The largest climate change march in history happens this Sunday, September 21 in New York, a prelude to the UN Climate Summit 2014 which is set two days later.

While world leaders convene and discuss amongst themselves, people from all walks of life gather as well, united by a single and very critical cause. Take note, the march isn’t confined to New York alone. All over the world, other countries are holding their own march and other related events—this is a global affair after all.

One of the poster design entries for the Climate Change March in NYC
© Ellie Ohiso

The climate change march may be our one big consolidated effort to show our support and voice our concerns. The march is our way of inciting action from our leaders and the big corporations. It’s our way of demanding better and greener decisions from our policymakers. But it doesn’t have to end there.

When the march is over, and the banners and posters are taken down, the confetti all thrown away, and the general festivity dies down, we slide back neatly to our regular lives.What happens then?

But, again, we’re all in this together. We have a big part to do in our everyday life, beyond one day of zealous and purposeful marching. What we vow to do, change, and improve in our lives after the march is the more important thing.

* * *

Food
Buy locally.
Choose organic produce.
Eat less meat.

Getting Around
Bike. It’s good for your heart.
Choose to drive a smaller car with excellent fuel economy.
Consider hybrid cars too.

Waste
Compost your kitchen and garden waste.
Recycle.
Support products that don’t have excess packaging.
Buy second-hand but still perfectly good items from thrift stores.
Buy items only when you truly need them.
Reduce paper use.

Energy
Turn off the lights when not in use.
Choose Energy Star rated products.
Switch to LED bulbs.
Install energy-efficient

Water
Be mindful of your water usage.
Don’t ignore a leaky faucet.
Choose toiletries and cleaning agents with non-toxic chemicals that won’t pollute our water.
Next time you’re on the beach, take your trash with you.

Community
Pass the message of clean and green living to a friend or family. (Tweet with a purpose.)
Suggest ways of greening up your school, office, place of work, and the community.

* * *

These are just a few things each of us can do after and beyond the climate change march. They’re just little things, but when everyone does their part, they make a big difference. Really, it all starts with us.

The effects of climate change need not destroy this great civilization we have. Every day in the news, climate change rears its ugly head in some form or another, whether it’s algae in our lakes and rivers, or melting icebergs in the Arctic seas, or freak supertyphoons and other weather disturbances. If before we thought of the consequences of climate change as some distant and far-fetched scenario, well they’re here now. Those consequences are as real as they can get, they’ve actually become personal.

Mary Kay Henry wrote in the Huffington Post how it’s often poor, underprivileged, and underpaid people who are most vulnerable to climate change.

“Everyone knows that when extreme weather caused by climate change hits our communities, working people are our first line of defense — as police, firefighters, paramedics, nurses, doctors, transit workers and emergency aid workers.

“And while all of us feel the impact when climate disasters hit close to home or affect those we love, it’s projected that 70 percent of the those hardest hit will be people who are poor and people of color: working people whose low wages can make them exceptionally vulnerable.”

We cannot just leave the issue of climate change up to national and industry leaders. All of us are involved in this. Climate change is everyone’s business, it affects all of us, regardless of race, sex, wealth, education, etc. As someone has succinctly put it: Climate change is the great equalizer. 

So go ahead and walk that march, and come out of it a better and more committed person.