Learning to live sustainability is the greatest challenge that humanity currently faces. Even though achieving sustainability requires major global change, the good news is that each of us can play a role. Use the links below to learn what you can do in your corner of the world!

What is Sustainability?

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA): Learn about sustainability

United Nations (UN): Sustainable Development Goals

Kate Raworth: The Doughnut

Beware of Greenwashing

National Resources Defense Council (NRDC): What is greenwashing?

United Nations (UN): Greenwashing

Michigan's Future

Great Lakes Integrate Sciences and Assessments (GLISA): Great Lakes climate information

National Resources Defense Council (NRDC): Climate change and health in Michigan

The Nature Conservancy (TNC): Climate change in Michigan

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA): What climate change means for Michigan

Michigan Pollution and Public Comment

Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE): Public Comment

EGLE: MiEnviro Portal

EGLE: Environmental Mapper

EGLE: Spill and Release Reporting

Michigan Environmental News Sources

Bridge Michigan: Michigan Environment Watch

University of Michigan (UofM) News: Environment

Michigan Radio: Environment & Climate Change

Michigan Environmental Council: Michigan Environmental Report

Michigan State University (MSU) Knight Center for Environmental Journalism: Great Lakes Echo

Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE): Newsroom

Resources

"How the Earth Hero app can help: (1) Fill out a short survey to determine your carbon emissions. (2) Set pollution reduction targets based on science-based IPCC recommendations. (3) Discover action ideas and track progress with helpful tools. (4) Learn about social actions with a multiplier effect to change systems. (5) Get personalized suggestions for your situation. (6) Take action to improve lives and care for our planet."

Free app

"AWorld and the United Nations joined forces to create awareness around the Sustainable Development Goals and engage citizens in living sustainably."

Calculate your carbon footprint and find ideas on how to lower your impact.

Free app

"The U.S. Climate Resilience Toolkit is a website designed to help people find and use tools, information, and subject matter expertise to build climate resilience. The Toolkit offers information from all across the U.S. federal government in one easy-to-use location." 

Explore interactive maps, case studies, and trainings, or find funding opportunities and climate experts.

"Project Drawdown’s mission is to help the world stop climate change—as quickly, safely, and equitably as possible. We do this by advancing effective, science-based climate solutions and strategies; fostering bold, new climate leadership; and promoting new climate narratives and new voices."

Explore the climate solutions library and find resources tailored to your needs.

"For more than 100 years, MSU Extension has helped grow Michigan’s economy by equipping Michigan residents with the information that they need to do their jobs better, raise healthy and safe families, build their communities and empower our children to dream of a successful future."

Resources for everything from soil testing to nutrition to wildlife.

Books

Douglas W. Tallamy

Douglas W. Tallamy

Jeremy L. Caradonna

Poppy Villiers-Stuart and Arran Stibbe

Free

Rachel Carson

Organizations

"Michigan Environmental Council—a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization—is a coalition of nearly 100 organizations created in 1980.

Our mission is to champion lasting protections for Michigan's air, water, and the places we love."

MEC also has a list of other sustainable organizations in MI

"The Michigan Climate Action Network amplifies, connects, and supports the people, organizations, and communities demanding urgent, bold, and equitable solutions for a just transition to a resilient future."


"Michigan’s 75 Conservation Districts (CDs) are your local providers of natural resource management services -- much like your local fire, police, health, and school services. We're also your neighbors, helping fellow Michiganders conserve their lands and waterways so our environment can be a cleaner, healthier, economically stronger place to live, work and grow for our community."

"Our mission is to: (1) Explore, enjoy, and protect the wild places of the earth; (2) Practice and promote the responsible use of the earth’s ecosystems and resources; (3) Educate and enlist humanity to protect and restore the quality of the natural and human environment; and (4) Use all lawful means to carry out these objectives."


"For over forty years, EMEAC has been working in the community, in the courts, in township halls and in schools. We played a role in the enactment of most of Michigan’s environmental laws.  Our work is rooted in the principles of environmental justice and in community organizing.  We work to fight environmental racism and extreme energy while building community solutions and resilience inside Detroit: the community where we live, work and play."

"There is a beauty in our dunelands, the banks of our rivers, the streams that run through our cities. But this beauty reveals its truest form in the people that are willing to protect it, using their energy and passion for creating change in our communities and ensuring stability in our natural resources."


"The Northern Michigan Environmental Action Council (NMEAC) is dedicated to preserving our natural environment through citizen action and education. Founded in 1980 we are the oldest grassroots environmental organization in the Grand Traverse region."

"Our Mission is to improve environmental stewardship in MidMichigan, helping to preserve our natural resources through education, advocacy, and volunteerism."


"The Michigan Environmental Justice Coalition (MEJC) works to achieve a clean, healthy, and safe environment for Michigan residents most affected by inadequate policies."

MOFFA's mission is "promoting organic agriculture and the development and support of food systems that revitalize and sustain local communities."

"The Greening of Detroit continues to build on the foundation of its green infrastructure program, focusing on serving and empowering Detroit communities in the development of healthy green and productive landscapes."

"We believe the central question of our time is how are we going to thrive in the world without destroying the earth’s ability to sustain us. In the face of enormous environmental challenges, virtually all sectors of our society are now scrambling to create solutions, and the Ecology Center plays a critical role in advancing the best models."

"We protect Michigan's air, land, and water by activating voters to elect and hold accountable public officials who fight for an environment that sustains the health and well-being of us all." Non-partisan.

"GLISA works at the boundary between climate science and decision making, striving to enhance Great Lakes communities’ capacity to understand, plan for, and respond to climate impacts now and in the future."