Bill McKibben calls global climate change “the greatest crisis humans have yet faced,” and he’s exactly right. To face such a massive crisis, I fear we need more than just policies and protests; we need a complete change in mindset.

My climate manifesto is simple: I want to change as many minds as I can. I want to live in a way that pushes others to think more about their impact on the planet and to start making more sustainable choices, even if they’re small ones! I believe that when people begin to see the environment not as something  “out there” but as part of their daily lives, they’ll care more about their actions and even do more as a result.

Growing up, I didn’t think much about climate change outside of what I learned in school. Climate change always felt like this distant problem; these melting glaciers and rising water levels were so far away from me.

But as I started to get more involved in ecology and getting into green spaces, this crisis became more real, more immediate, and especially personal. I learned how microplastics affect marine life, how mass carbon emissions damage air quality, how extreme weather threatens home security, and so much more. It wasn’t just this abstract thing anymore. It was real and happening in real time.

At first, I felt overwhelmed. I went through all these emotional stages: guilt, frustration, helplessness. I found myself constantly watching documentaries and feeling like nothing I did would be enough. I was just one person; how much of an impact can I really make?

But I’ve realized that the way we talk about climate change, the constant focus on the doom and gloom, can backfire. Yeah, we need to understand the urgency, but we also need to feel empowered to actually do something. For me, that’s where changing minds comes in.

If I can get people to think about the planet before they make a purchase, toss their trash, or even make a vote, then I’ve made a difference. Shifting our mindset is the first step that we need to take to have a larger change.

Many people in my generation don’t care for the environment. They know there’s an issue, but they want to live life to the fullest before things get worse. Many people just see the world as too far gone and believe they can’t make a difference.

And that’s the endless cycle we face. No one believes that their actions can make a difference, and because of that, we struggle to make any steps forward.

In my own life, I’ve started making way more choices. After taking Dr. [Theresa] Dougal’s LINC class on sustainability, I now ONLY use my tumbler, limit my food waste, and try as much as I can to limit over-consumption. In this day and age, it really is difficult.

Yeah, I do want the new upcoming fashion, and I want the newest iPhone, but I am slowly coming to a realization that these new things are all temporary and won’t last in the long run. But I’m not perfect, no one is, but I still do what I can, and I talk about it. I’ve learned that it’s not just about being sustainable in private; it’s about making sustainability visible and the new norm. If someone sees me bringing a reusable bag or saying no to plastic utensils and it makes them pause and consider doing the same, that’s a win for me.

I’ve realized that with me becoming so much more aware of my footprint, my family and friends around me have also started to rethink their decisions. My boyfriend now uses his water bottle and takes shorter showers; my friends all go thrifting with me instead of contributing to fast fashion. It slowly feels like people are starting to care more.

I also joined environmental groups on campus, like the ECO Club, and volunteered for clean-ups and any educational events. I want to be a part of communities that care and help build spaces where these climate conversations are everyday conversations. The more you talk about climate change and the issue, the harder it is for people to forget!

But it’s not about shaming other people or acting like your superior; it’s about creating opportunities for people to reflect, learn, and just care more.

I think a lot about Lois Gibbs, the woman who fought so hard to expose the environmental hazards in Love Canal. She wasn’t even pushing to be an activist! She was just a mother who was trying to protect her kids. Through her determination, she sparked such a large movement and showed that anyone can make a change, and honestly, looking at Lois Gibbs, she really empowers me that my voice does not go unheard and that ordinary people can make these extraordinary changes.

I don’t know what the future holds. Sometimes, I still, to this day, feel scared or angry about the world we are creating. But I’ve decided that rather than drown in sadness, I want to act.

I want to live in a way that protects the planet and the people who live on it. I want to be that person who gets other people to care, not through fear, but through hope that the earth won’t be completely destroyed!