The world is weird and tense and unsettling these days. Building strong, diverse relationships help communities become connected and resilient for the long term.
A few weeks ago, I joined dozens of neighbours for a beach cleanup with Surfrider. We came together to take tangible climate action by making our community a little bit cleaner and by connecting with each other (there was coffee).
Participating in community service together is a powerful way to forge strong relationships among participants. Studies have shown that engaging in collective action in service of a common good fosters a sense of camaraderie, trust, and cooperation. According to Watershed Sentinel’s Richard Heinberg, when individuals come together to support a cause, such as environmental conservation, they not only build personal connections but also develop a collective consciousness towards the issue at hand. This shared experience aligns perspectives, enhances connection to a place or a cause, and expands peoples’ points of view despite political, cultural, and socioeconomic biases.
Because everyone wants their communities to be safer, more connected, and healthier.
Given that taking collective action with neighbours mitigates bias, expands points of view, creates shared understanding and purpose, and makes the world cleaner, here are three climate actions you can take to literally build healthy communities.
No Styrofoam Docks
Banning Styrofoam docks is a big win for the environment. These docks crumble into tiny bits that hurt marine life and mess up ecosystems. Sea creatures eat them, get sick, and even die. Plus, Styrofoam adds to the microplastics problem. Let’s swap Styrofoam for greener materials to keep our waterways clean and critters safe.
No Gas-Powered Leaf Blowers
Perhaps the single greatest climate action you/me/we can take is to ban gas powered leaf blowers. They suck. And blow, I guess. They’re annoyingly loud and bad for the health of whoever is operating them. Seth Godin, co-creator of The Carbon Almanac, hates gas powered leaf blowers and he has data to back up his feelings about gross inefficiency:
In one hour, a gas-powered leaf blower will emit as much carbon dioxide equivalent as driving a typical internal combustion engine car 3,000 miles. (That’s not a typo). The details are here.
Yet these noisy machines are still around because they’re convenient and offer short-term savings for gardeners.
Switching to electric or manual alternatives can significantly reduce our environmental impact and promote a healthier, quieter community. More importantly, lobbying local governments to ban gas powered leaf blowers is a small and impactful action that anyone can take on.
No Driving to School
In Canada, transportation accounts for 25 per cent of climate-polluting emissions, a close second to the oil and gas industry. Encouraging active transportation to school is the single most important climate action that families can take. Walking, biking, or taking the bus not only reduces carbon emissions, but also fosters healthier lifestyles and safer communities. Schools can support this transition by providing bike racks, implementing walk to school programs, and collaborating with local transportation authorities to ensure safe and efficient bus routes.