“I want you to understand that we are part of the natural world. And even today, when the planet is dark, there still is hope. Don’t lose hope. If you lose hope, you become apathetic and do nothing. And if you want to save what is still beautiful in this world – if you want to save the planet for the future generations, your grandchildren, their grandchildren – then think about the actions you take each day.”
These words were spoken by Jane Goodall, the pioneering ethologist and environmental activist, in the documentary Famous Last Words, filmed seven months before her death in October 2025. It rings true now, and surely will for years to come. We are living in times of upheaval, conflict, and unimaginable fear, but we cannot fall into frustration or despair. As a society and as individuals, we have a responsibility to do our best to create a sustainable future.
Most people think of sustainability as recycling, composting, and championing Mother Earth, and those are, of course, essential parts of the idea. However, sustainability is more than that. It is a collective vision, a lifestyle that we are all responsible for cultivating. Consequently, sustainability is most often defined by the three P’s: Planet, Profit, and People. There are countless ways we can each make an impact through the spheres of sustainability – let’s explore a few.
Humans now inhabit every inch of planet Earth, and it shows – environmental degradation is occurring more rapidly than ever, and it often feels like we are just in too deep. From climate change to plastic pollution to deforestation to plummeting biodiversity, the quality of life and resources is plummeting. In fact, there have been five major extinctions in the history of the planet (the most well-known one being the disaster, presumably a meteor, that all but wiped out the dinosaurs 65 million years ago), and we are in the middle of a sixth one right now. According to an article from the UN Foundation, “Some 1 million species are threatened with extinction right now. That’s more than any other time in history, and they’re disappearing at a rate that is 1,000 times the norm. The culprit is the way most humans consume, produce, travel, and live” (Altman, 2023). However, individuals’ lifestyles can have a significant impact on this crisis. Here are a few practical ways to begin:
Recycle whenever possible; this varies depending on communities, but paper, cardboard, plastic bottles and jars, and aluminum cans are safe bets
Turn off the lights when you leave a room
Don’t leave water running if you’re not using it (e.g., toothbrushing, dishwashing).
Take slightly shorter, slightly cooler showers
Compost – some communities have a collective option to compost, but you can also create a garden and put food scraps there (Composting At Home | US EPA)
Use reusable water bottles
Avoid purchasing heavily packaged items
Don’t litter - and pick up litter when you see it!
When possible, use electronics instead of paper (Reducing Paper Use | Yale Sustainability)
Don’t use disposable cutlery
Use real napkins and towels instead of tissues and paper towels
Don’t use pesticides
Walk, bike, or use public transportation, and avoid extra trips when possible!
Don’t waste food – be the weird relative who takes home all the leftovers from family gatherings! (5 facts about food waste and hunger | World Food Programme – millions possibly even billions of tons of food are wasted each year. This is not only inefficient, forcing more production than necessary, but rotting food releases methane, which contributes to global warming).
Eat low on the food chain. This means eating a bit more fruits, veggies, and whole grains, and a bit less dairy and meat, because animal products generally uses more resources and energy than plants (and there will be less pollution in your meals)
Money may not buy happiness, but it’s certainly important in society today! The economy is everywhere, whether we realize it or not – everything we purchase on Amazon, every last-minute birthday present, every Starbucks drink. Globally, a sustainable economy means a circular economy. This model, as the name implies, uses a cyclical approach and “reduces material use, redesigns materials and products to be less resource intensive, and recaptures ‘waste’ as a resource to manufacture new materials and products.”. People can use this model, as well as the mantra “think global, shop local,” to make their personal consumption habits more eco-conscious.
Buy organic when possible (there will be less likelihood of toxic chemicals being on your food, and organic farming is better for the environment)
Do a background check on companies you buy from – how do they treat their employees? Where do they source their materials?
Buy clothes second-hand or do clothing swaps – hand-me-downs are awesome!
Donate old items instead of throwing them away
Sustainable-ize your tourism. Use efficient transportation, support local businesses, visit less tourist-y places, and even volunteer! (Top 10 Tips for Sustainable Travel)
Buy from local businesses! Support your community (Why Buy Local? | Sustainable Connections)
There are over 8 billion individuals on the planet, all trying to build the best possible life for themselves, their families, and their nations. Unfortunately, the amount of interpersonal conflict in the world (at every scale) is positively atrocious. Poverty, war, hunger, mental health declines, and humanitarian crises – we all know that the list goes on and on. These tragedies have been a part of human society, in one way or another, forever. However, as globalization continues to grow exponentially, we each have more opportunities to engage with individuals, organizations, and countries and have a good impact.
When it comes to making the ‘social’ aspect of improving society, there are two major factors: our character and citizenship. Character is something that we all want to improve – being kinder, more diligent, and more compassionate are things we all strive for. Citizenship adds something to that; whether you consider yourself a citizen of your community, state, country, or world, engaging in discussion is critical. That is why civic literacy is so crucial; it enables informed dialogue and active participation. In addition, civic literacy limits corruption in the government, because providing opposition to bureaucrats with ill motives “requires a mobilized citizenry with adequate information to demand greater accountability” (Introducing Comparative Politics by Orvis and Drogus). Unfortunately, the counterpart of civic literacy, civic ignorance, is quite prevalent. People, old and young, must be informed about how the government works and how they can contribute.
Smile at people you see, ask genuine questions, and be polite – you never know if someone is having a bad day.
Try to avoid extreme biases and observe others through a judgment-free lens.
Donate money to a cause you care about (Top Rated Charities)
Volunteer at a local organization (VolunteerMatch is now part of Idealist! For Volunteering, Nonprofit Opportunities, and More)
Learn about civic engagement (A Guide to Being Politically Engaged in High School | CollegeVine Blog)
Support a government candidate you like by canvassing for them (this is especially significant during local or state elections, when you can directly show your support – however, you can canvas for any candidate, any cause, anytime!)
Read the news
Make homeless care packages to keep in your vehicle (Assemble Care Kits for the Homeless | Family-Friendly Project Guide — Doing Good Together™)
Join (or start!) a program for youth civic engagement
Contact your local government officials – at least in the US, local representatives are interested in hearing from youth
Before concluding here, there is one final facet of sustainability we've got to address – the hidden P: Perfection. With the constant energy of anxiety that fills the world today, it is difficult to avoid feeling like we can never do enough. What is the point of living ‘sustainably’ when the world will end up in ruins anyway? However, the inability to constantly be perfect doesn’t mean that you should stop striving for a better future. Part of sustainability is accepting that there are certain things out of our control.
We sincerely hope that this inspires anyone who reads it to learn about the world and how to make it a better, more harmonious place for everyone.
For anyone interested, check out this slightly longer essay that delves into opinions and resources on sustainability in more detail – it’s a little outdated, but it has some valuable information.
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Hope Hesselink has been a homeschooler in MD her entire life. She is an avid reader, loves politics and philosophy, and is proud to be a Scout, black belt in karate, and guitarist.
Samantha Choi is a homeschooler in Massachusetts. She enjoys English, playing with kids, soccer, and viola.