Many people make New Year’s resolutions to make changes in their life: fitness, health, or better habits.  Here are some areas of your life to consider to increase your personal sustainability actions as we begin a new year.  My previous posts over the last several years have lots of details and links for ideas and information to consider.  Start by picking one or two options in addition to what you already do to live sustainably.  Baby steps are a great way to start so you don’t get overwhelmed.  Happy New Year!

• Waste reduction is about generating fewer items as well as appropriate disposition of discards.  Reuse, repurpose, and recycle.  Use it up and wear it out before buying new.  Reduce reliance on single-use items.  Reduce impulse purchases.
• Pollution prevention includes avoiding the use of harmful or toxic chemicals as well as proper disposal of chemicals.  Buy fragrance free options, choose less toxic options, and use the appropriate quantity for the purpose.  Make use of prescription drug take-back programs, household hazardous waste disposal centers, and freecycle opportunities. 
• Conserve energy at home, at work, and while traveling. Activities to consider include how you heat and cool your living space, how you do laundry and cooking, and reducing “vampire energy” use by electronics and appliances.   Consider your transportation options and combine trips when possible. 
• Care for the earth by picking up litter, removing invasive plants from your yard, and researching less toxic ways to control pests. 
  

Invasive species, whether plant, animal, fish, reptile, or insect, can cause significant harm to an ecosystem.  While not all invasive species cause serious harm, they all displace native species to some degree.  Displacement of some of the native species in an ecosystem ripples through the other species that rely on that habitat.  And some invasive species are nearly impossible to control and cause serious harm to ecosystems.  The lionfish, an Asian species, has reached new habitat in the western hemisphere, where it has no predators and causes serious harm in coral reefs.  Severe mammal declines in Everglades National Park have been linked to invasive Burmese pythons, which were likely introduced as through escapes from the pet trade or when pet snakes were released when they became too big.  Cheatgrass, native to Eurasia and the Mediterranean and now well established in the US, colonizes any open, dry habitat and has the potential to completely alter the ecosystems it occupies by completely replacing native vegetation and changing fire frequency and intensity.  The article below discusses how even the everyday goldfish, a popular small fish kept as a household pet, has become a serious invasive species as people have released unwanted goldfish into the environment. They can grow to more than a foot long and weigh more than three pounds. So, don’t release your goldfish, pet snake, or any other critter into the wild unless it is native to the area.  I’ll cover invasive plants in another post on another day, but invasive plants can have a bigger negative impact on an ecosystem than invasive critters. 

https://www.greatlakesnow.org/2023/11/were-going-to-need-a-bigger-fishbow

Carbon offsets are intended for use by companies and individuals to fund larger-scale efforts to reduce carbon emissions to supplement individual carbon reduction actions.  In theory, these larger-scale projects offset the individual or corporate carbon emissions that cannot be reduced within the company operations or individual’s lifestyle.  An effective carbon offset project, used as intended, can be a good way to enable global carbon emissions reductions and there are some good programs available.  However, many carbon offset programs are ineffective or are used to justify failing to reduce individual or corporate carbon emissions.  Some carbon offset programs are heavily greenwashed (false or misleading statements to make an effort seem more “green”).  Some programs are operated by for-profit companies that are more interested in increasing profits than implementing an effective carbon reduction program.  Selecting an effective carbon offset program takes careful research or you could be wasting your money on nothing more than a “feel-good certificate”.  The article at the link below discusses pros and cons, cautions, and things to consider when considering a carbon offset.  Be sure to read the whole article.  In addition, many people and small companies do not have sufficient extra income to purchase carbon offsets.  Here are some ideas for using your resources in lieu of purchasing carbon offsets.  There may be many effective things you can do in your own little corner of the world. 

• If your employer or school administration is willing, can you suggest and help implement changes or programs to increase the sustainability of your organization?
• Can you increase your personal energy efficiency? Consider projects such as adding extra insulation to a poorly insulated attic or replacing an old appliance with a more energy-efficient one.  If you have not yet converted to LED lightbulbs, they’re a great way to start and some utilities will provide a rebate on the cost. 
• Is there a local organization (government or nonprofit) you can work with to improve sustainability in your community?
• Does your energy utility have a program you can participate in? 

https://earth.org/offsetting-carbon-emissions/

If you live in the US, the next few months will decide who is running for the various elected positions in the November 2024 general election. Caucuses and primary elections select candidates from all levels of government, from local to national.  Some states use the caucus system, where a group of political party members meets to select the candidates from that political party who will be on the ballot in the general election.  In general, at caucuses a relatively small number of people select the candidates. In the case of the presidential election, the caucus selects delegates who are sworn to support a specific candidate at the national convention that choses that party’s candidate for the general election. Those who attend the caucuses are generally very active members of the political party and their views don’t always match those of the general membership of their political party.  Other states hold primary elections to determine which candidates will move forward to the general election.  These primary elections are generally specific to a particular political party and usually have a much smaller turnout than general elections.  However, these early candidate selection processes are very important, because they affect who is on the ballot for the general elections.  If you want a candidate on the ballot who represents your point of view, get involved in these early primaries and caucuses.  Your participation may help select candidates that more closely represent your point of view.  . 

An increasing number of products are described as sustainable or eco-friendly.  Not all of these claims are true.  Greenwashing means that a company or individual is using misleading labels or information to persuade consumers that their products are more environmentally friendly than they truly are.  I found a great article that describes nine different types of greenwashing and how to watch for it.   

https://www.rd.com/article/what-is-greenwashing/