What would you say to someone who believes their actions are too small to make a difference for the environment?

I think there will never be a world were everyone does the little bit to help but the people who do that extra little bit all together are helping more than they realize.

That is a fine belief to hold because most emissions are caused by large businesses.

Cumulative acts lead to larger actions that were inspired from smaller beginnings. By engaging in small acts to promote environmentalism within the country, it fosters a stronger sense of environmentalism for the long term as we begin to develop new ideas about the land on which we live when we care for it.

A small difference can make a big difference in the world.

they are. we need to get large companies to change in order to help the environment

They are probably correct in the grand scheme of things but making an effort improves their local community

Tell them that their actions actually make a huge difference on the environment

When it comes to the environment. No matter what you do no little action is unable to make a difference.

They’re right in the sense that their individual carbon emissions don’t matter on a global scale. But they can make an impact on their local environment

Of course they alone cannot make a substantial difference in the environment without serious effort. However, there is strength in numbers. Humans can do incredible things when we all act together with one objective.

no matter how small the difference consistency is what matters. a plant doesn't grow in 1 day

If we all chip in, the environment can’t get cleaner

A small contribution is still a step towards change.

They’re right. Most carbon emissions and otherwise climate change causers are big companies or corporations who deflect the blame via recycling campaigns when in reality, there is little the average person can do to assist in the fight against climate change. It’s the responsibility of the government to protect the interests of humanity, ergo the demolition of the infrastructure responsible for climate change by providing safer and cleaner alternatives such as nuclear power or hydropower.

if everyone gets together it does make a difference, thinking like this make things worse

I believe they aren't wrong, there are many ways as a society that we can turn to to help the environment but as of now there is not much big change so one person when it comes to the environment I believe can't really make that much of a change.

If everyone did small actions it would create big changes, every person is able to make a small impact, and together a big one which is why it is important that every person does.

We all have a responsibility to make the world a better and greener place for future generations.

your right. 100 companies release more emissions than your whole country

If every person had this mindset nothing in the world would ever change.

i think as a society we all need to be more connected to the environment i believe that we should all be trying to grow what food we can ourselves and then what we can’t produce ourselves we go buy from somewhere

No. Every action in the environment matters. Education in geological sciences and geographical sciences and all forms of scientific education and research will help us understand new and innovative ways to preserve the beauty of our atmospherical environment. Therefore every action counts even if it’s just throwing a plastic cup on the recycling make sure to know where you put it as it is being sorted, and ethics in ecological environment should be emphasized heavily. Also being aware of our environmental surroundings that including living mammals and amphibians also many more that live around us and near their homes.

I would encourage them to act anyway, for the chance that they may be an example to follow.

Yes. Individual consumer practices are a drop in the bucket. Big corporations are responsible for the vast majority of the impact. Government regulation could check that though.

Everyone makes a ripple, and a collection of ripples create a wave, a sequence of waves create an ocean of change.

It is this very mentality that prevents our actions from having a greater impact. If you look past how small your own, individual actions feel, then you would be able to see all the others that stand with you and are working to make change in the world.

I often feel that way myself, and it is true that we as individuals lack much power. However, as a collective, we can make revolutionary change. Through organization we can work toward establishing such a collective that can bring about action.

Every individual has the ability to impact change through their own sphere of influence. Behaviour change seen through one individual may be modelled by others creating an exponential cascade leading to a wider scope of total impact. The butterfly's wings lead to a tsunami.

While individual actions are too small to effect the environment, it is about personal responsibility and showing others that we are not trying to make things worse due to negligence or apathy.

It’s defeating when a large corp can get away with almost anything regarding the environment and a private citizen gets reprimanded for having their blue bags in the wrong places.

Generally supportive of the idea, but needs to be more decentralized, and locally focused.

I understand the sentiment, and at the same time know that theoretically if everyone banded together to be less wasteful it would also help. But I ultimately think it's on the government to set the tone higher, and ensure that eating organic, using cleaner energy sources, etc, should not be more expensive to the individual or have any disadvantages. Generally you need to be making more money to afford to eat and support organic, or use more environmentally friendly products.

It's moronic when leftists blame corporations for emissions to excuse individual choices (Exxon and Amazon and Wal-Mart ain't emitting GHGs for **** s and giggles), and it's just as moronic when right-wingers pretend they don't have to do anything because they're such a small part of the problem (though I understand they don't generally understand the concept of a 'tragedy of the commons')

Yeah no, a person pollutes quite the amount of garbage a year. Maybe try not tossing one year’s worth of garbage out… if everyone thought like that, the pollution per person would be worse.

We need to ensure our policies aren’t at the cost of the environment

I don't know, because one person vs the rest of the worlds population isn't doing anything.

Doing something for the betterment of society is always better than doing nothing and giving up

They are correct when celebrities and politicians counteract all their efforts with a single flight.

That it’s totally understandable to think that way. But it’s important to do what you believe will make an impact, regardless of how small that impact may be

"Your actions may seem small, but they're part of a larger collective impact. Every small action counts, like:
Reducing meat consumption or using reusable bags
Turning off lights or using energy-efficient bulbs

I think that anything helps when it comes to the environment. Your actions that you think are small could influence other people to do the same and create a domino effect leading to a positive impact on the environment.

Small actions have the power to grow and have a big difference on the environment

The best thing you can do for the environment is not have children

I'd say they're correct, but it's still wrong to litter, fail to recycle, go on long-haul flights when more carbon-friendly alternatives are available, etc. Stealing a $100 item from Walmart isn't going to make a significant dent in Walmart's pockets. Killing a single person isn't going to have a sizeable impact (they're just 1 person on a planet of 6 billion). Yet most would consider these acts (and many more besides) wrong. Though of course there are degrees of wrongness.

I believe there are many ways we can in our own lives contribute to making a cleaner planet but ultimately by blaming and holding accountable the individual we are benefitting the companies that are responsible for a vast majority of emissions and should be held ultimately most accountable.

Even the smallest of actions can make a difference for the environment.

Doing those small actions very often can make a huge difference, it is already making a good impact.

I would say that their actions do make a difference, even if you can't see it. It makes a difference because others are doing it too, so everybody's impact adds up and always helps.

Does one soldier change the fate of a war? It's about people coming together, if everybody looks at a problem and says "I can't change that," nobody will even try, it's about everybody at least trying a little, your actions reflect on others, and it can echo throughout the world.

The reason why we are not making a difference for the environment is because of this mindset.

It starts with each individual making the right decision ex. Donnot litter

They're probably right, because we're not the kind of people who can fix things. I would tell them to try contacting politicians or voting for a party that actually is trying to fix these things, or to participate in protests if that's their kind of thing. And also that just because them going green won't drastically change the environment, that doesn't mean it doesn't matter if they completely avoid doing anything.

On a global scale, Canada doesn’t even make a dent. We are an insignificant country when it comes to the environment. I believe that we are way too focussed on this as an issue, and we should be focussing on the major polluters and the countries that are actually responsible for the deterioration of our climate. What is happening to the Canadian taxpayer is absolutely disgusting.

I would agree with the person. One trip taken by private jet for vacation purposes by our PM would cancel out a lifetime of small token gestures.

global warming is overatted, read the book, invisible catastrophies and threats of doom, you will see.

Everything helps, but if you really feel that way idc

Your actions are all that matter. The government won't do anything.

You can't save the world, but you can at least try.

Let everyone do what they want, you can’t guilt trip someone to change their lifestyle.

I would say that the amount of people that have the similar opinion is big enough to actually make a change in the environment for the better.

Good times, bad times, we are the times. What we do to the world is how it will be

Although It could be small you just act, there should be people who have the same thoughts as you around you. As each of you takes an action for the same goal, it’s going to make a big difference.

if we all said the same thing nothing would get done.

Anyone can make a difference, look at Greta Thundberg. You just need to try.

If you think donating to the cause or supporting and "spreading awareness" about climate change on social media helps anything, then yes, your "actions" mean nothing. That's precisely because, they're not "actions". If you actually want to help the environment, posting on social media about how evil oil companies are won't solve the issue.

Go plant a tree. Make biochar. Sequester your own carbon by burning plant material and putting it in the soil where it's stored there for THOUSANDS of years.

So fundamentally, no. Your actions are not too sma…  Read morell. Everyone can DO something, but the ones who claim to be the biggest advocates (liberals mostly) would rather just post on social media how much they CARE about the environment and attempt to force the government to flush BILLIONS of tax dollars down the toilet towards a problem that doesn't even really exist (let alone be solved by money). That accomplishes nothing.

A hundred pennies make a dollar and 100,000 pennies make a thousand, little efforts snowball to create a large difference.

They’re correct unless they’re a ceo of a major company

This is fair as there is no ethical consumption under Capitalism, but it's also true that small progress is progress nonetheless. We can make individual actions and put pressure on society at the same time.

You're technically correct but still an arse. You are a part of a bigger movement.

Many individuals doing small things to reduce their ecological footprint leads to a bigger impact to environmental conservation.

Small things add up however, we should be focusing on mega corporations instead of villainizing regular people living their lives. Many people can’t afford more « eco friendly » items compared to less sustainable things.

it doesn't hurt to be eco friendly, however corporations and other countries are the main issue

Everyone does make a difference, but it is quite likely that their are people choosing to make worse decisions

I would tell them that everyone can make a difference in the world

I would say something along the lines of "If you believe your actions are pointless, get more people to do what you are doing to make a bigger impact. Just spread the word and get people to join in, in healing the world."

We are a society and we all can make a difference to change :)

This is a community and we all can make a difference on things even very small.

That they should try to make more groups like that

I would tell them that that's nit true any little action involved to help the environment means a lot

There is no such thing as too small and action...every action matters.

I agree to a point. The vast majority of emissions are created by a few very large emitters in certain sectors (e.g., transportation, livestock farming). However, every small effort helps so individuals should do what they can as well.

If everyone does the little action, it can make a big difference.

If everyone thought the opposite and actyally put in effort to make a change to our environment things would be very different, so change your view and others should do the same.

I would say keep doing the small things that you are doing because every little bit helps.

I would tell them that every act or action matters especially if everyone starts joining in to help contribute to the change. One attempt or contribution to change is better than none.

I would tell them that, at the end of the day, making something better will always be the superior option when compared to not doing anything at all. Logically, at least trying to make a change will always be better than not making a change at all.

i would say that thinking that way does not make a difference and trying to make a difference

Nobody is ever truly "just one person," if one person believes in something, many other people do. As long as they can be convinced otherwise, so can others.

That it was defeatist to think that, and that by taking care of your local environment, it rewards you by being healthier.

That they are right. Their individual actions are too small. Even if everyone in my community works their hardest to decrease emissions, it won't change what the real problem is, massive corporations and multi-millionaires pumping the planet full of toxic waste and greenhouse gasses.

I would say that if you think about it the flipped, every single little thing people did to hurt the planet built up over time. We just need to take the little steps backwards.

I agree at the moment as individual efforts only make a difference if it is political action not composting.

I would say that every person, including people with more power, should implement more laws to protect our environment.

Large changes in society always start with individuals, so no matter how much you think you can't affect change, re-evaluate what's in your capacity and act accordingly. Also make sure that if you're going to affect change, be passionate about it and be open to having your opinion challenged.

No matter what anyone says, words and ideas can change the world. Robin Williams said this, and he was one man who changed the world with words and ideas. Imagine what you could do for the environment by taking little action. I used to be lazy the odd time and throw something in the garbage when it wasn't supposed to go there when I was little. I don't do that anymore. Every little step that is taken is one step closer to protecting the one planet we live on. There is no question of avoiding it, and its truly the biggest political, economic and social issue on the earth for all nations. China is disgusting and pathetic for ignoring it, and it contributing to the disaster of the environment on earth today. While the rest of the nations have to carry the weight of it.

itsd better for many people to make small changes than least people making big changes since the more people that help the more people will get in couraged to help