Small Actions Can Lead to Big Change

Samantha Smith/ 5 minute read

This Earth Day, I’m reflecting on where we are as a society in tackling climate change. It seems like every step forward is followed by several steps backward.

There has been a lot of troubling news in the environmental realm lately, from the possible move to allow more domestic fossil fuel drilling to eliminating the incentives for adding rooftop solar. These setbacks can start to feel overwhelming sometimes and make you wonder if we will ever solve our climate crisis. However, I have to keep believing that individual actions can and do make a difference.

Key Takeaways

Individual actions can make a difference
Join an Eco-Challenge to learn and interact with others
Enjoy and share your love of the outdoors

From eating a plant based diet to driving an electric car, the widespread adoption of planet-friendly habits will make a difference if enough people get onboard.

This month I'm participating in a special Earth Month Eco-Challenge with a World Centric team. The Eco-Challenges are designed to gamify behavior change and get people learning and interacting with each other for motivation. From learning about my local watershed to educating myself on local invasive species, the experience has been positive and educational.

However, it was one unconventional challenge that caught my eye. The task was to write a poem, song or take a picture to express my love and gratitude for our planet. It got me thinking that getting out and enjoying the outdoors and sharing a love of nature is not only good for myself but also a great way to influence other people’s behavior.

If you love seeing pollinators in your backyard or going for a quiet hike at a park near your house, you know that these are the things that bring us joy and peace and are worth fighting for. If you share these experiences with others, more people will come to appreciate them as well and might even be willing to speak up in favor of pesticide reduction and open space preservation in their own neighborhoods.

If you’re struggling with ways to do more and get inspired, consider signing up for an Eco-Challenge Event. These well-designed challenges help you learn more, connect you with others and give you the agency to make a difference. Also consider taking World Centric’s Count Me In Challenge to adopt behaviors that can make a difference all year long.