5 Save the Earth Quotes and Tips from Sustainability Role Models

Look at you, getting ready to save the earth. That’s super cute. But you’re going to need lots of inspiration to keep you going.

Here are five quotes and tips from some of our favorite environmental and sustainability role models. How did make change? They just had an idea and stuck with it.   

Grow trees 

“It’s the little things that citizens do. That’s what will make the difference. My little thing is planting trees.” Wangari Maathai

Wangari Maathai’s work helped 8 billion trees get planted! She did so by starting the Green Belt Movement in Kenya, and thanks to her dedication to community and activism, she became the first woman in Africa to be awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2004. 

Actions to take: Plant trees, a garden or a potted plant indoors. Trees take time to reach maturity and they need care to survive their sapling years. Learn how to care for plants and grow species that are native to your region.  

Break up with fossil fuels

“The climate crisis has already been solved. We already have the facts and solutions. All we have to do is wake up and change.” Greta Thunberg 

Greta Thunberg is a Swedish youth activist who started the international climate strike movement. She began at age 15 by boycotting school and protesting climate change inaction every Friday. She has spoken at international conferences and became TIME’s Person of the Year in 2019. 

Actions to take: Use bike or public transportation and fly less. Reduce your energy use and choose renewable energy. Consume less meat and shop second-hand to reduce your footprint. Support climate-friendly leaders, laws, organizations and movements.   

Defend wildlife and nature

“We have no other spare or replacement planet. We have this one, and we have to take action.” Berta Cáceres

Berta Cáceres was a Honduran environmental activist and Goldman Prize winner (2015) who defended her indigenous Lenca community’s territories from mega-projects and deforestation for 20 years. She was killed in 2016, and Honduran courts found that a dam company that wanted to build a project in Lenca territory had hired the hitmen who killed her. 

Actions to take: Support laws, communities, organizations and that protect natural areas with rich biodiversity or cultural importance. Conserve an area that you have a strong connection to. 

Cancel plastic

“I want to be remembered for the things that I did while I was on this planet, and not for the trash that I left behind.” - Lauren Singer

Lauren Singer is a popularizer of the zero waste movement and she started the blog, Trash is for Tossers. She’s known for fitting all of the trash she created in a year into a single mason jar. Watch her inspiring TedXteen talk to learn more. 

Actions to take: Use refillable bags, bottles and containers. Make homemade products by buying ingredients in bulk. Write to manufacturers to complain if they use too much plastic packaging. 

Speak up and demand change 

“Adults take note of this message: Young people like myself should not have to take on this burden, this is supposed to be your job.” Jerome Foster II

Jerome Foster II founded the Climate Reporter, an international youth led news outlet in 2017 at age 14. In 2019, he founded a youth voting advocacy non-profit, OneMillionof.Us. He also passionately protested with the Black Lives Matter movement following the murder of George Floyd. 

Actions to take: Define your campaign, choose a slogan, get others involved, and use social media to promote your cause. 

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Article written by Erica Eller