Atomic Steps To Tackle The 'Climate Crisis'

Imagine trying to break a giant rock with a small hammer. Can you shatter it with just a couple of hits? Probably not. But what if you keep striking it, over and over again? Eventually, the rock will reach its breaking point. With each hit, the bond strength of the rock weakens until, finally, it shatters. It’s not just the final blow that breaks the rock—it’s the result of all those small hits over time. The same principle applies to the ongoing climate crisis. We may not see immediate results from our efforts, but that doesn’t mean we should stop. Every action we take, no matter how small, weakens the problem's grip. And one day, those small steps will add up to a solution.

To master any skill, two things are essential: learning and practice. Solving the climate crisis requires the same approach. We need to learn what actions to take, and then we must practice them in our daily lives. This isn’t just theory—it’s a proven method. Let me share a personal story.

In elementary school, some of my classmates often wore dirty shoes, which our principal—a wise and caring person—saw as a problem. He introduced the “7 Days Shoe Cleaning Campaign.” On the first day, he taught us how to clean our shoes properly. For the next seven days, we had to clean our shoes every day, regardless of their condition. By the end of the week, the number of students wearing clean shoes had skyrocketed. Back then, I didn’t fully understand what had happened, but now I realize it was the power of learning and practice.

Why am I telling you this? Because we need to instill basic habits in people—habits that might not seem directly related to saving the planet but are incredibly impactful. Take walking, for instance. We know walking is good for our health. It strengthens the heart, reduces the risk of chronic diseases, and boosts creativity. But what we might not realize is that walking more can also help combat climate change.

Countries that are less affected by the climate crisis and contribute less to it share a common trait: their citizens walk more. Norway, Finland, and Switzerland are among the countries with higher average daily steps and lower contributions to the climate crisis. In contrast, countries like China, the USA, and India, which are more affected and contribute more to the problem, have lower average daily steps. While this isn’t a fully established theory, the data suggests that the more we walk and the less we rely on vehicles, the more we can positively impact the climate. This is a habit we need to learn and practice.

Other small habits can also have a significant impact. Wearing white clothes, turning off your mobile charger after use, turning off the tap while brushing your teeth, washing clothes in cold water, reducing beef consumption, and using solar panels are all simple actions with huge potential. For example, a study found that if everyone in the UK turned off the tap while brushing their teeth, they could cut 7.9 million tons of emissions annually. That’s a massive impact from a tiny habit.

Each of these habits may seem insignificant on its own, but together, they hold enormous potential. However, no one will practice them unless they first learn about them—because practice always follows learning.

I’ve started doing my part. Now, it’s your turn. Will you join me?