Jamie Camargo

While global and national actions get a lot of attention, it’s often at the local community level where individuals can have the greatest input and where change is most tangible. But every community is unique and there is no one-size-fits-all solution. I will spend 20 minutes finding out how my neighborhood, town or city is helping the environment and building local resilience.

I will spend at least 15 minutes watching videos and/or reading about the environmental benefits of silvopasture.

I will spend at least 15 minutes learning more about the environmental services provided by and the environmental issues affecting temperate forests.

When they are available, I will purchase products made from bamboo instead of wood, plastic, or metal.

I will plan ahead to use paper products only made from post-consumer recycled paper for my home or office.

Contamination prevents what is recyclable from being recycled. I will research and recycle all materials that are accepted by local haulers or drop stations in my community, including electronics and metals.

I will avoid buying and using 2 single-use plastics and instead replace them with durable options.

I will learn about sustainable fashion and begin practicing it in my own life.

I will practice the "5 Rs" — refuse, reduce, reuse, repurpose, and recycle — to reduce my waste more than I can with just recycling alone.

I will spend 15 minutes learning about carbon offsets, and why they are a necessary solution in combating a climate crisis.

I will complete a plastics audit to see where plastics show up in my life and determine how I can reduce the use of single-use plastics.

I will spend at least 15 minutes learning more about the energy generation potential of micro wind.

I will spend at least 15 minutes learning more about the energy generation potential of biomass.

I will spend at least 15 minutes learning more about the energy generation potential of wave and tidal energy.

I will replace 5 incandescent lightbulbs with Energy Star-certified LED bulbs, saving up to $14 per fixture per year.

I will spend at least 20 minutes learning more about the energy generation potential of geothermal energy and consider investing in this technology.