Being Happy Can Help Save the Planet

By Bethany O'Hagan, Stewardship and Rewilding

Bethany visiting an MRF and learning about recycling systems.

I am currently listening to a great audio book. It’s about how joyful decisions can save our species, called "Leave the Lights On" by Elizabeth Dunn and Jiaying Zhao. In a nutshell, they explore how you can improve your personal happiness while actively helping the planet. In fact, choosing things that can make you a happier person can help fight climate change.

Elizabeth Dunn and Jiaying Zhao argue that shifting climate action from guilt-driven sacrifice to joyful, high-leverage choices creates more sustainable and lasting habits. Instead of being stressed over minor eco-habits like turning off lightbulbs, using a metal straw, or recycling that plastic container you’re not 100% sure is recyclable, the authors recommend focusing on four major pillars: food, travel, housing, and shopping. By treating your carbon footprint like a flexible budget and modeling positive changes socially, individual behaviors can scale into broader cultural shifts.

Inside a materials recovery facility (MRF), a specialized waste sorting and recycling system that receives, separates and prepares recyclable materials for marketing to end-user manufacturers.

“But individual actions don’t make a difference” is something I hear often from people who don’t believe in human induced climate crisis, or even people who feel too overwhelmed to make any changes to their habits. The term “Carbon Footprint” was made up by British Petroleum in 2004 to shift the focus of waste from corporations on to individuals. Even though corporations are a large part of water and pollution, individual actions can, and do, still cause change. So don’t give up!  

As someone who consistently acts to help fight climate change, this book is a breath of fresh air. A small snapshot of where I am coming from as a Master Recycler. I spearheaded the implementation of residential composting for the entire city of Portland, Oregon. I have led over 500 material waste sorts at transfer stations for businesses. I once spent two weeks carrying around everything I would normally throw away to see the physical result of my output. I’m an avid composter; no food is thrown away in our home. I will dig through our garbage if you forget. When I come to your house, you apologize when you throw something away in front of me. So, when I say I am all about changing personal habits to combat climate change, I really mean it. But I recognize it’s a challenge and I am not perfect. And once we had kids it got so much more difficult.

What I tell people who apologize for not implementing sustainable practices or those who truly want to know what they can do, is “no one is perfect.” Each and every one of us can only do what we can do. Which aligns with the core premise of this stress-reducing book. You really can improve your personal happiness while actively helping the planet. Instead of demanding that people give up everything, like going completely vegan or never flying, focus on smart, high-impact substitutions. Sustainable change should be enjoyable so we can stick with them long-term and naturally share them with others. Such as:

• Smart swaps: Small, frictionless choices such as choosing chicken over beef or packing light with carry-on bags can significantly reduce emissions without massive lifestyle friction.

• The power of conversation: Normalize everyday small talk about climate change with family and friends to help shift cultural and social norms.

• Focus on big impact: Give yourself permission to let the small things go and focus your energy where it counts instead of exhausting yourself over minor interventions.

  
  

By making smart adjustments, you can yield massive emission reductions without sacrificing your personal happiness. I wish I could share all the excellent suggestions they offer for making better, happier choices. For now, just know that you shouldn’t stress yourself out about it. If you truly want to do more, I recommend a good starting point is reading or listening to “Leave the Lights On."

Everwild Land Trust is a nationally accredited land trust serving the greater Chautauqua region, dedicated to conserving and improving the lands and waters that sustain the region's communities, ecosystems, and economy. Through science-based conservation, community stewardship, and strategic partnerships, Everwild cares for 35 nature preserves and supports residents, landowners, and leaders in making informed decisions that protect the long-term health of the region's natural systems. Building on more than three decades of conservation leadership, Everwild Land Trust is committed to collective stewardship, for today and generations to come.