Tiny Efforts Account 

Hu Wanying 

A 30-year-old marketing specialist in Beijing 

When it comes to the environment, there’s a curious paradox: Most people agree that protecting it is crucial, yet many balk at something as basic as sorting their trash. So, the question is, if sustainable living brings us a bit of hassle - or even just mild inconvenience - are we still willing to stick with it? 

The answer, I think, comes down to whether we believe our personal choices genuinely matter. But I do believe small actions add up in meaningful ways. 

Take my own routine as an example. On workdays, I usually order lunch, which means I use a pair of disposable chopsticks every day. Over the course of a year, that’s about 260 pairs. It turned out to equal roughly 5 kg of wood. All I’d need to do is to carry a reusable set of chopsticks to save that much wood annually. 

In daily life, I try to keep sustainability practical and manageable. For trips under 3 km, I hop on a bike - not only because it’s greener and healthier, but also because, in city traffic, it’s often quicker than driving. I also lean towards longer-term choices: avoiding fast fashion, sticking with a mug I actually like and use for years, and saying no to disposable cups whenever I can. Over time, I’ve noticed a pleasant side effect: living green often overlaps with living well. It cuts down on microplastic exposure and spares us from the hidden costs of cheap, throwaway goods. 

Modern consumer culture constantly lures us to buy more - different shapes, the same functions, endless variations - even when we already have plenty. But don’t get swept along. Every impulsive purchase means a waste of money and another blow to the planet. I’m not against economic growth; what I resist is the reckless feeding of our bottomless appetites - appetites that quietly gnaw away at Earth’s beauty. After all, products are made at a steep environmental cost. 

Think about it this way. If every person in the world gives you a dollar, you will end up a billionaire. By the same logic, if everyone makes small, consistent efforts - saving paper, conserving water, cutting down on waste - the collective impact will reshape the planet. Tiny choices, multiplied across billions of people, can create extraordinary change. 

Small Choices, Big Climate Impact 

Chiedza Mavis Chakawanei 

A 32-year-old Zimbabwean student in Henan Province 

Carbon neutrality is crucial because it’s an important strategy in combating climate change. Balancing greenhouse gas emissions with absorption stabilises global temperatures and mitigates severe weather effects.  

The aim of carbon neutrality is to achieve a balance between greenhouse gas emissions and the absorption of this gas from the atmosphere, resulting in no net increase in atmospheric greenhouse gas levels. The overall objective of carbon neutrality is to mitigate the effects of human activities on climate change by neutralising the net carbon footprint; hence individual actions really make a difference. 

As individuals, our everyday choices like eating certain foods, using particular modes of transport and buying certain things also contribute to greenhouse gas emissions and resource depletion. Human beings can make wise choices for instance in food. There is a need to reduce animal-based proteins, especially red meat, since significantly more greenhouse gas is produced and more resources are used compared to plant-based diets. 

The choice of how one travels also has an effect on climate goals. Driving and flying contribute more to greenhouse gas emissions. By opting for more sustainable travel, like cycling and taking public transportation, we can reduce emissions to a large extent. 

An interesting scenario is how our individual purchases connect to global climate goals. Buying products, for example shoes, contributes to emissions through their production and distribution. Single use items like plastics also add to environmental degradation. As human beings, we need to buy less and opt for more durable goods, thus supporting global climate goals. 

Even though industries and governments play a critical role in driving carbon neutrality targets, human beings play a significant role and can build momentum for broader systematic changes needed to achieve global climate goals. Personally, I travel more by public transport, my diet is more plant based, I eat less red meat, and I also buy more durable products so that I don’t have to buy them often. Hence, my actions are truly making a difference.