Changemaker Infographic

Environmental awareness and action manual for dummies

Personal Dimension

Know about...

Realized by Alexis Andre Rivera Rocha

Professional Dimension

Citizen Dimension

First know about

Greenwashing?

Slacktivism?

Consumer Dimension

This type of behavior reflects an emotional disconnection from the real consequences of serious environmental issues, such as wildfires. (Greenpeace, 2022)

This photo comes from an empathy campaign for the Amazon Fire. However, some people join the movement without even knowing what happened, having any real knowledge, or caring about it. Instead, they aim for viral exposure on social media by exploiting such events. (El Salto, 2019)

• There may not be a direct intention to cause harm.
• This type of action can trivialize the environmental impact.
• They seek social validation on social media.
• Selfishness is above empathy.

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How can we face the problem?

• Slacktivism generates a false sense of participation while avoiding real action. Mobilizing beyond sharing content on social media is crucial to creating impact.

• It is important to keep in mind "It is essential to understand that every action counts in the global context."

Proposal:

• Create interactive and accessible platforms where people can calculate their environmental impact and receive personalized advice.
• Avoid the popularization of "slacktivist" posts or actions.

Effectivity: Informed people tend to adopt more sustainable lifestyles, as demonstrated by the success of educational apps like "Too Good To Go," which fights food waste. (Aircall, 2024)

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"If 98% of the scientific community says climate change exists, but you find five who argue it doesn't, many people think there’s actually a 50% chance that either position could be correct." (Palacios & El País, 2019) This denialist stance seeks to ease the public's concern about climate change.

People try to undermine the work of young individuals with the argument of "having done nothing for the planet yet." Misinformation and lack of knowledge affect others' perspectives through social media, aiming to sensationalize the news, influence the public, and discredit the young person. (Vera, 2019)

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How can we face the problem?

• A sustainable society balances economic, social, and environmental needs, promoting equity and resource preservation.

• Understanding the magnitude and root causes of environmental issues helps make informed decisions.

Proposal:

• Consult reliable scientific sources, such as IPCC reports.
• Implement educational programs from an early age.
• Promote policies that reduce inequalities and environmental impact.

Effectivity: People with a clear understanding of environmental issues are more likely to adopt sustainable behaviors. (Čapienė, Rūtelionė, & Krukowski, 2022, p. 1)

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"Shell, responsible for almost 1 to 2% of global CO2 emissions and investing millions in oil and gas every year, decided to conduct a survey on Twitter with a simple question: 'What would you be willing to do to reduce pollutant emissions?" (Morentin, 2016) It is evident that the company seeks to divert attention from the main issue and appear concerned about this environmental crisis.

Greenwashing in companies is due to decisions made by executives, prioritizing business profitability over the negative environmental impact. (Morentin, 2016)

• They compromise their professional judgment.
• They are ambitious.
• It is a false action of assistance to the global environmental crisis.

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How can we face the problem?

• It must be recognized that many brands use eco-labels or misleading campaigns to attract consumers without changing their actual practices. According to Greenpeace, greenwashing fosters the false perception of sustainability and diverts efforts away from real solutions. (Greenpeace, 2022)

Proposal:

• Research verified certifications like Fair Trade or those complying with NIS (National Impact Standards) as accounting regulations in 2025.
• Read the environmental policies of companies and look for impact reports.
• Choose local products to reduce the transportation footprint.

Effectivity: Create educational campaigns that inform consumers on how to identify greenwashing practices. Studies have shown that informed consumers make more responsible decisions, directly affecting the supply of unsustainable products. (Gómez et al., 2011)

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The invention and popularization of Santa Claus as a commercial symbol by Coca-Cola has indirectly contributed to the global environmental crisis by fostering mass consumerism, especially during the holiday season. This consumerism leads to an increase in excessive carbon footprint. (The Boar, 2020)

Even when natural disasters like flooding occur, consumerism remains unaffected. For some people, these natural disasters are just seen as rainfall; they continue to make purchases without considering the consequences or even the irony of consuming products that are responsible for the global crisis.

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How can we face the problem?

Proposal:

• Prioritize thorugh social media reusable and long-lasting products, focusing on avoiding fast-fashion or disposable items.

• Excessive and uninformed consumption is one of the main drivers of the environmental crisis. Adopting a circular economy and reducing the purchase of unnecessary goods is key.

Effectivity: Studies by the European Environment Agency show that changes in consumption patterns significantly reduce environmental pressure. (European Environment Agency, 2023)

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Citizen Dimension

What attitudes affect coping with climate change?

There are strategies that foster complacency, misdirect priorities, and erode trust, making people feel they’ve contributed without meaningful impact. As Greta Thunberg warns, "We can’t save the world by playing by the rules, because the rules have to change," highlighting the need for collective, transformative action over symbolic gestures.

• “Nobody will keep election promises"
• "Nothing has changed since Sustainable Development Goals were implemented"
• "Government is lying to us"

Examples

Solution

According to WWL...

"The Amazon is one of the last refuges on the planet for jaguars, harpy eagles and pink dolphins, and is home to sloths, black spider monkeys and poison dart frogs." (2024) Elephants, giraffes and lions are not part of this ecosystem.

Personal Dimension

What attitudes affect coping with climate change?

Individual barriers, such as a lack of critical awareness and acceptance of superficial solutions, perpetuate harmful habits that worsen environmental crises. This is exacerbated by the absence of values like empathy, awareness, and activism, preventing people from taking on their role as agents of change. (Greenpeace, 2022)

• "Recycling is useless if large corporations are the main polluters."
• "Climate change is too big of a problem for me to do anything about it."
• "I'll post this tragedy on social media to get views."

Examples

Solution

Greenwashing

"Is the act of misleading consumers about a company's environmental practices or the environmental benefits of a product or service." (Centro RS, 2021)

Professional Dimension

What attitudes affect coping with climate change?

These manipulative tactics can result in professionals feeling satisfied with minor contributions or following misleading corporate strategies, which ultimately stifle innovation, ethical practices, and deeper engagement with societal challenges.

• "For every car we sell, we plant 4 trees."
• "Now we are sustainable cause we use less plastic"
• "We have new recycling programs."

Examples

Solution

Consumer Dimension

What attitudes affect coping with climate change?

Manipulation occurs through emotional appeals, symbolic actions, and misleading claims. Greenwashing exaggerates environmental benefits, fostering a false sense of sustainability, while fallacies like "buying this helps the planet" distort judgment. Slacktivism promotes low-effort actions tied to brands, creating an illusion of impact while boosting corporate image.

• "If I don’t buy it, someone else will."
• "The world has always changed; it’s not my fault."
• "Our product is recyclable, so it’s eco-friendly."

Examples

Solution

Slacktivism

"Activity that uses the internet to support political or social causes in a way that does not need much effort, for example creating or signing online petitions." (Cambridge Dictionary, 2024)