The highest lever

Individual action won't do to solve global warming. It needs to be something collective. But what if individual action is all you've got?

Say you are running a small, grassroots organization with the aim of making a difference in the community. You can do a lot of good by advocating for all the things that matter to the community. Global warming or global overfishing affects your community, but it's also clear that your individual actions won't solve the problem. What now?

Pull the highest policy lever possible.

If you are a national environmental group, set your aim at changing national policy. If you are a state-wide operation, aim at the state capital. If you are a city-wide operation, aim at city hall. Some of the policies affecting daily choices are made on the federal level, some are made on the state level, many are made close to home.

City planning plays a crucial role in getting greenhouse gas emissions under control. It also happens to improve livability: the higher your walk score, the better for you and the planet.

Just make sure you do aim at making policy change happen. Organize that community bike ride, and also add in a pledge for getting more bike paths. Clean up that side of the road, and also make sure to ask for more sidewalks. Get households to change their light bulbs, and make sure they are calling for new laws as well.