Saving the planet isn’t just for superheroes. And it’s not just wishful thinking, either. Tiny steps can have a huge impact when we all agree to play our part.  

But, where does one start? We asked some of our UCLA researchers to help us create a list of ways that anyone, even a kid, can switch to a more sustainable life—and here they are! 10 simple actions you can take today:

Advocate for change by first informing yourself on the current issues. What's the one thing the average person can do about climate change? "Vote," says Sean Hecht, the UCLA Emmett Institute on Climate Change and the Environment co-executive director. "Vote for people who have good policies, and then tell them why it’s important to uphold those policies." You can also volunteer for local non-profits, participate in demonstrations, or start an initiative at your work or in your community.

Eat more plants. "Plant-based foods generally have a lower carbon footprint and use less water than animal products," Associate Professor of Integrative Biology and Physiology Amy Rowat says, "especially beef, pork and cheese." We recommended Meals4Planet.org, an online cookbook from Jenny Jay, Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering.

Reduce your transportation emissions by walking and biking whenever possible, using public transit or carpooling, and reducing air travel. Use teleconferencing for business meetings and consider vacation by train.

Reduce single-use plastic in your household, work and play, including dishware (carry reusable utensils and straws with you), toiletry containers (bar shampoos/conditioners/soaps), food (buy in bulk using reusable bags) and compostable garbage bags. UCLA Sustainability’s Zero Waste Coordinator Kikei Wong encourages, "Recycling helps, but reducing waste and reusing is better."

Reduce your household energy consumption. Turn off appliances and lights when you’re not using them. Try hang drying clothes instead of using a dryer, and open up your blinds for natural light instead of turning on the lights.

Drink from the tap. Use a reusable water flask instead of plastic bottles. It’s a surprise for many people to learn that tap water is better regulated than bottled water in the US. You can also purchase filters that fit on your tap. The UCLA Luskin Center for Innovation is conducting research and hosting discussions to increase trust in tap water.

Save water. Convert your lawn to drought tolerant landscaping. Turn the sink off when brushing your teeth; take quicker showers; or use a broom to clean the driveway, sidewalk, and stairs rather than a hose.

Go paperless. If possible, go paperless with bank statements, receipts, etc., bring laptops/tablets to meetings instead of printing out agendas and documents, and publish reports online instead of printing copies.

Be mindful of what you purchase and buy less stuff. Before you purchase anything, Sustainability Manager Erin Fabris says, consider whether you actually need it. "Instead, repurpose old clothes and learn how to sew, so you can fix garments rather than throw them away," she recommends. "Shop secondhand when possible." Fast fashion may be cheaper, Fabris says, but most brands are unethical and unsustainable. Instead, "Buy certified sustainable products such as Fair Trade, Leaping Bunny, or B Corporation."

Measure your carbon footprint (and offset if you can). All our behaviors and lifestyle generate carbon emissions. You can use one of the multiple carbon footprint calculators (e.g. The Nature Conservancy, Terrapass, Carbon Footprint, EPA…) to identify your largest ‘carbon budgets’ and see how you can reduce or offset them.

We encourage all of our students, faculty and employees to take these small steps with you. With this knowledge, we can make Los Angeles and the world a better place today.

If you’d like to learn more about what UCLA is doing for sustainability, check out our Sustainable LA and stay tuned for our March UCLA Magazine feature story tilted, "10 Climate Emergencies and how UCLA is solving them."

Saving the planet isn’t just for superheroes. And it’s not wishful thinking, either.

10 Tiny Steps Toward Sustainable Living

10 Tiny Steps Toward Sustainable Living | UCLA: Knowledge Solves

Whether you are a Gen Zer entering the workplace or a boomer entering retirement, there’s no denying the fact that you aren’t getting any younger.

But does the thought of growing old sting? Even though aging often has a negative connotation, it doesn’t have to. 

Western culture tends to define aging as a gradual physical decline — associating it with aches, pains and a foggy memory — and becoming out of touch with a fast-paced society (e.g., the internet meme “OK boomer”). We are led to believe that our best days are a summit that will pass us by. 

But when we look at the science of aging, fundamental pieces of this negative narrative start to vanish. 

Alan Castel, a professor of psychology at UCLA, is an advocate for aging victoriously. “Our own attitudes about aging do influence how we age,” Castel says, “so if you think positively about what can happen as you get older, then you might be active and healthier, and you might live longer.”

In his book Better With Age: The Psychology of Successful Aging, Castel cites a study in which researchers used Catholic nuns’ diary entries from when they were in their 20s to determine their levels of happiness. Of the most cheerful nuns, 75% lived to age 80, but only 40% of the least happy nuns lived that long. The happiest nuns lived about 10 years longer than the least happy nuns.

Castel uses this example to support his view that there are things you can do today — whether you’re 25 or 65 — to live a happier, healthier and longer life. 

In Better With Age, Castel interviews role models who have thrived in their later years, including Maya Angelou and legendary UCLA basketball coach John Wooden, to show how you can age victoriously, too.

What is the secret to health and longevity? According to Wooden, there are two essential ingredients: love and balance.

“Find who and what you love, and have balance in your life, both mentally and physically,” Wooden told Castel. And research backs up this advice. 

Loneliness has become a public health crisis. Social isolation leads to numerous mental and physical ailments that can take form at a young age and lead to premature mortality. And according to the UCLA Loneliness Scale, nearly half of Americans feel lonely, with Gen Z reporting the highest loneliness score. For those who are older, Castel says loneliness “poses as large a risk to long-term health and longevity as smoking cigarettes and may be twice as harmful for retirees as obesity.”

However, those with strong social connections have a 50% lower risk of dying early. Older adults who stay socially active are less likely to develop dementia and have stronger immune systems. “Staying sharp involves staying connected — and not to the internet,” Castel says. 

Are you experiencing loneliness? If so, you’re not alone. There is a community waiting for you — including one at UCLA.

Do you have a dream that you haven’t dared to explore, like making a career change? Or it could be a far simpler action, such as signing up for a painting class. 

Castel’s research and interviews with superagers tells an encouraging story. “Things like wisdom and creativity can blossom in older age,” he says. “Frank Gehry, the architect, designed conventional structures early in his career and now designs creative buildings he would only dream about when he was younger.” Examples of a late-life creative bloom abound. In fact, it wasn’t until Claude Monet was 73 that he began to paint his treasured water lily masterpieces.

It’s never too late to find what you love and pursue it. This psychological realignment will give your life meaning and lead to happiness and vitality. 

There are two aspects of balance that pay near-instant dividends.

Physically, it is important to start balance training early in life and continue it as you get older. By the time you’re 50, falls often lead to hospitalization. But you don’t need to buy a yoga mat to improve your balance. You can train at home or at work — all you have to do is stand on one leg for a minute, then switch. Once you get good at that, try it with your eyes closed. 

Like the rest of your body, your brain is a muscle that also should be exercised for balance. Mental balance helps us deal with life’s many priorities and unexpected events. Mindful awareness meditation has been proven to reduce stress, improve attention, boost the immune system, reduce emotional reactivity and promote a general sense of health and well-being. And it’s easy to get started. You just need to find a quiet place, sit and listen. 

 Aging doesn’t have to be a drag. As you get older, you can grow in happiness, creativity, even strength and mental resilience. But what about memory? That’s going to fade away regardless, right? 

Well, it depends, because there are many different kinds of memory.

“Some types of memory, like episodic memory, might decline as we get older, so you might be more likely to forget what you had for breakfast two days ago,” Castel says. “But the brain adapts and compensates by providing other benefits.” 

Our brain adapts to aging by focusing less on inconsequential information. At the same time, we develop more sophisticated or personal tactics for remembering what is truly important to us. 

“In many ways, our metacognition, or our ability to selectively remember information and notice when we don’t, may improve as we get older,” Castel says. “As a result, we may use strategies such as writing things down to ensure we’ll remember important things in the future.” 

But there’s more: “Semantic memory might get better with age, meaning we can rely on prior knowledge and experience,” he says. Older adults might use their knowledge base and their curiosity to enhance their memory.  

Past experiences can blossom into newfound creativity and wisdom, and this evolution can apply to all sorts of life experiences and people. 

There’s at least one more benefit to having a more selective memory as we age. 

“A selective memory can also help improve mood. Many older adults in their 70s and 80s report greater life satisfaction and happiness than in their midlife,” Castel says. “As an added bonus, these later decades tend to be made of happy memories, because a selective memory helps people focus on the things that are most important to us.” 

You can choose to rethink aging and, in the process, add years of happiness to your life. Instead of a gradual decline, view life as an upward climb. Once we get over the hill, we go up the next one. With effort, we can appreciate each view as different, but equally meaningful. 

If you’re looking for a new hill to climb, look no further than your community. There’s always something happening at UCLA, such as local events or UCLA Extension courses. Now is the time to grow with knowledge. 

It’s never too late, or too early, to start aging well. Our UCLA expert dismisses stereotypes associated with aging and provides tips for a happy, healthy life.

It’s Time to Rethink Aging

Aging Well | UCLA: Knowledge Solves

Stakes will be high when Californians vote in the primary polls on March 3, three months earlier than in the 2016 presidential race. 

And tensions will be high, too — at home, at work or over dinner. The wrong word or a political joke, and a pleasant evening could be ruined. 

So how will friends and families avoid such bear traps over the holiday season? Mark A. Peterson, professor of public policy, political science and law at the UCLA Luskin School of Public Affairs, believes it is possible to have a calm conversation about politics with people outside your bubble. 

Political discussion, the professor says, is all about polite discourse — something that’s perhaps forgotten during election fever, when political divides deepen. 

A recent study from the Public Religion Research Institute and The Atlantic magazine suggests that 45% of Democrats and 35% of Republicans would be unhappy if their child married someone from the opposite party.

And, according to a PRRI poll, fewer than 40% of respondents said there were political divisions within their family, suggesting that 60% of people may be losing the habit of talking to others who disagree with them in informal or safe settings. So how do we talk politics?

Peterson has some rules that might help lower the temperature during social gatherings. 

Unlike the candidates, the first rule is to forget about “winning.” 

He advises to make it more of a discussion than a debate. “We’re really caught up in this ‘us versus them’ world. But we can all take part in civil discourse without giving up our principles or self-respect,” he says. 

Secondly, focus on understanding. “Listening is one of the most powerful instruments for getting someone to start taking you more seriously,” Peterson says, “and for you to start taking them more seriously.” 

Finally, follow these two simple words: Be kind. “Being kind extends to the people you disagree with,” the professor says. “That effort builds a deeper connection and allows a constructive sharing of ideas.” 

So, if Californians keep their famous chill during the run-up to the March 3 primary, what could be the result? 

One possibility is a mass culling of candidates as never before. When the union’s most populous state had its say in June 2016, Democrat Hillary Clinton and Republican Donald Trump were the clear front-runners. 

Peterson says that the number of states voting on so-called Super Tuesday — 14, including Texas — will make it complicated, but “California will get more attention and be part of this larger story.”

An alternate scenario could see California become less of a deciding factor and more akin to a turbo boost for a nominee who stands out in other early primary states. Iowa, Nevada, New Hampshire and South Carolina will all vote before California. 

But in all of these states, the professor says, the challenge will be the same: How do we talk politics without getting mired in disagreement? It’s a skill. 

In 2016, Clinton won the Golden State’s Democratic vote by 7 percentage points over Bernie Sanders. She took the cities and, more controversially, the superdelegates; he dominated in suburban and rural areas. This season will generate its own surprises and anxieties. One can only hope to drink from the political pool both responsibly and generously.

We are weeks away from the California primary. Political temperatures may soar, but with these tips, you can keep it cool.

Revealed: The Rules of Civilized Debate

Revealed: The Rules of Polite Debate

Civil Discourse | UCLA: Knowledge Solves

In Los Angeles, the sight of homelessness is all too common. 

The problem is present in virtually every neighborhood, from Skid Row to Bel Air. For many Angelenos, to step over the homeless on the sidewalk — or look away from an encampment under an overpass — is an everyday occurrence.

But the facts of this crisis have become too staggering for Angelenos to ignore. Homelessness has surged 75 percent in six years. An estimated 57,000 people will be without a home in Los Angeles tonight. Many of these people are families and children; veterans and friends. 

In the latest UCLA Anderson Forecast, economist William Yu illuminates the factors behind this recent increase. For many, California’s unprecedented housing crisis sends the price of rent skyrocketing out of reach. Yu also points to other factors exacerbating homelessness: 26 percent of homeless individuals in California are severely mentally ill, 18 percent chronically abuse drugs and 24 percent are victims of domestic abuse. 

With a public-health crisis unfolding in real time, UCLA students, researchers and faculty are taking action to apply knowledge and confront homelessness where it’s happening.

A truck rumbles off UCLA’s campus and into the streets of Hollywood and Santa Monica. The truck belongs to the Mobile Clinic Project at UCLA, a program staffed by medical and public-health student volunteers. The students work together to run outreach and fund-raising and provide free primary care for the homeless.  

On a typical evening, medical students work with patients one-on-one, registering them, asking questions and taking detailed notes. They check blood pressure and dispense medication, and when confronted with serious health issues, arrange transportation to a nearby hospital or health clinic. 

For the volunteers, the Mobile Clinic offers a valuable opportunity for hands-on training and experience. For the patients and clients in the community, the knowledge and services provided by the Mobile Clinic are invaluable.

Fostering recovery through public psychiatry

Mental illness can make it very difficult for homeless individuals to take advantage of programs and services. Responding to this tragic catch-22, UCLA psychiatry students are embracing a hands-on approach to mental health and homelessness.  

UCLA psychiatry students at the Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior are actively involved in a range of programs and partnerships with law enforcement, the criminal justice system, legislators and social service providers. UCLA public psychiatry residents go on site visits, engaging patients in outpatient clinics for veterans, Skid Row and the Los Angeles County Jail.

Like many of the major challenges of our time, homelessness can feel like an intractable problem. Every day, in ways large and small, UCLA students, researchers and faculty prove that progress is possible. That solutions start with knowledge. And that change happens when people collaborate and apply their knowledge to make our community a better place. 

UCLA takes action to apply knowledge and confront homelessness in Los Angeles.

Out of the Classroom, Onto the Streets

Latest Impact Stories

10 Tiny Steps Toward Sustainable Living

It’s Time to Rethink Aging

Revealed: The Rules of Polite Debate

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