Central Florida continues to be at the epicenter of the climate crisis with unruly weather events, rising temperatures and sea levels, and other extremities threatening our future. In fact, 2023 was the warmest year ever recorded in history. The year was also pivotal in the fight against the climate crisis as more people, businesses and organizations demanded change and took measurable actions to draw down their footprint. We must make changes to our consumer-centric and wasteful behaviors and practices now to save ourselves later. The future depends on our ability to work together for a more sustainable future.

Facing the climate crisis is daunting and as an individual, we find ourselves asking ‘Can we really make a difference?’ The answer is yes - even reducing your consumption of animal protein by half can cut your diet’s carbon footprint by more than 40%.

As we embark on a new year, here are five resolutions for Florida residents to make in 2024 (and beyond!) more eco-friendly:  

Number One: Switch to a sustainable bank

All self-serving purposes aside, divesting from big organizations that finance fossil fuels will have the most impact in the long-term. Switching to a sustainable bank is the biggest and easiest way to reduce the impact on the planet because your hard-earned dollars go toward combating the climate crisis and addressing social inequality, and takes away power from those doing harm with your dollars. At Climate First Bank, we redeploy our customers’ deposits into initiatives that do good for the planet and communities including renewable energy, affordable housing and education. The Bank’s 2022 Impact Report provides a transparent review of how we’ve delivered against our mission to use finances as a force for good. Apply for an account here.

Number Two: Utilize EV or alternative transportation

Central Florida is equipped with multiple different public transportation systems to help us get around - the SunRail, Lynx, the scooters downtown, countless bike lanes, and now the Brightline. In 2024, reduce vehicle miles by choosing alternative means of transportation such as carpooling, biking to work, choosing to drive an EV or even opting for telecommuting. The City of Orlando has over 30 publicly accessible EV charging stations to make the shift to sustainable transportation easier. Businesses should incentivize employees to use them, too. By making this switch, we can reduce the CO2 emissions polluting our air are reduced and we reap the health benefits. As an avid cyclist, I know cycling has countless health benefits including lowering cholesterol, boosting mental health, and strengthening your legs.

Number Three: Opt to shop locally, second hand or at a co-op

Living an eco-friendly life is all about making small adjustments daily that make large impacts in the long-term. Shopping locally, secondhand or participating in a co-op are some ways to make your spending habits sustainable. This is where you walk the walk of a sustainable lifestyle, not just talk the talk. Not only are co-ops some of the best places to find fresh organic and local products and produce, it’s also a way to shop that aligns with the community's ideals. There are options like 4Roots in Winter Park and Orlando to help you get started. Likewise, purchasing clothing second hand has major environmental benefits as fast fashion is one of the largest polluters globally. Thankfully and despite inflation pains this year, a Nielsen IQ report shows consumers still opted for sustainability-based purchases in 2023.  

Number Four: Make your diet more sustainable

There are two main ways of making your diet more sustainable. The first is to make the switch to foods produced from organic farming. We all know going organic has ample health benefits but organic food production is also better for the environment and helps pollinators like bees and butterflies. Organic food production depends on natural processes such as using manure as fertilizer rather than synthetic fertilizers that require the burning of fossil fuels to produce.

The second big action to take is to reduce (or eliminate!) your intake of animal products such as meat, dairy and eggs. Almost a third of all land on Earth is used for livestock production. Meat Free Monday explains how by skipping one serving of beef every Monday for a year saves the equivalent emissions to driving 348 miles in a car. That’s a huge impact by having only one meat free day per week!

Number Five: Make space for nature

Living in Florida allows us the benefit of gardening year-round. Growing and providing your own fruits and vegetables is a rewarding and delicious resolution to take this year. Planting a flower garden is an impactful choice because of the benefits we receive from pollination. According to the USDA, three-fourths of the world’s flowering plants and about 35% of food crops depend on pollination. The more we plant, the more our environment can thrive. Even if you don’t have a ton of outdoor space for a garden or you live in an apartment, adding bee or insect hotels outside can assist in the pollination process. Additionally, composting is an eco-friendly practice to consider this year.

Traditionally, recycling is a common way to begin a sustainable lifestyle, but realistically, recycled plastic products can only be reused once or twice before the plastic becomes unusable and ends up in a landfill, whereas biodegradable and compostable products can be remade indefinitely. One of the best things about composting is you can do it in your own backyard or in your kitchen!  O-Town Compost is a local organization working to reduce the amount of food waste in Orange County and will collect buckets of compostable waste.  

Summary

Making greener choices in 2024 doesn’t mean you having to change your life completely. It’s the little details that make the biggest difference. There are dozens of practices and adjustments you can make in 2024 for an eco-friendlier year ahead, but these five will be a good place to start. Let’s live like tomorrow depends on it - because it does.