Five Things You Need to Know

Less Is More

Maybe we can’t solve all the world’s environmental problems—but that doesn’t mean we can’t try to be eco-minimalists. Jill Sohm, associate professor of environmental studies and director of the environmental studies program at USC Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences, says eco-minimalism is “focused on reducing environmental impact by simplifying your life and buying less.”

USC experts offer five ways to help you join the movement. BEKAH WRIGHT SMALL STEPS, TOGETHER Eco-minimalism comes down to consuming less: “Lots of people making small changes all together can have a large impact,” Sohm says. “Making sustainable choices is empowering in a world where it can feel like we don’t have much control.”

SHOP SMART

“Wanting something

START WITH THE PLATE Animal products are water- and energyintensive to produce, says Audra Isadora Bardsley, a lecturer in USC Dornsife’s environmental studies program. “We actually dedicate more land in the U.S. to growing food to feed animals than we do food to feed people.”

delivered to your door quickly raises your footprint,” Vos says. “If items are delivered by airplane versus container ship, their impact on the environment is higher.”

CHECK FOR STARS Vos recommends using home appliances rated as Energy Star, which use less energy and meet strict energy-efficiency criteria from the

EPA and U.S. Department of Energy.

GET MOVING In the United States, nearly 30% of greenhouse gas emissions in 2019 came from transportation, according to an Environmental Protection Agency report. To mitigate it, drive less, suggests Robert Vos, associate professor and director of graduate studies at USC Dornsife’s Spatial Sciences Institute. Instead, walk, bike or use public transit.