Individual Action in Climate Change

Early Experiences with Individual Action and Disillusionment

My journey with individual action in combating climate change began in elementary school. Like many, I was introduced to the principles of "reduce, reuse, recycle" and taught the importance of turning off lights when leaving a room. Small actions were given significance and helped me feel like I was a part of something bigger fighting for good. 

However, my perspective began to shift in high school when I took AP Environmental Science and started to observe the world around me more critically. I noticed that the seemingly clear-cut solutions from my childhood were full of contradictions. For example, the school trash cans with separate openings at the top for recycling and trash were actually the same bin. A very quick introduction into performative action was made. This disillusionment deepened when I learned more about the recycling industry, particularly the role of oil and gas companies in perpetuating the myth of plastic recycling.

The idea that most plastics are recyclable is a carefully crafted narrative, largely driven by the very industries that produce these plastics. Digging deeper, I found that these companies have long known that recycling plastic on a large scale is neither economically viable nor environmentally effective. Yet, they promoted this myth to deflect attention from the environmental damage caused by their products. This is not a new story but we see the same story over and over that large companies have the power and motivation to cause harm in order to earn profit. My desire to dig deeper and study environmental science stemmed largely from a genuine interest in finding solutions, yet my disdain for the lies and performative actions persisted.

Disillusionment in College and "Climate Anger"

By the time I reached college and declared my major in environmental science, I was completely disillusioned with the idea that individual actions could significantly impact climate change. My coursework, filled with statistics and scientific analyses, reinforced this perspective. It became clear that while the idea of small actions like recycling or reducing energy use are not without merit, they are nowhere near sufficient to address the scale of the climate crisis. The only meaningful change, I learned, would have to come from structural or policy-level interventions.

During my research, I came across the term "climate anger," which is a good descriptor for my feelings. I knew of the problems that we were facing and felt prepared to deal with and dedicate time working to solve them. However, some of my emotions were rooted in anger—anger at the corporations that have systematically lied to the public, promoting ineffective solutions while continuing to harm the planet. These companies prey on the genuine desire of people to make a difference, offering them a false sense of control through individual actions, all while prioritizing profits over the health of our planet.

What infuriates me the most is the way society has been structured to prioritize the bottom line, with little regard for the environmental consequences. The lies about individual action are a perfect example of this, distracting well-meaning individuals with quick fix solutions while the real problems persist unchecked. This realization was a turning point for me, solidifying my belief that significant, impactful change can only come from challenging these powerful structures and advocating for systemic reform.

Evolving to Informed Individual Action

My time with One Green Thing has changed my understanding of the role individual action can play in addressing climate change. Through research and discussions, we've explored the concepts of climate anxiety and the importance of community engagement. I've come to realize that while not everyone can be an environmental science major or participate in protests, everyone’s involvement is crucial. We need a societal shift, where a desire for sustainability and renewal becomes a shared value. This is where the importance of individual action and decisions becomes the start of something bigger. 

My anger towards the lies we have been told remains, and at times, it feels overwhelming to navigate the misinformation and obstacles designed to distract us. However, I've come to realize that creating impactful change involves clarifying what meaningful individual action looks like and embedding this mindfulness into our culture. We must address both the larger structural problems and the need for a new kind of cultural awareness around sustainability. By combining informed individual actions with broader systemic change, we can begin to heal the damage inflicted on our world.