The greatest impact we can have is to vote for politicians who lead toward a cooler future! Increase the impact by letting others know of your choices. For example,

• Tommy Caldwell and Angela Hawse wrote, “climbers are really good at being uncomfortable, and this is a very uncomfortable situation. We have to push ourselves to speak up and have a voice to put that passion into purpose.”

• Sasha DiGiulian wrote, “I have … over half a million people following me on my social media accounts. When I realized that people who I’d never met were paying attention to my life…, I knew that I could use this platform to affect change beyond my niche sport.” You can, too!

• None of our individual lifestyle changes will have nearly the effect of good legislation that yields government-level policy changes, so vote as if your planet depends on it!

Stay informed. Knowledge alone won't solve problems, but it does lead to wiser decision-making.

• Watch Project Drawdown’s Climate Solutions 101 (start with the trailer).

• Watch An Imperfect Advocate (24 min) by American climber Graham Zimmerman.

• Watch Reinhold Messner speaking for Sustainable Summits COP26.

• Read The Importance of Being an Advocate, by Sasha DiGiulian

• CoolClimate Carbon Calculator from the University of California at Berkeley because it offers the best easy-to-use calculator that you can use on your phone or computer. Start with their “Simple” mode, then try “Advanced”--which is still easy and is great for learning. (Best for the USA).

• OneSmallStep Carbon Calculator is fun to use and includes great lessons on how to reduce your impact. It’s exclusive to mobile phones. (Best for USA and Australia).

• TNF / Protect Our Winter’s Cost of Carbon calculator focuses specifically on travel, was developed by The North Face and POW specifically for athlete expeditions.

• Travel less & stay longer -- make the most of fewer trips.

• Climb local -- fall in love with your neighborhood crags and peaks!

• Ride your bike -- to the store for supplies, and to the trailhead.

• Read this open letter from the International Mountain Bike Association (IMBA) to the COP26 Climate Conference.

• Use public transportation. Buses, trains, free city transportation.

• Drive an electric car. They’re not perfect, but they’re much cleaner than gas!

• Carpool. Drive fewer cars to the crag and climbing gym.

• Avoid flying. Reduce your total number of flights.

• Choose environmentally conscious airlines. The greenest airlines available.

• Solarize your home, if you can. If not, buy clean energy from your local electric company.

• LEED-ify: If you’re building new or have an older building, you can improve its insulation and maintenance to save a lot of energy. Learn more.

• Buy carbon offsets: Carbonfund.org, Climate Action Reserve , The Good Traveler

Eat less beef: Try meatless Mondays or move even towards a more plant-based diet. More info:

• To leave a smaller carbon footprint, choose chicken over beef (National Geographic)

• Do I need to stop eating meat? (BBC News)

• Know your suppliers and their carbon goals, then buy accordingly. Buy from brands that help fund Protect Our Winters.

• Gear: Buy less of it and make it last.

Use your gear longer.

Shop + donate consignment for outdoor apparel and soft goods. Check out Geartrade!

A Complete Guide to Used Outdoor Gear Stores in the U.S.

Repurpose old climbing gear. Make a rope rug!

Read this article in Climbing Magazine about Tommy Caldwell’s approach to greening his gear.

• Clothing: look for clothing carrying THE BLUE WAY by BLUESIGN label, which helps to green the textile industry. List of brands here!

• Watch Patagonia Film’s The Monster in Our Closet.

• Banks: It makes a huge difference if your money supports ESG companies–those that recognize their responsibility to the environment, society, and good governance. Choose banks and investments that have signed up for the United Nation’s Net-Zero Banking Alliance.

• Join a credit union instead of your bank. Here’s why.

• Take the banking pledge on ThirdAct.org. This could be a game changer!

Take the Climbers Cutting Carbon Pledge! Or...

• Join the American Alpine Club’s Climber’s Advocacy Network or the climber’s advocacy community in your home country.

• Join Protect Our Winters, one of the lead organizations representing outdoor athletes politically.

• Join ThirdAct.org, if you're over 60.

• Join Patagonia Action Works and see what you can do locally at

• Write op-eds for your local news publications.

• Share Climbers Cutting Carbon now on your social media accounts!