Action Planning Tools
Four Ways to Help You Plan Your Actions
This page is to help people check off, map out, create, and/or then share their quarterly or yearly climate actions: as a way to help you organize the different ways you as an individual or group can take action. Planning alone increases success, but by then sending examples to us here at Climate Steps – you can help motivate others and shout out to the world – “I’m going to take these actions and publishing them here is going to force me to keep them up!”
Checklists
A simple, hard-copy, one-pager of effective actions that individuals can take was requested of us for distribution at museums and events. With Climate Steps, Earth Hero, and Project Drawdown data, we’ve actually created two versions: a) a simple, clean version especially for those new to taking climate steps; and b) a somwhat more detailed version for those who are looking for new types of actions. These are mainly to show the variety of effective actions one can take – there are many more out there. But these are great ones to start with!
Print them out on Executive size paper (though letter-size also does well), fold down the middle and tape, so that you have a narrow card of actions you can take, front and back. If you want to order some, let us know! climatesteps@gmail.com.
Image of Climate Action Stater List.
Image of Climate Change Can-Do’s List
New Year’s Resolutions
Resolutions are generally just a simple statement, though it helps if they are S.M.A.R.T. = specific, measurable, attainable, relevant, and time-bound. I have written three sets of New Year’s Climate Resolutions now, and they can be quite effective.
Climate Maps!
Developed by Dr. Cat Russell, who also is our lead for our Energy Page, Climate Action Maps are one-page tools to organize and motivate the climate steps of any group, from a household to a community organization or government.
- Each pathway on the map includes steps you choose to take to reduce your climate impact and create the future vision that inspires you. The steps are unique to your own context.
- Maps can contain links to articles detailing the steps you’re taking, to inspire others. For example, here is a sample map of Cat’s off-grid house in Colorado. Their blog articles contain everything from details of their solar PV system and EV road trip experiences to recipes for homemade soap.
- For simple instructions on how to create your own map, follow this link.
Developed by Dr. Cat Russell, who also is our lead for our Energy Page, Climate Action Maps are one-page tools to organize and motivate the climate steps of any group, from a household to a community organization or government.
Action Plans – a Table Version
Action plans are designed to help you outline and then quantify your plan and then your likely success. The are commonly used in strategic planning for programs and projects everywhere, and they are very much plans – “I plan to do this in this manner.” They are also often written so others can view them, encourage, and comment, especially a mentor.
By outlining the specifics, setting a timeline, and also sharing, you are more likely to meet your goals. These plans are a step up from a New Year’s Resolution and very useful. They’re not hard – just one to two pages of doable actions, but it’s a better way to check your progress. And at the end, it will help you see your impact. Because you can make significant impacts.
Note the examples but especially the BLANK template below. Once you create one – PLEASE SHARE IT WITH US! Just send it to climatesteps@gmail.com with a statement that you are ready to share it with any and all (i.e., make it public domain or CC-attribution), and whether you want to remain anonymous or not, and, if suitable, we’ll upload it. We’re still figuring out how to do private versus public feedback, but we’ll get there.
Sample Energy Action Plan
Sample Food Action Plan
Sample Plastic Action Plan
Sample Social Action Plan
Sample Water Action Plan
BLANK CLIMATE ACTION PLAN
Discover Regional Actions via Tools
So check it out, and help add to it. Cheers! And thanks to member Aviva Patel for pointing it out to me.
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Share Your Actions!
Share your actions with us here – removing personal data, and it will help others plan theirs. I also can send you an email reminder three months later (just one reminder) to help keep you on track.
Examples people are uploading:
S.R. Plastic Action Plan 2023 Download
R and P’s 3 months Action Plan Download
An Example Action Map for a Family Download
