5 Simple Actions to Reclaim Our Power After the Election

Election news might feel heavy, but let's remember: we still have power in our choices. With millions of us, we can create a powerful shift by focusing on what we can control.

1. Divest from Fossil Fuels

Fossil fuels are disastrous for the environment mainly because of their carbon emissions. Burning them releases massive amounts of CO₂, a leading greenhouse gas driving climate change. Shockingly, fossil fuel use accounts for around 81.5% of global CO₂ emissions (source).

To put it in perspective, just 90 companies have been responsible for over two-thirds of all human-caused greenhouse gas emissions since 1850 (source). This pollution doesn’t just warm the planet—it also leads to air pollution that kills around 8.7 million people annually worldwide (source).

That’s why where we invest our money matters. Banks like JPMorgan Chase support fossil fuel projects like the Keystone Pipeline (source). Divestment means pulling our money from industries that don’t align with our values.

Here are some of the banks to avoid if possible: JPMorgan Chase, Wells Fargo, Bank of America, Citibank, Goldman Sachs. Switching to socially and environmentally responsible banks, like Aspiration or Amalgamated Bank, is a simple way to support green initiatives with your finances.

Even if your bank isn’t transparent about its investments or you’re tied to them for any reason, I urge you to call them and ask questions that can signal that you expect better practices from them.

If you’re curious about a bank’s investments in the oil industry, the best place to start is by contacting its Investor Relations department. Major banks have Investor Relations teams dedicated to answering questions about the bank’s financial activities and investments. You can find contact details for these departments on each bank’s website.

If you’re an investor yourself, I highly recommend tools like Fossil Free Funds that help identify sustainable options and alternatives like green and social impact bonds and allow investors to align their portfolios with their values.

2. Say No to Major Plastic Polluters 

So many people are deeply concerned about plastic pollution, which is fantastic. But here’s something interesting: plastics are, in a sense, a visible result of our carbon emissions. Climate change from greenhouse gases can feel abstract, but images of whales dying from ingesting plastic bags hit close to home and stir action.

In the zero waste movement, it’s essential to address not only our waste footprint but also our carbon footprint. The truth is, far more marine life is at risk if ocean warming and acidification cause krill populations to collapse.

Plastics are essentially climate change in physical form—they’re made from hydrocarbons, after all. Only 9% of plastics actually get recycled (source), which shows we’re not going to recycle our way out of this problem. Supporting companies that use sustainable packaging, like paper and aluminum, can help shift demand away from the biggest plastic polluters like Coca-Cola, Nestlé, and PepsiCo.

3. Reduce Landfill Food Waste

It’s easy to toss out food scraps without a second thought—but here’s why we should all reconsider. When organic waste like food scraps and yard trimmings end up in landfills, they don’t just disappear. Here’s a closer look at what actually happens and why composting is more important than we think:

1. Methane Emissions: When organic waste like food scraps ends up in a landfill, it decomposes without oxygen, releasing methane—a greenhouse gas over 25 times more potent than CO₂ in trapping heat in the atmosphere. (source)

2. Massive Waste: Around 30% of what we throw away is organic material that could be composted. That’s tons of waste taking up landfill space and releasing harmful gases. (source)

3. Wasted Resources: Food scraps in landfills represent wasted water, energy, and resources used to produce that food, all of which go to waste if not composted. (source)

4. Soil Health: Composting returns nutrients to the soil, enriching it and reducing the need for chemical fertilizers, which are harmful to ecosystems. (source)

5. Global Food Waste Problem: Globally, about 1.3 billion tons of food is wasted every year. If that waste were composted, it could prevent millions of tons of greenhouse gas emissions annually. (source)

So, maybe it’s time to look at those food scraps in a new light. If you’re ready to give composting a go and looking for composting guides, I've got two for you: apartment composting and backyard setups.

4. Eat Mindfully: Lower Meat Consumption

Beef farming has a massive environmental impact—it’s responsible for about 7% of global greenhouse gases (sources), more than the entire transportation sector! Cattle ranching also drives deforestation, causing 80% of Amazon forest loss (source), and just 1 pound of beef uses 1,800 gallons of water (source). Hard to ignore, right? Here’s what you can do to help:

1. Start with Meatless Monday:  Skipping meat just one day a week lowers demand for animal agriculture, which helps cut greenhouse gas emissions, conserve water, and protect land resources.
2. Choose Certified Humane Meat: When you do eat meat, choosing 100% pasture-raised, grass-fed options supports animal welfare, our health and the environment. Grass-fed animals help restore ecosystems by grazing in ways that improve soil health and capture carbon, reducing the impact of emissions. (source)

To ensure your meat and fish are responsibly sourced, check out the certifications explained in our “How to Be an Ethical Omnivore” article.

5. Plug In Locally: Let's get to work

Getting active locally has the most immediate and tangible impact. Local action directly improves your community and often creates a ripple effect—when one community sees positive change, it inspires neighboring areas to act, too.

People often ask me, "Why should I try if it won’t make a difference?" My answer is always the same: your actions matter! Here’s proof.

Under the Trump administration, environmental groups won 83% of their cases, showing that when citizens take action, businesses and policies respond.

Here are some great communities you could join today:

1. Earth Justice
2. Greenpeace USA
3. 350 Org
4. Represent US

So, if you’re not already involved with a local advocacy group, now’s the perfect time to join! 

Sustainability in Action: Important to remember

Starting new habits can feel overwhelming, but with time, they become second nature. You don’t have to be a “perfect” environmentalist—in fact, I don’t think such a thing exists! What we need to do is keep our spirits up, take informed action, and keep going. Beyond that, the sustainable habits we bring into our daily lives are better for us. They simplify our routines, save us money, and improve our health.