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The Greenpeace Living Guide's Top 3 New Year's Resolutions for 2009

It's a new year, and, by all accounts, it's going to be a challenging one. As we confront an unfolding economic crisis, it's more important than ever to keep our focus on the environment. Why? With this crisis comes an opportunity to change the way the world does business, ushering in a new era of green energy, green jobs and responsible governance (and by this we mean regulation—financial, environmental—bring it on!). So, in the spirit of renewal, The Greenpeace Living Guide presents our top three New Year's resolutions for 2009. (For bonus points, add, 'I will order The Greenpeace Living Guide.')

1. I will not lose hope.

Corporations and governments use cynicism, distraction and despair as powerful tools to stop citizen action in its tracks. Corporations distract us with shiny consumer goods and misleading advertising that associates cars with nature and oil companies with social change. Governments (or, more precisely, the Canadian government) tell us that, for our economic survival, we must abandon any hope of addressing climate change. Every day, we are told in subtle and unsubtle ways to expect less from ourselves, from our lives, from our governments and from the world. Don't listen. The future is not predetermined. As we have seen in history and in our own lives, the impossible can become possible.

2. I will keep watching Parliament.

In the end, climate change is a problem that requires political solutions. To craft political solutions in Canada, we need a functioning democracy. In December, our Prime Minister chose to shut down government rather than face a democratic vote in Parliament. At the end of this month, Parliament will resume session, and, judging by the past, Stephen Harper will continue to try and hold on to power by any means, including by bending the rules of democracy.

It is up to us to keep all eyes on Parliament over the next few months. Democracy is fragile, and can easily slip away. If there is another election, vote. If the coalition option resurfaces, consider supporting it. (While Greenpeace does not endorse any particular political party, we do suggest you vote for the environment, and we have determined that, at present, Conservative policy on climate change is the worst of the bunch. For more information about Greenpeace's evaluation of federal political parties back in 08, click here.) If Stephen Harper attempts, again, to flout the will of Parliament, complain. Contact your MP, write to the PMO's office, write letters to the editor, march in the streets.

3. I will remind politicians that the environment still matters.

However you vote, whomever you support, remind your politicians that, in this time of economic crisis, you want action on the environment. In the US, environmentalists and policymakers see a real opportunity to marry economic and environmental solutions. For example, Van Jones and his organization Green for All are helping to make green jobs part of US policy. President elect Barack Obama Obama has called for $150 billion in spending on renewable energy, which will create five million green jobs and result in 10 percent renewable energy by 2012, and 25 percent by 2025. Unfortunately, our present government, such as it is, has put forward no such vision. (For more on Obama, Harper and energy policy see Greenpeace Canada climate campaign coordinator Dave Martin's blog. Take every opportunity to remind politicians and the media that Canadian residents see the real connections between economic progress and climate change.

What are your top three New Year's resolutions for the environment? Let us know, and you might see them featured in the next 'green tips.'

For a whole book full of inspiring, world-changing ideas, order The Greenpeace Living Guide.