Happy New Year! If, like a lot of people, you’re thinking about how you want to show up for the planet and your community in 2022, we have a suggestion: Work on the foundational stuff.

By expanding your own environmental knowledge and supporting collective efforts that are more likely to spark systemic change, you will be able to build stronger climate habits over time. (No burnout required.)

Vote on climate

One of the single most important things you can do for the planet is vote, because it can set off seismic shifts at every level of government. Just look at Illinois. After voters elected dozens of pro-climate legislators and put a clean energy advocate in the governor’s office, the midwestern state with a long affinity for fossil fuels passed the Climate and Equitable Jobs Act, one of the most ambitious pieces of climate legislation in the country. New York State, where voters passed an environmental rights amendment in November, is another great example. These huge steps forward were possible because people like you showed up at the ballot box. So make sure your voice is heard by registering to vote. Next, start filling in your calendar with local and state election dates and sign up for email alerts if possible.

Join something local

We know you’re already a dedicated NRDC member, but joining at least one other local or regional environmental group means you can have a critical impact on the issues close to home. In fact, our grassroots partners drove some major wins in 2021—helping to stop a notorious metal shredder from moving to Chicago’s Southeast Side, secure safe drinking water for families in Newark, and block the Keystone XL pipeline. Check out free match services online that can help you decide where to volunteer, whether it’s collecting compost at the community garden or joining a campaign to fight an industrial polluter. Then commit to showing up for that organization, even in small ways.

Read well

Environmental issues are complicated, even for experts. And the rampant disinformation campaigns and general misinformation found online can make matters even trickier. This is why reputable sources are fundamental to being—and staying—informed. For daily news, start with the environmental coverage of your local paper and at least one national newspaper. Make sure the news articles you trust cite peer-reviewed research from respected science journals. And when it comes to understanding the fundamentals—on anything from fossil fuels to global warming—our series of 101 guides and explainers have you covered.

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