The world’s nations recently adopted a new sustainable development agenda, in the form of 17 Sustainable Development Goals to be achieved by 2030. The goals offer everyone, each and every person, an opportunity to promote responsibility. The United Nations have published a “Lazy Person’s Guide to Saving the World”. Here The Good Times quotes things you can do in your neighbourhood as a “Neighbourhood Nice Guy” to help end extreme poverty, fight inequality and injustice, and fix climate change.

Anyone, yes every single individual, can change things. Here are “super easy things we can adopt into our routines that, if we all do it, will make a big difference”.

Things you can do outside your house

• Shop local. Supporting neighbourhood businesses keeps people employed and helps prevent trucks from driving far distances.
• Shop Smart—plan meals, use shopping lists and avoid impulse buys. Don’t succumb to marketing tricks that lead you to buy more food than you need, particularly for perishable items. Though these may be less expensive per ounce, they can be more expensive overall if much of that food is discarded.
• Buy Funny Fruit—many fruits and vegetables are thrown out because their size, shape, or color are not ‘right’. Buying these perfectly good funny fruit, at the farmer’s market or elsewhere, utilizes food that might otherwise go to waste.
• When you go to a restaurant and are ordering seafood always ask: ‘Do you serve sustainable seafood?’ Let your favorite businesses know that ocean-friendly seafood’s on your shopping list.
• Shop only for sustainable seafood. There are now many apps like this one that will tell you what is safe to consume.
• Bike, walk or take public transport. Save the car trips for when you’ve got a big group.
• Use a refillable water bottle and coffee cup. Cut down on waste and maybe even save money at the coffee shop.
• Bring your own bag when you shop. Pass on the plastic bag and start carrying your own reusable totes.
• Take fewer napkins. You don’t need a handful of napkins to eat your takeout. Take just what you need.
• Shop vintage. Brand-new isn’t necessarily best. See what you can repurpose from second-hand shops.
• Maintain your car. A well-tuned car will emit fewer toxic fumes.
• Donate what you don’t use. Local charities will give your gently used clothes, books and furniture a new life.
• Vaccinate yourself and your kids. Protecting your family from disease also aids public health.
• Take advantage of your right to elect the leaders in your country and local community.