It’s Plastic-Free July, and my social media feeds are full of countless ads for sustainable products that you can buy to be more eco-friendly. In my opinion, this creates a barrier for those who can’t afford to invest in a bunch of new, oftentimes higher, costs. There are many ways to live sustainably that don’t require spending any money, just adopting new habits. If you need extra motivation to cut…
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Tools for Coping with Eco-Anxiety
“The thing about climate change is that you can either be overwhelmed by the complexity of the problem or fall in love with the creativity of the solutions” – Mary Heglar. Eco-anxiety is the anxious feeling that we get when we look at the future threat of climate change. Eco-grief is the mourning or sadness that we feel at the loss of environmental landscape. Eco-paralysis is the sense of being…
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What Does Sustainable Development Look Like?
Sustainable development is defined as “development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability for future generations to meet their needs”. Sustainable urban development is not a new topic of discussion. it actually was on the agenda of the 1972 United Nations Conference on the Human Environment in Stockholm, Sweden. The four objectives of sustainable development are stable economic growth, conservation of natural resources, social progress and…
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Using Your Vote for Climate Action
We must vote like the environment depends on it, because it does! Electing local officials who have values that align with your community allows centralized, effective change take place. We do have power and a voice as citizens, and it is clear that it is our responsibility to inform and educate ourselves! Voting for representatives who have environmental justice at the forefront of their platform ensures that we can stay…
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Ambitious Climate Legislation in the U.S.
Climate bills have historically passed in the United States thanks to the tireless work of advocacy groups and activists. Generations of people have been fighting for these changes non-stop, and it boggles my mind how little progress we seem to have made in 2022. However, there have been some ambitious climate legislation passed in the U.S. over the past few years. This article features seven recent bills that have passed…
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15 Podcasts That Deal With Climate Anxiety
I don’t know about everyone else, but I have gotten hooked on podcasts over the past couple of years. They are an unbelievably convenient way to absorb information, and I listen to them while I’m driving to work, going for a walk, or doing chores. I have been feeling extremely burnt out this past month, and a large part of it was due to this extreme climate anxiety I was…
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Low-waste habits that save you money
One of the largest barriers that scares a lot of people away from low waste lifestyle alternatives initially is the cost factor. So many people tell me that they want to make changes, but they don’t want to add more expenses to their lifestyle. Whether you are facing a financial barrier, or simply want to cut back on your monthly expenses, these low-waste tips have saved myself and many others…
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Saying No to Single-Use Plastics: Portland Initiatives
I feel so lucky to be living in Portland, Oregon. Not only because of how beautiful it is, but because there are so many amazing sustainable initiatives, companies, and organizations out here! I spent last weekend trying out two amazing to-go ware reuse programs. Okapi Reusables provides to-go drink ware that can be returned to participating locations, and GO Box provide to-go food containers that can be returned to participating locations.…
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Energy Efficiency Tips That Save You Money
Working as the Program Coordinator for an energy assistance non-profit has opened my eyes to the importance of energy efficiency for both social and environmental reasons. Having heat and electricity in our homes is something that many of us take for granted, and honestly don’t give it a second thought. However, for many people across the world, paying for your energy bill gets pushed aside so that they can afford…
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15+ Sustainable Reads for 2022
The climate crisis is overwhelming, and it can feel like a problem that is never-ending and always changing. I personally feel much more empowered on my journey when I understand the topics I am passionate about, but that may just be the scientist in me! We have compiled a wide variety of books to get you thinking more broadly about the changes you are making, and how that is making…
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Eco-friendly resolutions for the New Year
Each year, people all over the world create New Year’s resolution lists to help motivate and inspire habit changes for the new year. While we are all so hopeful and innocent in 2020 that 2021 was going to be better. Unfortunately, it was another hard and stressful year for most. If anything, it has shown us all that we need to change and grow as a human population if there…
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3 Delicious Vegetable Sides for Winter
Pairing simple vegetable sides with your dinners is a super easy way to complete a meal and be sure that you are getting the proper nutrients. I personally think it is so important to have recipes that are quick and use minimal ingredients, especially if you have a busy lifestyle. Cooking is one of the few times that I can fully relax and clear my head, so it tends to…
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15 Low-Waste Travel Hacks
Traveling is something that we all look forward to doing throughout our lifetime, as a means of taking a mental health break, going on an adventure, work trips or visiting family Unfortunately, transportation accounts for between 15 and 20 percent of emissions each year around the globe. If you can’t stop traveling permanently, try at least incorporating some eco-concious decisions into your travel! For me, traveling is one of the ways…