Personal Action

Prairie Climate Stewardship Network

1) Calculate your carbon footprint.

2) Examine your lifestyle -- reducing your carbon footprint will require lifestyle changes. Some changes will seem small and effortless, like changing your lightbulbs or choosing the air-dry rather than heat-dry option of your dishwasher. Others, like line-drying clothes will take more effort and, if you only have an outdoor line, you will have to learn to pay attention to the weather. Remember, clothes can be line-dried indoors as well -- some of us also have lines in our basements. Other changes, like frequency of travel on the road and in the air, will take more effort, and could result in your feeling like you are having to "do without" if you are looking at reducing leisure travel. That might leave you feeling put-off or guilty. But then again, you might be pleasantly surprised as to what you can do without and yet be fulfilled. Finally, other changes, like buying local will cause you to do without -- local produce is seasonal. The upside could be that you might develop a greater appreciation for what is available. And there is something to be said about fresh local produce.

3) Remember your lifestyle is your commitment to the type of life you choose to live. It is about your relationship with life and it reflects what you value. Reflection Questions Download PDF.

4) Use the resources available on this website to start reducing your carbon footprint. If you want to do more, a lot more can be found over the internet.

5) If you support conservation groups, charities, or other efforts that care about others, the planet and its inhabitants, consider this: the changes you make in your daily life that reduce you carbon footprint are daily "gifts" that support those ends. Your daily life becomes your gift.

6) Feel good about the changes you have made that reduce your carbon footprint -- you have good reason to.

7) Share what you are doing with others -- it is good to share what we value, enjoy, and are excited about with our friends.

8) Spend time with your Creator.