Pro Planet Options tor Uncertain Times:
A Founder of It’s Easy Being Green shares her tips.
By Sharon Waskow
We’re living in uncertain times for the planet. It seems clear that mitigating the effects of climate change is not a top of mind issue for our current federal administration. You can read a quick summary of the executive orders so far that the greatest impact on climate on the Columbia University Law School website. And locally, the Department of Transportation recently issued a threat to end congestion pricing because the agency believes it hurts business.
How can we maintain the progress we have made in cleaning up our air and water, reducing plastic pollution, combating food waste and improving the health of all our citizens? It’s Easy Being Green (IEBG) believes that individual actions add up to help the planet. Consider adopting one or two new habits to be on the solutions side of climate change:
- Air dry your laundry to reduce reliance on electricity. Invest in a folding drying rack
- Take public transportation, walk or bike when possible
- Eat less meat and dairy. Their production contributes to greenhouse
- Bring your water bottle or reusable mug everywhere, every day.
- Patronize the food shops in our neighborhood participating in the
BYO container program (Cool Fresh Juice Bar, Broadway 101st, Zelma’s Cafe at Broadway 101st, Metro Diner, Broadway 100th, Health Nuts, Broadway 99th.) See a full list of participants on the TEBG website. Join a climate action group. Consider joining the IEBG team. Write to us at itseasybeinggreen.uws@gmail.com. You can be involved as much as your available time permits.
Consult one5c.com for other pro-planet habit change ideas.
Advocate for environmental laws on the city and state level. Here are
a few examples:
- The Plastic Reduction and Recycling Infrastructure Act S1464/ A1749 will make producers of plastic packaging pay for the pollution they create in New York State. Some of its goals are:
- Reduce plastic packaging by 30% gradually over the next 12 years
- Require producers of plastic to pay fees to cover municipalities’ costs of waste management and recycling and to make grants supporting reuse and refill projects
Read more about it here: https://www.beyondplastics.org/press-releases/plastic-industry-albany-lobby-day-1-28-25/ Write or call your
NYS Assembly person or Senator to tell them to co-sponsor this law and make sure it is brought up for a vote this session.
Contact Micah Lasher 212-866-3970 lasherm@nyassembly.gov
Senator Cordelle Cleare cleare@nysenate.gov 212-222-7315.
Brad Hoylman-Sigal hoylman@senate.gov (212) 633-8052
The Hydration for All Act proposes to put 500 water refill stations in all boroughs of NYC. Read more about it here: https://nyc.sur-frider.org/campaigns/NYC+Hydration+For+All+Act// Write your city councilmember to urge them to co-sponsor this bill and/or to bring it up for a vote. Contact Council Member Shaun Abreu’s Legislative office -Phone: 212-788-7007, email: district7council@.nyc.gov
Vote with the environment in mind. Mayoral elections are coming up. Become familiar with the candidates’ policies, proposals and voting records on the environment. Attend mayoral candidate forums and ask questions. Read the candidates’ positions on the environment.
Sign up to receive the monthly It’s Easy Being Green newsletter to keep abreast of environmental information and actions you can take.
Subscribe at itseasybeinggreen.org.