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Planet Now
Blog on Effective Environmental Communication
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Ka-ching! Money is powerful, and the ways we shop—particularly for clothes—can help us live more sustainably and support businesses with sustainable practices. Shopping sustainably can even save us money in these times of high inflation. Plus, we can more effectively communicate about the environment when we align our actions, like how we dress, with our words, like advocating for slowing climate change. The fashion industry is responsible for 10% of carbon emissions (which cause climate change) and 20% of wastewater globally. Another problem with the fashion industry is its use of tiny synthetic fibers called microfibers. About half a million tons of microfibers end up in the ocean every year. Fish and other sea creatures can eat these microfibers, which can eventually get in human diets and cause health problems like cancer. People can help combat these effects by reducing clothing production and supporting companies that are producing clothing sustainably—that means the companies are taking actions like lowering their carbon emissions and water usage so that they have less negative environmental impacts. Three main ways to dress sustainably are to buy second-hand clothes, rent clothes, and buy from environmentally friendly companies. Share the following tips with other people to help them fight climate change with their wallets. Buy second-hand clothes This step is fairly simple and can save people money! For example, the same pair of jeans might cost $10 at a thrift store but $50 at a traditional retailer. When people buy second-hand clothes, they are preventing old clothes from being sent to landfills and reducing the need to produce new clothes. Even if the clothing was not made sustainably, at least it is being worn longer. Rent clothes Renting is a great option for people who need clothes for one-time-only occasions, like weddings and dances. Rent the Runway is one company that allows members to regularly rent clothes. It allows them to constantly transform their wardrobes and styles! Buy from environmentally friendly companies This action can be quite tricky. Companies can greenwash, or advertise themselves as more environmentally friendly than is true. Consumers should check which companies have clear sustainability goals and list specific actions they are taking to reach those goals. These companies should share measurable progress. A couple environmentally friendly companies are Allbirds and Athleta. How can companies avoid greenwashing? I recently answered this question when I held an Instagram Live conversation with Lynn Yap, an entrepreneur, attorney, and author of The Altruistic Capitalist. We discussed ways that individuals and businesses can take steps to slow climate change.
Yap and I speak on Instagram Live on March 15, 2022, to discuss ways that individuals and businesses can use their voices and power to slow climate change.
Watch the whole video here! (Also, you can read Yap’s blog post about my tips for environmental communication.)
When it comes to living and dressing sustainably, you do not need to be perfect. Instead, take some of these steps to add sustainable items to your closet and create a sustainable wardrobe over time. What is one tip you will keep in mind next time you decide to get new clothes?
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Not many teenagers get to meet members of the U.S. Congress. Before she even began college, Caitlin Flanagan used her voice to encourage federal policymakers to fight climate change. Some of the policymakers included Rep. Ted Budd (NC-13), former Rep. Mark Meadows (NC-11), Rep. David Price (NC-04), and Sen. Thom Tillis (NC). For this week’s blog post, I spoke with Flanagan to learn about her climate work and advice for climate advocacy. Now a sophomore at UNC-Chapel Hill, Flanagan is involved in many efforts to slow climate change at and beyond her college campus. She is president of the UNC chapter of Citizens’ Climate Lobby (CCL), a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization that pushes for federal policies to reduce carbon emissions and slow climate change. She is leading the chapter to involve more people in grassroots efforts like text banking to encourage President Biden to include a carbon price in budget reconciliation. Plus, Flanagan’s organization is attempting to collaborate with a conservative group on campus to promote climate policies. Flanagan is a great example for other people who want to lead change through their institutions. Flanagan’s Background Growing up in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, Flanagan valued environmental preservation since her dad is a wetland ecologist. When she reached middle school, she learned more about climate change and felt strongly that it was a problem caused by humans. Flanagan got involved in climate advocacy her junior year of high school. Feeling nervous about climate impacts, like heat and hurricanes, she attended a Project Drawdown climate summit that brought together students who were passionate about creating environmental change. At the event, she learned about CCL and decided to jump into lobbying because it sounded fun. Through CCL, she traveled to Washington, D.C., to speak with Congresspeople. “I had a really great time immersing myself and getting to know the ins and outs of interacting with Congresspeople and communicating about climate in a bipartisan way that builds relationships,” Flanagan shared. At UNC, she became the vice president for the UNC CCL chapter as a first-year student. She helped lead the chapter in building relationships with UNC faculty to get endorsements for the university to pass a climate plan. Recommendations for Climate Advocacy Through her climate leadership, Flanagan has learned key lessons that can benefit people who are beginning their climate advocacy journeys.
Flanagan said that no matter a person’s career focus, they can find ways to use their interests and skills in climate advocacy. As a student majoring in environmental studies and public policy, she said she is thinking about being a legislative director or researcher for a climate advocacy organization. She is also interested in doing policy work for clean energy companies. I am thankful for Flanagan’s efforts to fight climate change and look forward to seeing what she does next. Who inspires you to advocate for the environment? Look for people in your community who are climate leaders, and reach out to see what you can learn from them! Newsflash: the news has not been great lately. (Is it ever?) The heartbreaking Russian invasion of Ukraine has already caused two million people to flee the country. Even while COVID-19 case numbers decline, the virus continues to take some lives. Also, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change released a report on February 28 that said the world has a narrow window of time to avoid further climate disasters that displace people from their homes and limit food and water. When I read and hear these stories, I feel sad and overwhelmed, which makes me struggle to focus on environmental advocacy. How does it make you feel? Spending time outdoors makes me feel better, and it could help you if you also feel upset about current crises. Now, in no way am I suggesting that we ignore all of these problems. Rather, we must take time to recharge our personal batteries so we have the energy and motivation to advocate for causes important to us. I want to share some of my favorite outdoor spots and what I love about them! Bogue Sound of North Carolina My family visits Bogue Sound every year. It is near Emerald Isle and about a three-hour drive from my home in Apex. The calm water is perfect for kayaking and swimming. The occasional speedboat brings fun waves to ride. Sometimes I kayak to the tiny islands in the center of the sound so I can look at the seashells and wildlife. I have spotted stingrays, crabs, and even dolphins while kayaking. I also like to sit on the pier of the house we stay at and observe the water. Unfortunately, Hurricane Florence, which climate change likely intensified, destroyed the pier in 2018 (it has been rebuilt). Also, my parents and grandparents have observed the water darken from pollution over the past few decades. Every time I visit the water, I fall in love with it again and also remember the importance of protecting the environment so people can enjoy places like Bogue Sound for a long time. Coker Arboretum in Chapel Hill, North Carolina Coker Arboretum is a peaceful oasis for finding quiet and solitude on the bustling campus of UNC-Chapel Hill. Its scenery changes with the seasons. Visitors can walk the paths and sit on the benches. It is easily accessible for most members of the UNC community. Having green space, or areas with vegetation, in communities helps mental health. People may not have to go far to find places to recharge. Blue Ridge Mountains in North Carolina Visiting the mountains can be a reminder that the world is large, making people’s worries seem small in comparison. The blue ridge is an iconic aspect of these mountains, as their name suggests. They are a great place for hiking, reading, and spending time with family. Recharging does not mean people have to be alone! Spending time outside reminds me that we live on a beautiful planet and motivates me to protect it. Practicing gratitude by remembering why I love these places also helps me develop a positive mindset and remember that we can take steps to help the earth and have some control over the future. As spring break approaches for many of you, I hope you can enjoy the outdoors. Where do you like to go to spend time outside? Comment below or send me an email! In a 2021 poll, the Yale Program on Climate Change Communication found that only 47% of Americans think climate change will harm them personally. A strategy for effective climate communication is showing people how climate change will likely affect them. One impact of climate change that will probably affect most people is the reduced availability of some foods and drinks. What we eat and drink is a core part of our lifestyles. Showing people how climate change, mainly caused by burning fossil fuels, threatens this part of our lives can help them understand why it is important to slow the problem. Then they may take steps themselves to slow the problem. Here are some foods and drinks that climate change could limit: Chocolate Drought is a growing problem in West Africa, where more than half of the world’s cocoa is grown. As climate change reduces humidity in this region, less land will be suitable for growing cocoa. Less cocoa means less chocolate. Health-conscious people may not be concerned about less chocolate, but communication with them could include health benefits of dark chocolate. For example, it has several vitamins and reduces people’s risk of heart disease and diabetes. Potatoes Do you like mashed potatoes or french fries? Hot temperatures and dry weather make potatoes more difficult to grow and can give them unattractive bumps and dark spots that consumers do not prefer to purchase. The good news is that scientists are creating new potato varieties that are more resilient to weather changes, showing the importance of research to help agriculture adapt to climate change! People should still be aware that climate change affects common foods like potatoes. Not all food has the option for resistant varieties. Also, hurricanes can destroy sweet potato farms. North Carolina is the top producer of sweet potatoes in the United States. Hurricane Florence, which climate change likely worsened, washed away the majority of some farmers’ sweet potatoes in North Carolina in 2018. Fish Shockingly, climate change could cause 60% of fish species to go extinct by 2100. It is already harming fish like salmon by creating ocean acidification that kills their food. Lowered fish availability is a problem since about 3 billion people rely on seafood for protein. Coffee Coffee is a necessity in the diets of many college students and workers, but high temperatures and precipitation have caused spores to grow on coffee plants. The spores have prevented coffee berries from growing, especially in Central and South America. The spread of these spores could reduce land suitable for coffee production by 50% by 2050. Wine Climate change leads to wildfires that threaten vineyards in regions like California, Australia, and Spain, which are known for producing wine. Even distant wildfires can cause wine to have a smoky taste. These foods and drinks are just some popular sources of fuel for our bodies that climate change threatens. Other foods that climate change may make less available include rice, almonds, peaches, and cranberries. In North Carolina, climate impacts like heat, droughts, and floods have already destroyed crops like corn, soybean, and wheat, causing these industries to lose hundreds of millions of dollars. The supply of food is not the only challenge. As the world population grows, demand for food will increase, which could also increase the costs of food. Do you want to keep these foods and drinks readily available? Have conversations with family and friends about climate change and how it affects food. Vote for politicians who take climate change seriously. Support companies and brands that are sustainable. Join environmental organizations; they can connect you with resources to write letters to lawmakers. While climate change is already happening, the extent of the impacts depends on how much our society continues to contribute to the problem by burning fossil fuels. We can still fight to protect our environment—and our food. |
Welcome to my blog! It is a combination of posts from my strategic writing (spring 2022) and personal branding (spring 2023) courses at UNC. I hope you will enjoy reading the posts and learning about the environment and communication.
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