and makes your immediate surroundings better. If you bring kids along, they get to see how trash adds up and why it matters, which can help them be environmentally responsible.

2. Help your community grow greener.

Planting trees or creating small green spaces can really help fight climate change and biodiversity loss. Look for local groups or join bigger efforts like The Nature Conservancy, which plans to plant 1 billion trees. In cities, creating smaller spaces like rooftop gardens or pocket parks can cool neighborhoods down and bring people together.

3. Make sustainable choices together.

Your habits have a ripple effect when you share them. A few places to start:

• Food waste. 1.3 billion tons of food goes unused each year. That energy and water, and adds to emissions. Ask your favorite restaurants about their policy on food waste, and share sustainable restaurants. Join or advocate for public composting and local food programs like CSAs and farmers markets.

• Fast fashion. It creates 10% of global carbon emissions, and even donated clothes end up in landfills. Join or organize clothing swaps, repair workshops, buy nothing groups, and buy local/buy sustainable events.

• E-waste. Electronics are hard to safely recycle and often end up polluting land and water; meanwhile, the mined components are wasted. Ask your employer about their policy on e-waste recycling policies and advocate for an e-waste hub to your elected officials.

4. Get into education.

Local science needs local people. Join a “citizen science” research group like wildlife counts. You can also help by talking to teachers and connecting them to local environmental groups. Or organize or join environmental workshops in your community or at your workplace; the National Environmental Education Foundation is a great place to start. Nature centers and parks are always looking for volunteers, too.

5. Drive less, if you can.

Cars are still a big part of the climate problem, even electric ones. Walking and biking really help cut emissions. If that’s not an option, think about carpooling, reducing trips, buying used, and advocating for bike lanes and better public transit in your area. (If you’d like some motivation, lower car dependency is connected to happiness!)

6. Talk to your local officials.

Not everything gets fixed by volunteering or changing your habits. We need real policies and better infrastructure. And with the federal government defunding those two things, we need action at the state and local level. Talking to your elected officials is key.

Choose one or two issues that matter to you, like clean energy or better public transit, and reach out to your local reps. If you really want to make your official sit up and listen, talk to friends and neighbors so that you’re reflecting the concerns of a group. (Yale has some really great tips on how to lobby to protect the environment.) You can do it with a few friends or join a group like Citizens’ Climate Lobby.

7. Support women who lead.

Research shows that women leaders prioritize the environment. In business, we have better environmental reporting and dominate the clean energy industry. In government, we ratify environmental agreements and have stronger climate policies. Support and amplify women who are taking action. And find out who’s running for office locally and where they stand on the environment. The earlier you ask, the more likely they are to listen, before their messages and platforms are sealed.

8. Include the kids!

Kids need to understand what’s happening with the environment and what they can do about it. The planet is their future. Girls, especially, need to see women leading the way. We need to be role models, and we need to support their teachers and community leaders. .

The great news is that a lot of these actions get kids outdoors, touching grass and connecting to the world around them. That’s not only crucial; it’s actually fun.

Climate action isn’t one big step. It’s lots of small ones, taken together, over time. But right now, it’s critical. We’re at an inflection point both as a planet and a nation. This moment matters. We can’t do it all, but we can all do something. And the most important work happens right where we live.