Sustainability

What can you do about sustainability issues and climate change? No one person can solve environmental and social issues on their own, but small actions can add up and create positive change over time. Here are some actions you can take to create a more sustainable world:

• Shop sustainably. When possible, aim to purchase items secondhand or items that are produced sustainably. Be wary of greenwashing, a tactic that some companies use to make their products seem more sustainable through the use of environmental buzzwords or nature imagery. The National Resource Defense Council's Guide to Spotting Greenwashing can help you see through false advertising. 
• Use your vote and your voice. Vote for candidates who support your values and policies that will enact a more sustainable future. Contact your elected representatives to let them know that their support of sustainable environmental and social policies matters to you and ask them to vote in support of those measures. 
• Find small, daily actions you can continue long-term. Small changes over time create big changes. It's important to adopt habits that you can stick with over time. The United Nation's Lazy Person's Guide to Changing the World has ideas for easy actions you can take at home, at work, and beyond. 
• Take care of yourself. Feelings of climate anxiety or climate grief can make it feel difficult to continue your advocacy. It's important to take time to care for your mental health. Check out NPR's 5 Tips for Managing Climate Anxiety and VeryWellMind's Guide to Solastalgia  for ideas on how to care for yourself. 

Although sustainable practices can be applied to any career, some jobs focus specifically on what you will learn in your sustainability studies minor. Some examples of careers in sustainability include environmental scientists and specialists, sustainability experts, geoscientists, sociologists, political scientists, and zoologists. Check out the resources below for more information about careers in sustainability, and view our Career Readiness Guide for more information about job searching and career evaluation.