Brighton Area Chamber Environmental Council

Learn something new about our climate crisis. 

While our climate crisis is finally getting the media attention it deserves, there is a lot of information out there and it can quickly become overwhelming. People talk about the next 11 years being critical in staying below the 1.5 degree Celsius mark, but what does that mean? There is a great summary here.  

If you would like to know what climate change specifically means for Michigan, check out this document from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). 

To stay in the know on the latest in the environmental space, subscribe to reputable environmental organizations such as SierraClub.org, Grist.org.

Choose reusable and recycled products.

Choose reusable items vs. disposable (reusable shopping bags, water bottle, lunch bag and snack bags, straws, etc.) and products made from recycled content.

The issue with plastic is that it never truly goes away.  It breaks down into smaller microplastics that are now found in nearly everything - including us.  We hear about the great Garbage Patch in the Pacific but plastic pollution is a huge issue right here.

Did you know that 22 MILLION pounds of plastic debris enter our Great Lakes every year?  That’s the equivalent of 100 Olympic-sized pools full of plastic bottles dumped into the lake every year!  Bringing your own water bottle, shopping bags, lunch/snack bags, silverware, cloth napkin, straws, container for leftovers, etc. makes a big statement. Learn more about what you can do in the Plastic Pollution Action Toolkit.

Purchasing products made from recycled content not only saves our natural resources but uses less energy as well. Did you know if we all switched to recycled toilet paper we would save 27,000 trees…A DAY?

Take the TP pledge and forward to a friend. 

Contact your local representative.

The environment should be a non-partisan issue. Help educate those in office on the state of our environment and share your personal story as to why this is important to you. Below are a few documents to get you started.

• Citizens Guide to state government 
• EPA summary of what climate change means for Michigan 
• Unsure who your state representative or senator is? Find them here:
  • House of Representatives 
  • Michigan Senate

Eat for a climate-stable planet.

Eat meat-free one day per week, buy organic, don’t waste food, compost.

There are many wonderful food documentaries to help educate you on the topic. You can find a great list here. 

Did you know that if the entire U.S. did not eat meat or cheese for just ONE DAY a week, it would be the equivalent of not driving 91 billion miles – or taking 7.6 million cars off the road? If you're not already, see if a “meatless Monday” might be for you! Everything you need to know about going vegetarian. And here are a couple great blogs to get you cooking: Minimalist Baker and Simple Vegan Blog.

Fight climate change by preventing food waste - click to learn how you can start.

Did you know it takes 25 years for a head of cabbage to decompose in a landfill?  When food doesn’t get the air it needs to break down (as it does when properly composted), it emits methane – a very powerful greenhouse gas. Home composting isn't as hard as it sounds.  Check out this list of 7 Best composters of 2019. 

Become a climate advocate!

Find the area you’re most passionate about and spread the word!

We have a several wonderful environmental organizations right here in our backyard. Scroll down for a listing to see which best aligns with your passion and click to see how you can get involved.