This week’s episode doesn’t focus very much on a specific topic. The team is still trying to think of ways that they can help the planet and prove to Mother Earth that humans are capable. Next episode will be about something more specific, but this article is going to be talking more about general things you can do from home to help the environment. Remember, you don’t have to be completing a mission in the FBI in order to play a role.

I would like to preface this by saying that this is in no way intended to shame anyone who doesn’t or can’t do these things. I’ve noticed that much of the burden for fixing climate change and protecting the environment has been placed onto civilians of this country, when it should be on the corporations and people in power who are causing destruction at enormous rates and who are doing nothing to help. If you do end up doing these things, that is amazing! But if you can’t for one reason or another, just know that it’s okay. We should all just be doing the best we can, and that alone will make a big impact.

The first thing you can try to do to help is reducing your consumption from companies that hurt the environment. This can be a tricky one because so many companies use bad practices, in all industries ranging from fashion to fuel to agriculture. You are most likely going to inevitably purchase from one that is harmful, but it’s great to research and avoid them when you can. Another type of consumption you can reduce is your meat/dairy consumption. You don’t have to go vegan to help the planet (although it’s amazing if you do), but just minimizing these products when possible is a great step.

Next, being more conscious with spending habits is probably something we could all get better at. Many of us purchase all kinds of different things, and several of them don’t really end up getting used. It is great to avoid this whenever possible. But if you do end up with stuff that you realize you don’t want or if you just have things you don’t need anymore, you should try donating them rather than just throwing them away. This will give them a second life and ensure that they don’t just go to waste. And you can also deter from disposable products as much as possible in favor of ones you can use multiple times.

Furthermore, reducing food waste is hugely important! There are some insane statistics on food waste, such as the statistic that Americans throw away 30-40% of the national food supply. Perfectly usable food gets trashed every single day, which is bad for a plethora of environmental reasons, but it’s also ridiculous because so many people face food insecurity in this country and worldwide. Reducing waste in general is great practice. And no matter what you do, please don’t litter. Cigarettes, food wrappers, and water bottles are the most common items in the world that get littered, and it’s entirely avoidable. That plastic causes a lot of harm to ecosystems and can end up in the ocean, even if you live hundreds of miles away from it. If you want to help out with cleaning trash, there are plenty of volunteering opportunities all around where you can do just that.

One of the most vital things you can do in this whole movement is to VOTE! Research leaders, on a local and national level, that prioritize environmental protection and justice as part of their policy. Even better if you can help campaign and organize for these people to increase their chances of winning. We need people in power who are devoted to this cause in order to create meaningful change.

These are just some of the steps you can take to help the Earth. There are far more ways, big and small, that you can find in other articles online. But remember, just do your best and help out in the ways you can. I know it can all seem very overwhelming, but I promise you anything is better than nothing.