The Buy Different Action Center provides a powerful program of four actions each of us can take that will have a measurable, positive effect on the environment. And it lets you see exactly how many resources you save by taking those actions.

Q: How were the actions chosen?
A: We asked many environmental experts, scientists, and others to recommend some steps that they would like Americans to take as responsible consumers. We asked them to recommend actions that would best protect the environment—actions that would save forests, protect endangered species, slow global warming, and more. We screened for actions that had clear, measurable environmental results, and we selected those that were relatively easy to do.

Q: Do I have to take all the actions to be counted?
A: No. Simply take the actions you can and your impact will be counted in the grand total for each action. All we're asking is that you do as much as possible. Every bit counts.

Buy Different actions are just a sample of what you can do to have an effect. We have loads of other suggestions about how you can begin to live differently, and if you think about them you'll come up with the actions that make the most sense for you.

Q: Do you have any tools to help me keep track of my actions while I'm away from the computer?
A: Yes. We encourage you to return to the site once a month to update your actions and to confirm that your previously reported actions are still accurate. But for everyday tracking when you're away from the site, we've created a tracking sheet for you to post at home, in your locker, or wherever works best for you. Print out a personal tracking chart now.

Q: Do you really think we'll fix the environment by eating a couple less burgers and putting in new showerheads? Aren't there more important things I can do to help the environment?
A: Small changes add up quickly when thousands of people take the same actions. Of course, they have to be actions that really make a difference—steps that truly conserve resources and protect the environment. They have to be things we can fit in among homework, soccer practice, video games, phone calls, and everything else we do.

You can help your parents make better choices, too. By starting to think about the way you consume and buy things, you're setting yourself up for a brighter future, and you're helping make the world better now.

Q: Are there any alternatives to the beef we're giving up?
A: Many people have given up eating beef and all other kinds of meat, and they enjoy their meals just as much as other people do. But you don't have to go that far to do the environment a favor. You can choose to buy what's called "free—range" or "grass—fed" beef, which is healthier for the environment and for you (fewer chemicals going into your body, and often less fat). To find places to buy this beef, check the links in the Buy Different Action Center.

Q: I've heard mixed things about global warming. Some people say that global warming isn't really happening. Doesn't carbon dioxide (CO₂) occur naturally? What's so bad about it?
A: We've come a long way in understanding how our environment and human activities affect each other. For example, most people now understand the connection between dumping chemicals and the health of wildlife and people. We've also had a dramatic increase in recognizing the importance of addressing global warming. Scientific consensus is that climate change is already occurring. Burning dirty fossil fuels—such as coal, oil, and gas—emits carbon dioxide, which blankets the Earth and traps in heat. We've already increased the concentration of CO₂ in the atmosphere by 30% and we're now adding CO₂ emissions at 3 to 7 times the rate over the last 150 years. CO₂ stays in the atmosphere for a long time so some of the CO₂ we emit today will still be in the atmosphere a thousand years from now.

We can help slow global warming if we take steps now to reduce our CO₂ emissions and slow global warming through energy efficiency measures and switching to clean renewable energy sources such as wind and solar power. To delay action is irresponsible when we know what we have to do and we have the resources to do it. If CO₂ emissions continue unchecked, our environment is at risk. Warmer temperatures lead to melting glaciers and polar ice caps, contributing to higher sea levels. That means many coastlines will be taken over by oceans. Some island nations may disappear completely. Climate change also causes instability in weather patterns, which can lead to droughts in some places and floods in others. Global warming will make it harder for vast numbers of living things to get the resources they need to survive. In some cases, species will become extinct.

But, the good news is that you can start taking action now and encourage others to do the same.

Q: I have limited computer access and some of my friends have none. Why is this an on—line program?
A: Computers offer the fastest way for people to keep in touch with one another and to get updates on the impact they are having. But you don't need to own a computer to take the four actions. Simply go to a library or ask a friend to print out a personal tracking chart, fill it out, and track your impact. You can even send us your worksheet and we'll add your impact to the collective totals that appear on this site.