As the resolutions of the new year slowly begin to fade, this is the perfect moment to reflect on the major challenges ahead—and to introduce a small but powerful strategy for making a lasting impact: microactivism.
Feeling overwhelmed
In our programme, we explore numerous environmental issues from regional, international, and even global perspectives. This makes sense, as many challenges transcend borders. Consider plastic pollution, which is deeply tied to global economic flows, or climate change, where one country can experience the consequences of emissions produced on the other side of the world.
Given the scale and complexity of these issues, it’s understandable that many people feel overwhelmed by their own impact and their potential role as changemakers. How can we possibly confront climate change when it requires systemic transformation on a large scale? A recent report among Dutch citizens highlights this exact challenge, showing that systemic barriers hinder young people from adopting an action‑oriented mindset.
Microactivism as a solution
To counter this sense of defeat, I find Microactivism – How You Can Make a Difference in the World by Omkari Williams a breath of fresh air. In the book, Williams outlines seven accessible steps that help anyone contribute to positive change. You don’t need to be an environmental scientist to make a difference!
It begins with Step 1, where you identify your activist type. Are you a silent force, a producer, an organiser, or a leader? Step 2 invites you to select the topics you want to focus on—no more than two.
Step 3 asks you to reflect honestly on your capacity: how much time do you truly have available for your cause?
These first three steps are crucial. They help you recognise and use your strengths, focus on what matters most to you, and give you a realistic understanding of the time you can commit. From experience, many wonderful initiatives burn out too quickly because people take on too much or expect too much from themselves.
In Step 4, you join a group aligned with your cause to strengthen your momentum. This is followed by Step 5, which focuses on building resilience. Step 6 encourages you to define your goal—what you hope to leave behind once your work is done. Finally, Step 7 is simple yet essential: make a plan.
There are many books on this topic, but Williams’ approach stands out for being simple, elegant, and easy to apply. It also aligns beautifully with the well‑known saying: Think big, act local.
(Photo by Anna Shvets: https://www.pexels.com/photo/close-up-shot-of-a-person-holding-a-plant-5027792/)
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