“Every single individual matters, has a role to play, and makes an impact on the planet – every single day. And we have a choice as to what sort of impact we will make.” – Jane Goodall, “The Book of Hope“
Welcome To Environmentalism!
Over the past year and a half, the Environmentalism Book Club here at WPPL has been reading & discussing books geared towards learning about the climate crisis & what we as individuals can do to come together and help. This topic is critically important, and while much of the information we’ve learned is heavy and hard to hear, there are sparks of hope all around us! We only need to know where to look or how to make them ourselves. This blog is a curation of some of the club’s favorite, most impactful books, plus a collection of local, national, & global resources that will enable & inspire you to take action and get involved with the fight against climate change.
The world will not be saved by any one person over the course of one day. It’s not possible for us to ‘do it all’, so please don’t feel discouraged or overwhelmed! We can only do the best we can, each of us, one day at a time. I hope you find these books & resources as inspiring as I have, and that you will join us for a discussion soon!
Book Recommendations
Braiding Sweetgrass by Robin Wall Kimmerer
A beloved classic for good reason! This book will make you want to go out to the middle of a forest just to feel the interconnectedness of everything, and will inspire you to feel awe, joy, and love towards our fellow living things. “Drawing on her life as an indigenous scientist, and as a woman, Kimmerer shows how other living beings–asters and goldenrod, strawberries and squash, salamanders, algae, and sweetgrass–offer us gifts and lessons, even if we’ve forgotten how to hear their voices.”
How to Give Up Plastic by Will McCallum
An incredible, beginner-friendly book that will guide you through “changes we can all make–small and large–to rid our lives of disposable plastic and clean up the world’s oceans.” This book “is a straightforward guide to eliminating plastic from your life. Going room by room through your home and workplace, Greenpeace activist Will McCallum teaches you how to spot disposable plastic items and find plastic-free, sustainable alternatives to each one.” This book is an amazing resource, I highly recommend you check it out!
Total Garbage by Edward Humes
An excellent book stuffed with important, easy to understand (though sometimes hard to swallow) information about the tons and tons of waste we throw away every day. “This story-driven and in-depth exploration of the pervasive yet hard-to-see wastefulness that permeates our daily lives illuminates the ways in which we’ve been duped into accepting absolutely insane levels of waste as normal. Total Garbage also tells the story of individuals and communities who are finding the way back from waste, and showing us that our choices truly matter and make a difference. Our big environmental challenges–climate, energy, plastic pollution, deforestation, toxic emissions–are often framed as problems too big for any one person to solve. Too big even for hope. But when viewed as symptoms of a single greater problem–the epic levels of trash and waste we produce daily–the way forward is clear.”
It’s Not That Radical by Mikaela Loach
Our most recent book club selection, and an incredible one at that! This book is perfect for those that already know and care about the climate crisis and finds themselves asking that big scary question: OK, what do I do now? Author Mikaela Loach, a young climate activist from the UK, beautifully expresses how vital it is for all actions taken to combat the climate crisis to be rooted in justice for all. She outlines a “practical & transformative look at our circumstances to help mobilize a majority for the future of our planet.” and addresses head-on the issues at the root of the climate crisis.
Resources
Grist
This non-profit organization is “the largest and most experienced climate-focused newsroom in the country” with 40 journalists spread across nearly 20 U.S. states. Their site is an excellent resource for getting informed on issues & updates regarding the climate.
Imagine 2100
In addition to being a great news source, Grist also hosts the Imagine 2100 short story competition each year, where authors are prompted to “imagine a future in which solutions to the climate crisis flourish and help bring about radical improvements to our world.” Last year, the Environmentalism Book Club read 2 of the resulting collected volumes of excellent, inspiring stories.
Check them out!
Fix
Fix, Grist’s “Solutions lab”, assembles a list each year called the “Grist 50”, an annual list of climate and justice leaders to watch, covering topics from Arts + Culture to Infrastructure to Transportation and more. Below is a link to their 2025 list – check them out if you want to feel inspired!
Regeneration
This website is incredible! A “comprehensive approach to tackling our greatest challenges, weaving climate, justice, biodiversity, democracy, and human dignity into a tapestry of action, policy, and transformation.” There are two facets of the site I’d like to feature and highly, highly encourage you to explore:
Nexus
With entries covering topics from Afforestation to Net Zero Cities to Regenerative Agriculture to Women & Food, there’s a whole world to explore here! Each entry includes:
- Call to Action
- Overview of the topic at hand
- Photos and videos to give additional context
- Action Items for Individuals, Groups, & Companies
- Governance – what legislation or regulations would be needed to make a positive impact
- Key Players – who’s making waves in this area? Individuals, organizations, and businesses are given shout-outs for their work around the world
- Learn – my favorite section, linking you to videos to Watch, articles and books to Read, and podcasts to Listen to.
Cascade of Solutions
On this page, you can scroll through an entire – as the title suggests – cascade of solutions! Beautifully and thoughtfully laid out, you can click through and explore topics that catch your eye, learning how everything is interconnected and flows together. This page is simply gorgeous to look at and links, when applicable, to a topic’s Nexus page for further exploration.
Cuyahoga Recycles: How to Recycle Right
If you’re anything like me, you often get frustrated by not knowing for sure whether something is recyclable, and if so, if my recycling center can accept it. This website solves that problem! It has a comprehensive guide on what can and cannot be recycled in Cuyahoga County, as well as instructions on how to make sure your items are properly recycled.
Final Thoughts
Being a part of the Environmentalism Book Club has been a truly transformative experience for me. Each meeting, I leave feeling inspired – inspired to take action, to make more sustainable choices in my day-to-day life, and to celebrate the interconnectedness of all things. As Robin Wall Kimmerer says in her gorgeous book Braiding Sweetgrass, “All thriving is mutual”. We can all contribute to ending the climate crisis, one baby step at a time. I hope you enjoy exploring these books and resources as much as I have, and I very much hope to see you at the next Book Club meeting!
Until then,
Elyse
