PPAI Magazine December 2023

Be The Change Saving the planet starts with you. Yes, you. by Elizabeth Wimbush YOU’VE HEARD IT enough times that it ought to be sinking in, if it hasn’t already: We’re nearing a very real tipping point on climate change. Either you get it and the anxiety has started to become real, or you likely don’t trust the science on climate. But even if you don’t, you probably still want clean air and clean water and a nice world for your grandchildren to grow up in. We’re not all that different. In either case, I’ll bet you feel like there’s so much to do, and as a species – much less as an industry – we’re up against so much inertia that it’s kind of overwhelming. Where do we even start? Easy peasy, lemon squeezy – we start with you. Every cultural movement starts with a nearly imperceptible change and grows from individual contributions. So, pitter patter, let’s get atter. We’re going to break this into three components for easy digestion: 1. Be curious It’s worth spending a little time learning from trustworthy sources. Do you follow someone on LinkedIn who seems to be making eco moves that you admire? Reach out and ask them how they got started or if they have any resources they’d be willing to share. In my experience, folks involved in sustainability are pretty darn eager to share. (I mean, you should see my LinkedIn.) Another great starting point is to calculate your personal ecological footprint. There’s a handy online tool for this: FootprintCalculator. org. Knowing where you’re coming from and learning what changes can be most impactful for you is empowering. For some people, that might be making tweaks in their day-to-day diet. For others, it might be transit choices. It can be as simple as learning more about the recycling capabilities of your city or region. You might have also heard of the United Nations’ 17 Sustainable Development Goals. The SDGs (we love a good acronym, don’t we, promo?) are an impressive and far-reaching set of goals that can seem pretty daunting. But they’re Cast Of Thousands / Molibdenis-Studio / Shutterstock.com 34 • DECEMBER 2023 • PPAI Voices | Responsibility

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