Given the pandemic, youll be forgiven if youve briefly forgotten about theotherapocalyptic catastrophe thats been dominating our anxieties.

I often wonder how much we can do as individuals at home to combat climate change.

How useful are those smaller decisions, like recycling and switching to high-efficiency lightbulbs?

So theres this idea that individuals cant move the needle on climate change.

Baked into that belief is this idea that we can single handedly cut our carbon dioxide emissions to zero.

First, absent death or completely escaping U.S. society, thats not possible.

Its also answering the wrong question.

Why are we grounding our understanding of personal responsibility as consumption?

Our consumption is baked into systems.

Its the system that helps them lower their carbon emissions.

So how are you changing the system?

Personal responsibility to me is not about focusing on swapping out your lightbulbs.

We talk a lot about this onHow to Save a Planet.

Because offederal laws were all usingmore efficient lightbulbs than we were a decade ago.

Compact fluorescent or LEDs have become the norm.

But they are still 30-40% more efficient than they were a decade ago.

And thats because of policy.

Your dishwasher, your laundry machines, your refrigeratorall use less water and energy than a generation ago.

And thats because of policy.

So personal responsibility to me is not about focusing on swapping out your lightbulbs.

Yes, do that; but how are you using your talents?

That cancels out whatever you do about your personal consumption.

But also, start there and not with your toilet bowl.

True personal responsibility is about connecting to society.

If nothing else, we should have learned that from COVID.

Remember the Maine wedding that killed seven peoplenone of whom attended the wedding?

So ask yourself: what is your community doing to lower its carbon footprint?

How can you hold your lawmakers accountable?

Should you run for office yourself?

What levers can you pull to make broader changes to live within planetary limits?

Thats what we take a stab at emphasize atHow to Save a Planet.

Pre-pandemic, we threw out a third of the food that we brought home.

That all has harmful climate impacts.

So whatshouldwe do as individuals?

For me, I venture to reduce my food waste.

Its about climate, but its also about honoring my privilege.

The least I can do is respect that and eat the food I buy.

Reporting on climate change matters more.

But you’re free to be in the perfect work environment and get nothing done.

Whats your work setup like?

I live in chaos.

When Im cutting audio I use my work headphones, which are the Sony MDR-7506 Headphones.

Thats partly how I wrotethis essay for Sierraabout almost dying in Myanmar.

I think the pandemic has emphasized that.

For me, the biggest lesson in working with others is moving from text reporting to audio.

In text, its a pretty linear relationshipyou write something, your editor edits; rinse and repeat.

In audio, at least the Gimlet way, its more collaborative the whole way through.

Its taught me a lot about communicating, because you are also juggling that many more schedules.

Whats your preferred method of communication?

But she does it.

Whats some good work advice that youve gotten?

Dont put your name on anything you would be ashamed to have your name on.

And stop working with editors who force that choice on you.

Who else would you be curious to know how they work?

This article was edited for length and clarity.