What can I do? A (highly incomplete, somewhat arbitrary) Top 10 List

  1. Drive a more efficient car—smaller, hybrid, with a smaller engine, biodiesel, electric, whatever. More efficient. Anything over 4 cylinders is probably out unless somehow essential, say for your work. There are some good American options now.
  2. Bike and walk more, drive less. You won't be as fat, you will be less likely to get cancer, at least as soon, and you will feel better. Plus if you live closer to work, you will have more time for your family and other things that matter.
  3. Eat fewer animal products (unless it is a deer you shot—that's great). It's not a big deal. Have veg raviolies for supper sometimes, peanut butter and jelly at lunch--but less meat, eggs, and so on. It takes a lot more land, hormones, chemicals, etc to raise meat than vegetables. Plus, you will probably end up healthier.
  4. Use more efficient appliances and lights-fluorescent bulbs, energy star appliances etc. Maybe get rid of marginal appliances, like that fridge in the office. No big sacrifices, and you will save money. And the world.
  5. Fly less. Cancel a business trip and do a video-conference. Spend the time with your family instead and say it is for the environment. If you have to fly, buy carbon offsets from a reputable source. Sure they are flawed, but they are better than doing nothing.
  6. Get your church involved in environmental issues. This is a chance for science and religion to get together on something productive, instead of bickering. Nice.
  7. Buy organic products. They aren't perfect but they are better than the alternative, and they send a message. Maybe your kids will even have normal hormone levels and reproductive organs, like animals and people used to.
  8. Give money to environmental organizations, or volunteer. Research them and make a good choice. You can choose a conservative one, like Ducks Unlimited, if that is your preference.
  9. Make the environment a priority when you vote. It's a small planet. Hard to think of anything more important-and this used to be a bipartisan issue. Maybe it will be again.
  10. If you're making good money, use some of it to get solar for your house. Or wind, geothermal, whatever. You'll about break even. Let's not wait for the utility companies to fix things. Insulate too.
  11. (A bonus!) Be impatient. Time is tight. Razz your friends and be hard on yourself. Start now.

Compiled, with no originality whatsoever, by Jeff McKinnon.