Going Green
16 ways environmentalism should improve
- We should transition to renewable energy (wind, solar, hydro) as quickly as possible.
- Carbon emissions should be better regulated.
- Environmental fines should be higher, especially for wealthy individuals and corporations.
- Recycling laws should improve.
- Single-use plastics and other wasteful items should be phased out.
- There should be more public trash, recycling, and compost bins.
- Composting should be compulsory.
- Selective logging should replace clear-cutting.
- Trees should be planted from the air (seed bombing).
- Wherever possible, replanting should consist of alternating swaths of coniferous and fruit trees.
- Other plants and animals should be introduced to replanted forests.
- City infrastructure should be redefined.
- Water conservation policies must improve.
- Natural habitats must be protected.
- Pollinators must be protected.
- Eco-education programs should improve.
Environmental protections are not optional; the health of our planet is a survival necessity. Climate change, biodiversity loss, pollution, and resource depletion are all accelerating. Their effects are increasingly visible in our daily lives, as their costs hit our health and security.
We cannot afford to wait for someone else to act. It is our responsibility to protect our environment. Every delay means deeper damage and higher repair costs. The economy relies on functional ecosystems, clean water, and a stable climate. Future generations will judge our actions, not our intentions.
Real change requires bold, practical reforms — proactive, science-based, and scalable. Below are 16 urgent and achievable environmental reforms, essential for a healthy and sustainable future. Most are already proven on a small scale (i.e. in certain countries or cities). All require public commitment, but the benefits will be long-lasting, equitable, and global.
Reform 1: Renewable energy
Renewables reduce pollution and create millions of green jobs. Transitioning as quickly as possible is critical to limiting climate change and building an energy-secure future. The technologies exist; all we need is the political will, financial investment, and an ambitious timeline.
Notably, renewables are often cheaper than fossil fuels. The International Renewable Energy Agency reports that the cost of utility-scale solar energy declined by almost 90% between 2010 and 2024. Some countries, such as Costa Rica, already run almost entirely on renewable energy, while others are making efforts to transition toward it. Morocco is building an enormous solar farm for that exact reason.
Reform 2: Emission restrictions
Stricter limits on emissions would cut industrial pollution and simultaneously drive industrial innovation. They are essential to curbing climate change and protecting public health from smog and other harmful byproducts. Countries such as Sweden and Germany have proven that strict emission standards can coexist with strong economies.
Reform 3: Increased (and proportional) fines
Laws without meaningful penalties are mere suggestions. It is essential to increase environmental fines. This includes fines for pollution, littering, and failure to recycle. The UN estimates that environmental crime is the third-largest criminal sector in the world, after drugs and counterfeiting. With few exceptions, the existing fines are too small to deter large corporations.
Fines should be reformed to reflect actual financial consequences. They should be increased all around, especially for businesses and wealthy individuals. Weak penalties encourage repeat offenses. Scaling fines to income or revenue ensures fairness and changes behavior. Likewise, littering fines should be higher for dumping large objects such as refrigerators.
Reform 4: Recycling laws
Too much recyclable material ends up in landfills due to weak laws and lax enforcement. Cloth, glass, and aluminum are often discarded because they are difficult or costly to recycle. Clearer regulations, increased oversight, and public education would help reduce waste, conserve resources, and lower pollution.
Some countries (including the UK, Ireland, France, Belgium, and Australia) have installed microchips in trash cans, to help enforce recycling laws. Deposit-return schemes are also beneficial, as demonstrated by many countries including Canada. These reforms should be implemented globally, but the biggest win in this field would be enforcing sortation of recyclables. Japan is a world leader in this category, with 34 categories of recyclables nationally and up to 45 in some municipalities.
Reform 5: Waste reduction
Plastic waste is choking ecosystems and landfills. Single-use plastics should be replaced with reusable, compostable, or recyclable alternatives. Many restaurants are already doing their part and switching to compostable or reusable utensils.
Still, we could do better. Packaging manufacturers should switch to easily recyclable materials, e.g. paper bags. Non-biodegradable plastic straws should be banned, even for home use. Similarly, balloons should give way to biodegradable paper items (streamers, confetti) or reusable household décor.
Reform 6: More receptacles
Littering is a common problem in the modern world. More insidiously, many people dispose of recyclables or food scraps because public recycling and compost bins are scarcer than garbage cans. People are more likely to dispose of waste responsibly when the full set of receptacles are available nearby. More public disposal options reduce litter, improve recycling rates, and lead to cleaner streets and parks.
San Francisco’s “zero waste” initiative includes clearly marked recycling and compost bins throughout the city. This has resulted in significantly higher recycling rates and lower landfill use, making it a successful example that other cities should strive to follow.
Reform 7: Composting enforcement
Organic waste makes up a large share of landfill trash, where it definitely does not belong. Organic material produces methane when it decays in the absence of oxygen. Composting turns this waste into nutrient-rich soil and supports local agriculture. Making composting mandatory is a win-win. Municipal compost collection programs can make the process easy and accessible.
Reform 8: Selective logging
Clear-cutting displaces wildlife and causes soil erosion, destroying entire ecosystems. Selective logging preserves biodiversity and allows sustainable timber harvesting, making it a smarter, longer-term approach to forestry. It also reduces the frequency and severity of wildfires, as overcrowded forests are the most flammable.
The problem is that logging outfits are not interested due to the costs. Clear-cutting is cheaper in the short term. The ideal solution would be laws against clear-cutting. According to FAO studies, selective logging can maintain biodiversity while still providing timber. Some countries, including Finland and Sweden, have adopted sustainable forestry models that combine selective harvesting, replanting, and fire prevention.
Reform 9: Seed bombing
Seed bombing is a much more efficient alternative to traditional manual planting. It consists of encasing each seed in a cone of fertilizer and dropping them from a plane. A seed bombing plane can plant up to 900,000 trees in a day.
The Massachusetts Institute of Technology invented seed bombing in 1989. To this day, the technique is rarely used despite its efficiency. As well as allowing large-scale reforestation, including in remote and mountainous areas, it costs less per tree than manual planting. It would facilitate many existing incomplete replanting projects, most notably the Sahara Green Wall.
Reform 10: Alternating swaths of conifers and fruit trees
The healthiest and most resilient forests include both conifers and deciduous trees. Fruit trees, in particular, add food and income sources for local communities, making reforestation more sustainable and equitable.
Reform 11: Polyculture
A healthy forest includes not only trees, but also smaller plants, animals, and fungi. Healthy ecosystems recycle nutrients, retain water, and resist disease. Diverse forests sequester more carbon than trees alone, fostering both ecological and economic resilience.
The goal should be to recreate natural forest structure and function: using native species, encouraging natural regeneration where possible, and integrating community-managed forest areas. This turns replanting into a self-sustaining ecosystem, rather than a short-term carbon fix.
Costa Rica has reversed decades of deforestation by restoring native forests. Rwanda has integrated native forests with fruit trees and crops, coupling restoration with improved food security. China’s Loess Plateau has seen the world’s largest-scale ecosystem restoration: Grain for Green. This project began in 1999, and has turned 170,000 km2 of barren land into thriving forests and grasslands.
Reform 12: Urban planning
Urban green spaces should be preserved and expanded; they cool cities, clean the air, and give people places to relax and connect with nature. They are also linked to reduced heart disease, depression, and heatstroke.
Cities also need better public transit, better walkability, more cycling paths, and mixed-use high-rises for the sake of smarter density. Due to climate change and rising fuel costs, car-dependent sprawls are outdated. As demonstrated by bike-friendly cities such as Copenhagen, Amsterdam, and Vancouver, mixed-use urban planning reduces emissions and improves quality of life.
Finally, green building should be the standard. Eco-friendly buildings use less energy and water, reduce carbon footprints, and lower utility bills. Making green design a legal standard, rather than simply an option, will drive large-scale environmental and economic benefits. Urban planning should be regarded as climate policy, not just construction policy.
Reform 13: Water conservation
Water is a precious resource that is essential for life. Smarter usage policies would protect our supplies and ensure access for future generations. They would also reduce the energy used in pumping and treating water, offering financial and environmental returns. Ideally, the restrictions would target corporations first and then individuals.
Solar stills should be more common. These simple devices offer an affordable, low-tech, and sustainable way to turn salty or dirty water drinkable. In areas facing drought, contamination, or rising sea levels, they could be a life-saving and eco-friendly solution. By being mindful of our water usage, we can contribute to the sustainability of our environment and ensure that future generations will have enough water for their needs.
Reform 14: Habitat protection
Losing habitats means losing species. Preserving forests, wetlands, and other wild spaces protects biodiversity, stabilizes the climate, and ensures clean air and water for all life. Stronger legal protections, buffer zones, and land stewardship incentives can help preserve these ecosystems before they are lost. Saving ecosystems from collapse helps ensure our own survival.
Reform 15: Protecting pollinators
Bees, butterflies, and other pollinators are essential, both for ecosystems and for food production. Limiting harmful pesticides and planting pollinator-friendly gardens supports both agriculture and biodiversity. Pollinator-friendly gardens (“bee gardens”) include a wide variety of flowers so that something will be in bloom most of the year.
Reform 16: Eco-education
People protect what they understand. Environmental education empowers children and adults to make informed, sustainable choices, laying the groundwork for long-term cultural change. Environmental literacy should be embedded in school curriculums, community workshops, and public media campaigns to reach all age groups
Conclusion
These reforms are not impossible dreams; they are practical steps that can be implemented now. We have the knowledge, the technology, and the precedent. Every day we delay, the price rises, not only in taxes, but also in human and ecosystem health. But every step we take now will pay dividends for centuries.