Talk about climate change can make a person get dispirited quickly. Certainly, we all want to leave our children a world where resources are plentiful and all parts of it are livable. But what can one person do? If I recycle, bring my own bags to the grocery store and drive a hybrid vehicle, does any of it matter if the Amazon Rainforest is cleared out for cattle grazing or if coal production increases?
Maybe one citizen can’t do much, but a population can have meaningful effects. Not only can they make individual changes that add up over time, but they can encourage change with their votes and their wallets. One way they can do it is by supporting companies that are investing in sustainable initiatives. They can buy products with eco-friendly packaging or eco-friendly benefits, for example. In the meat industry, the grass-fed market continues to show strong growth, in part because it is perceived as more natural for the cattle and better for the environment. Consumers are supporting this niche, and if they continue to do so, it won’t be a niche for much longer.