Get a friend's opinion on an environmental concern

What sustainability issues have been on your mind lately? What cool things have you learned about sustainability recently? Why not see what your friend, family member, or colleague thinks about those issues?

Talk is cheap ... sort of

Discussing issues that concern, intrigue, excite or interest you is a cost-effective way to encourage environmental awareness. It may open up new territory between you and your friends, give you access to new perspectives and ideas, and help you develop your own ideas further. And you're guaranteed to learn new things about sustainability and expand your interest in the environment. Sweet.

Don't preach

Discussion doesn't need to mean proselytisation. You don't need to win arguments (or start them!) or convince the person your talking to about the appropriateness of your views. Think: discussion. Think: exchange of ideas.

Recently I was talking to a friend who's building a rammed-earth room onto his house. I'd always thought such a feat far beyond me, but talking to him and finding out how he was approaching the job made me think that perhaps it was possible after all. In the course of the conversation we discussed environmental heating options, which gave me a few ideas to follow up on later. This is the kind of conversation I'm talking about.

Opening lines

If I want to discuss an environmental issue with someone, I usually start with one of these phrases:

"Hey, I've been thinking about [issue]. What do you think about [particular aspect of issue]?"

"You know, I read an article about [issue] this week that said..."

"I was talking to So-and-so last week, and s/he said that [opinion on issue]. I don't know about that. What do you reckon?"

I find that asking people for their opinions is enticing (everyone loves to be asked their opinion!) and non-confrontational, so long as you can handle the answer they give you!

Environmental issues I've discussed with people recently include water shortage, fire prevention, relocation of populations as a result of climate change, the threat posed by introduced species, and wallabies(!). What kinds of environmental issues are on your mind right now?