One Green Thing a Day: Small Acts for a Burning World

It was the first time floodwater was in his house. It was as though nature had become a strange thing. It is odd when the climate emergency transforms into sitting on wet carpets and the inability to sleep, knowing the lightning-fast process of it becoming personal. Like everyone else, he was helpless. So, what can just one person do?

Climate action used to seem to him either in protest, a policy paper, or some solar panel he could never afford. That was until he read:

Not all major changes start with big things.

One green thing is all it can take.

New Ways of Thinking

Rather than trying to save his home, his planet overnight, he began by doing one thing every day, in which he could be good and which recharged his batteries. It did not have to be complex. Reusing containers. A conversation with one of his friends on fast fashion. Planting something. Writing something. Deciding to walk to places rather than drive. That change in perspective, of falling apart to a simple one-thing-a-day-awareness, was the genesis of something quite strong. Climate action was no longer a foreign movement. It became who he was and connected to his purpose.

The Practice that Brings You Home

His routine was established by doing one thing a day. It allowed his worry to fuel change. He did not feel afraid and accumulated the feeling in his chest. Instead, he transformed fear into action. Sustainable actions are not always accessible. One day, he decided to refuse plastic packaging. The second, he studied where the trash in his city ended up. Another day, he posted an article on social media that led to constructive discussions.

Moments that Multiply

He began to observe the effect of his simple actions. One of the people he worked with asked him how he began composting. One of the members of the family started switching off electrical appliances that would not be in use. Friends sent messages requesting to share plant-based recipes.

From Individual Action to Collective Change

This approach has a deeper philosophy to it. It admits that the efforts of individuals cannot stop emissions in themselves, speaking of the fact that individual actions still change culture. And it is culture which shifts systems. The minds will change before the policies. Demand has to change before the industries. Citizens must demonstrate what matters before leaders do.

He is a part of the greater whole. The systems start feeling the heat when millions of people are determined to do small things. The adoption is not as difficult as it may seem. When you do not know where to start, you can ask yourself the following question: What are my strengths? What do I like? What matters to me most?

Start there.

Be in nature as much as possible, and you can bring people with you.

If you like reading research, immerse yourself and share solutions to climate problems.

If you are creative, use your art, your writing or your voice to relate people to the issue.

It does not matter what it looks like. What makes the difference is that it fits you, your fire.

It is Enough to Be Imperfect

Regularly is not every day. Some days, he forgets. Someday, he fails. But the next day, he goes back. That is what practice is like. It is not about getting it perfectly. It is about getting it.

Burnout occurs when he does climate action as a chore. Instead, he focuses on one reframe, one (green) thing that turned his climate grief to hope grounded.

Our Future World Is Watching

A few years later, when his conscience asks whether he did something for his planet, he’ll look back and respond: I did. I was there. Although it was not always done with great pomp and circumstance, I proceeded with regularity.  Hence, for your future, for your conscience, do your one green thing.

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Ukkashah Shaikh is Peace and Conflict Studies graduate (gold medalist) with a passion for community building, digital advocacy, and meaningful social change based in Islamabad, Pakistan.