The Right to Repair as a Global Environmental Issue

Sometimes global awareness and action begins with reading something unexpected that makes us pause and take another path.

Waaaaay back when I was a young adult in the 80’s, I (and everyone else) saw the “The More You Know” campaign developed for NBC by Dr. Rosalyn Weinman.

The Public Service Announcements (PSAs) were inspiring and thought provoking. Short messages were key. Just little encouragements for people to learn more about the world around them and actions they could take that were positive.

Have you ever heard of the “Right to Repair” movement? The idea seems fairly simple – you should be able to repair things you purchase without being forced to replace them.

It sounds simple enough, but this is about bigger issues than fixing your toaster yourself. It connects to larger conversations about waste, technology, consumer costs, sustainability, and how we as a society are so comfortable with throwing things away – and how businesses can sometimes encourage that action.

And it relates directly to SDG’s 9 (Industry Innovation and Infrastructure), 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production), and 13 (Climate Action).

I am by no means an expert on this issue. Before reading this article, when we talked about environment and sustainable development, I thought about recycling, “paper vs plastic” and things like that – which are important, because every step helps. But there is also a bigger picture involving manufacturing, consumer habits, technology, laws, and the long-term impact of how much we throw away instead of repair.

We need to pay attention to the kinds of legislation and policies surrounding these issues, because many of them quietly develop in the background without most people realizing how they eventually will affect consumers, businesses, costs, and environmental impact.

I encourage you to read this article and others like it and research these things yourself. I know I will be doing just that.

The first step toward action can be as simple as learning something new.

The more YOU know.

Barbara J. Bozeman
ESD Committee

Read the article here: https://theconversation.com/todays-bans-on-diy-repairs-of-everything-from-cell-phones-to-tractors-grew-out-of-hollywoods-fear-of-videotaping-280990

Tips for Environmentally Conscious Travel

“14 July 2025: The Sustainable Development Goals Report 2025 marks the tenth annual stocktaking of global progress toward the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. With the 2030 deadline only five years away, the report delivers a stark assessment: the Sustainable Development Goals have improved millions of lives, but the current pace of change is insufficient to fully achieve all the Goals by 2030.”

For information on each SDG’s current status and plans, go to UN Sustainable Development Knowledge Group.

For up-to-to-the-minute information on specific countries and more, go to the UN Sustainable Development Group.

If you are headed to the Biennial meeting next month, here are some things to consider in order be a sustainable and environmentally friendly visitor:

• Prior to arriving, review public transportation options to get around Raliegh. See if the hotel provides a shuttle service. If you’re renting a car, see if you can get a hybrid or a fully electric one. The host hotel has EV chargers. Consider carpooling with another attendee.
• Pack light. This reduces carbon emissions as lighter luggage consumes less fuel during transportation.
• Support Local Businesses: eat at locally-owned restaurants, consider plant-based foods, shop at local markets, and tour the city with local tour groups. Here is a great source of examples: https://www.visitraleigh.com/media/press-release/post/experience-raleigh-through-the-eyes-of-a-local-with-people-first-tourism/ Keep those travel dollars local.
• Visit parks and protected areas: this helps generate revenue to continue conservation efforts.
• Avoid animal tourism, which is built on the exploitation of animals. Instead, choose wildlife sanctuaries and reserves that focus on conservation.
• Conserve water and energy while at the hotel. Take shorter showers and reuse your towels. When you go out, turn off the lights, TV and other electronics, and turn off or set the thermostat a few degrees higher than you like it. Hang up the “Do Not Disturb Sign” to prevent unnecessary laundering.
• Avoid single-use plastics: every year, 8 million metric tons of plastic ends up in our oceans. Bring your own re-usable water bottle, grocery bags, and re-usable utensils. They are easy to pack.
• Use Sustainable Sunscreen that is reef-safe, labelled as biodegradable, and free of oxybenzone and octanoate.
• Practice Leave No Trace by leaving local environments as you found them. And it’s ok to pick up other people’s trash on the way out too.
• Limit single-use toiletries by bringing your own and skipping the hotel provided single-use products. Once you open them, they’re tossed, no matter how much is left in them.
• Offset carbon emissions by visiting climatestewards.org. They invest in local economies in Kenya, Ghana, Tanzania, Nepal, and Uganda to create locally-run projects that reduce carbon while assisting local communities.

Have fun and be a good example of environmental stewardship while celebrating the Biennial!

Tracey MacDermott
Chair Environment & Sustainable Development
environment@nfbpwc.org

Making healing the environment a lifestyle

Although Earth Month has come to an end, the ESD committee would like to continue our efforts to spread awareness to climate change and educate others on how we can make healing the environment a lifestyle.

As climate change intensifies, it continues to disrupt systems that we need to survive on a daily basis, making it difficult to access food, housing, clean water, and clean air. If we can join together and promote changing overall human behavior by leading as an example, maybe we can heal our planet.

Let's start by changing just one action and then making it a routine.

At Home:

• Bring your own glass jars for bulk shopping vs plastic containers/produce bags.
• Use canvas bags for food shopping vs plastic bags
• Use cloth-produce bags, which can be washed, vs plastic bags when grocery shopping.
• Cook more at home vs take out. Meal prep can help with cooking time and labor.
• Bring your own travel mug vs using paper cups from coffee shops.
• Use washable cloth rags vs paper towels.
• Use traditional mops or washable mop heads vs disposable wipes.
• Homemade body/beauty products are an option for people who enjoy DIY.
• Create recipes using food scraps or save scraps to make stock vs disposal.
• Reduce your water consumption.

Community resources:

Research your local community. There might be additional opportunities to support local business, reduce waste, and improve the environment in your town.

• Buy from thrift stores, consignment shops, and reuse centers to reduce waste of clothing, accessory, furniture, household items, etc.
• Stooping is a community-based, eco-friendly practice of leaving unwanted furniture and household goods on city sidewalks. It is common in NYC, Los Angeles, Philadelphia, Boston, Minneapolis, and college campuses at the change of semesters.
• The Buy Nothing Project: https://buynothingproject.org/
• Supporting a local farm and community garden allows for less wasteful food and packaging waste.
• Shop at a local farmers market.
• Food scraps can be brought to a community garden or farmers market for composting.
• Grow your own produce when possible.

Specialized & Regional Bulk Stores:

• Simply Bulk Market: Offers over 500 bulk items, including spices, grains, and eco-friendly household products.
• The Zero Market (Denver, CO): Features over 1,200 products, specializing in zero-waste food, personal care, and home goods.
• Flatbush-Food Co-op (Brooklyn, NY): 100% organic, supports 275+ producers, community owned since 1975.
• Food Co-op Finder: Comprehensive national directory created by "Grocery Story".
• Rainbow Grocery (San Francisco, CA): A large co-op with an extensive selection of bulk products, including oils and honey.
• Wholefoods (nationwide chain): offers items in bulk and has a large selection of organic and sustainable products, many packaged with natural, biodegradable, or reduced-plastic materials.
• Online and Alternative Options:
• Thrive Market: Online retailer offering healthy options in bulk, with a focus on sustainable packaging.
• Package Free Shop Online with a physical location in NYC: Offers a wide range of reusable containers and plastic-free goods.
• Life Without Plastic: Online store providing alternatives to plastic containers.

Transportation:

Is there an opportunity to utilize other methods of transportation than your car?

• Instead of driving, try taking the bus. More buses are run on electric stored batteries creating zero-emissions.
• Opt to ride a bike or walk to your destination. This also adds exercise to your travel!

For more ways to change your lifestyle and take action! Please visit: promisefortheplanet.com/.

Submitted by LaDorian Morris
ESD Committee Member

It has been over 50 years since the first Earth Day, and our planet is still in desperate need for us humans to act.

Organizations and citizens from around the globe will be working together this Earth Day on issues ranging from reducing plastics, planting trees, climate education, regenerative agriculture, and sustainable fashion.

Hopefully, you have already been working on ways to reduce your impact not just on Earth Day, but every day. Earthday.org is a great way to get started.

If you are thinking about hosting an event this month, please consider registering it on the site. You can also look for events in your area to see what others are doing and what you can participate in. If there are no events in your area, please consider creating one.

Check out this website: https://www.promisefortheplanet.com/make-a-promise/ to find an action you can commit to, then post to your social media platforms so others can join in. The website is not yet completed at the time of this writing, but check it out now and get involved.

Many organizations will be joining us. We hope you will too, and that you will encourage others to do so also.

We can only solve this crisis together. Please join us.

Tracey MacDermott
Chair Environment & Sustainable Development
environment@nfbpwc.org

ESD’s Suggestions for Attending the General Assembly

Think GREEN for the Biennial!

If you are thinking about booking your trip for the Biennial Meeting in July, please consider these travel tips

Air Travel

Before booking your flight, check to see if the airline has any carbon offset programs. Or consider offsetting at Climate Stewards.

Fly non-stop. Planes produce more carbon during takeoff and landing than the actual flight, as much as half the carbon for the w hole flight, so booking non-stop decreases your carbon footprint.

Choose e-tickets instead of paper. Having your smartphone scanned at airports and train stations is often seamless.

Ground Travel

Consider walking, biking, or using public transportation and trains whenever possible Renting a hybrid or electric vehicle instead of driving your own car can reduce your carbon footprint.

Driving long distance is more sustainable than flying if you’re traveling with a group of people. Connect and unite with your fellow attendees in advance to organize carpools and caravans.

Hotels

Book Eco-friendly hotels. When booking domestically, look for hotels that are Green Seal or LEED Certified (or both).

Our host hotel, Raleigh Marriott City Center offers electric car charging.

When booking elsewhere, as about environmental initiatives such as recycling, composting, local and organic food use, on-site renewable energy, and linen and towel reuse programs.

Information in this article comes from Yale Travel Tips. Find more tips there.

Tracey MacDermott
Chair
Sustainable Development
environment@nfbpwc.org

One Small Step for Earth: Strength in Numbers Adds Up— Fixing the Climate one Action at a Time

With every passing year, our planet sets several more climate records.

Two months ago, on December 22nd, Denver experienced a balmy 76-degree day. When all was said and done, 2025 was among Colorado’s top 10 warmest years. The first measurable snow did not arrive until November 29th. At this writing, Colorado’s snowpack is at record lows.

While some have been enjoying the warmer weather, it’s really nothing to celebrate. So, what can we do?

Last month in these pages we highlighted many pro-environment actions you can take this year.

Did you make any New Year’s resolutions to make a change, or to do a small act to help the planet each month in 2026? If so, we would love to hear what you have done. If you are struggling with where to start, signing the many petitions seeking changes in laws and policies can be a great place to kick off your climate commitment.

Safe and Healthy Colorado

Safe and Healthy Colorado has been educating Coloradans on the dangers of fracking. Organizers are currently asking people to sign an open letter of support to stop the expansion of fracking and call for a just transition to clean renewable energy.

As the group points out, emissions from oil and gas production and combustion are the number one source of both our state's contribution to the climate crisis and our severely poor air quality along the Front Range. Impacts from fracking operations are also an environmental injustice to vulnerable communities that are continually exposed to toxic emissions.

Sierra Club Clean Energy

Have you been hit with high energy costs, even though you have been implementing all the energy-saving tips you can think of to keep energy expenses down?

The Colorado chapter of the Sierra Club has been working hard to promote renewable energy by 2030 and to move us away from fuels that pollute. The organization recently mailed a flier

highlighting that Xcel made $1.2 billion in profits last year. Its CEO took home $21 million in 2023.

Xcel’s latest plan is to request more gas plants and pipelines, despite demand from Coloradans for cleaner and cheaper energy. Clean energy is now the cheapest power source. You can learn more, volunteer, and sign up for regular updates here.

Plastic Pollution Coalition

None of us can get through the day without encountering plastic pollution. But that doesn’t mean we can’t commit to working to reduce its toxic impacts.

The Plastic Pollution Coalition has several action alerts related to plastic. One call to action demands that major corporations be held accountable for their plastic waste. Another asks the US government and world leaders to develop ambitious solutions to reduce plastic pollution. Read more and take action at: plasticpollutioncoalition.org.

If you want to further your understanding of the plastic problem, Judith Enck, who served as an EPA Regional Administrator, and Adam Mahoney of Beyond Plastics, have published a new book, The Problem with Plastic. The authors remind us that we can’t buy our way out of this self-made crisis, and she highlights that citizens need to put public pressure on our politicians to make meaningful changes.

The power is within us. Let’s use it. Small actions from many can add up and drive the change needed to solve the environmental crises we are grappling with.

All the areas and actions that we collectively need to make seem overwhelming. However, once you start, you will find that you can always do just a bit more. Begin now by taking a few actions that only require a few moments out of your day.

Tracey MacDermott
Chair Environment & Sustainable Development
environment@nfbpwc.org

This opinion piece was originally published in The Greater Park Hill News in Denver, CO, where the author is a monthly columnist. Previous columns can be found at: greaterparkhill.org/?s=tracey+macdermott

New Year, Renewed Purpose Ignite your personalized 12 month action plan for climate action

We are four years away from the Paris Agreement’s goal to cut greenhouse gas emissions and limit global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius. Sadly, it is unlikely that the world will reach this target.

Yet it is still important for the world to come together to limit warming as much as possible. Nations must do much more, and each one of us, too.

Last month in these pages we identified ways that individuals can reduce waste and consumption, especially over the holidays. In the new year, it’s time to make a comprehensive plan for change.

So many of us make New Year’s resolutions but have trouble with the follow-through. By some estimates, only a quarter of us are still sticking to our resolutions when February arrives. What if we looked at our year and decided to add one new thing each month that benefits our planet and reduces harm?

Maybe this year, we won’t be part of the 75% who give up on their resolutions. We can create change through purposeful action.

Colorado’s 120-day legislative session starts this month. Make it a point to find out what your elected representatives are planning to do. Are they proposing laws that help our climate? If not, ask why. Call or write your state representative, Senator, or Congressperson and ask them about (and thank them for) their work to solve the climate crisis. Propose your own climate-changing idea that would require new legislation.

While we may be worried about energy costs this winter, it is a good time to look at how we can lower them. Start with understanding your energy consumption. This can help you create the easy wins: begin with using less energy for your home.

• You don’t have to install solar (although that would be great) to make impactful change.
• Research a solar co-op to join and purchase a share to offset what you use.
• Does your home need an insulation upgrade?
• Have you switched to LED lights yet?

These may seem like simple goals. But together, they all add up. And that is a good thing.

As we move into Spring and the gardening bug hits, plant native species in your yard. This boosts our local biodiversity.

Spring is when we think about food gardens and the start of farmers market season. Buying from local farmers reduces the number of miles traveled from farm to kitchen, and it supports our local economy.

Springtime is also a great season to start eating more vegetables and consume less meat. How we eat impacts the climate. Purchase only what you need and compost what has gone bad.

In the summer months, think about travel. Airplanes burn large amounts of fossil fuels. Taking fewer flights lowers your carbon footprint. Instead, consider travel by train — and also remember we live in Colorado, one of the most beautiful places anywhere. Plan a trip closer to home — here or in a neighboring state that won’t require flying.

In the Fall (if not earlier), commit to getting involved with one or more of the many environmental groups in our state.

Most everyone is familiar with the longtime great work done by the Sierra Club (sierraclub.org).

Other organizations have also emerged as forces for good, influencing public policy, bringing awareness, and inspiring politicians to pay attention. All offer opportunities for volunteers to work on many issues impacting our Earth’s climate.

Here are a few groups to consider contributing your talents and skills, depending on what best suits your interests:

The Climate Reality Project is a global movement with a Denver chapter mobilizing the transition from dirty fossil fuels to clean renewable energy. (climaterealityproject.org)

The organization 350.org is also a global effort to stop using fossil fuels and power up accessible renewables.

The Citizens Climate Lobby (citizensclimatelobby.org) is 420 chapters strong in the U.S, including 12 chapters in Colorado.

The Colorado Coalition for a Livable Climate (colivableclimate.org) is working on strategies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Environment Colorado (environmentamerica.org/colorado) has one mission: To protect the natural world.

Conservation Colorado (conservationco.org) is working to advance climate action and environmental justice through organizing, advocacy and elections,

This next year, through your actions, commit to be part of the solution to the climate crisis. Together we can do this.

Tracey MacDermott
Chair Environment & Sustainable
Development

This opinion piece was originally published in The Greater Park Hill News, where the author is a monthly columnist. Previous columns can be found at greaterparkhill.org/?s=tracey+macdermott.

Please meet two of the newest members of the Environment and Sustainable Development Committee. Together, we are working on issues that impact women.

Climate change disproportionately impacts women and girls. Let’s change that together. Please consider joining our committee and working on this critical issue.

My name is LaDorian Morris. I was born and raised in Queens, New York and have a Master’s in Public Administration from Baruch College, Marxe School of Public and International Affairs, focusing on environmental justice and climate change.

I have a passion for working in the public sector, prioritizing communities in need. Previously, I worked in the social service sector, providing services to individuals struggling with mental illness, substance abuse, lack of housing, living in foster care, and being young and part of a marginalized community such as LGBTQ+.

I volunteered abroad in Bangalore, India, with the organization Art of Living’s For Better India Project, which addresses the scarcity of water in India by rejuvenating rivers, lakes, and streams and works toward reforestation. With the Women’s Empowerment Program I helped with creating jobs and teaching skills for women who had access to limited resources and education.

Currently, I am an Excelsior Fellow with The New York State Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services. I work within the Recovery unit as a Project Manager and lead local government agencies and municipalities through the FEMA Hazard Mitigation Grant process in order for them to receive essential emergency funding to reduce the long-term effects of disaster.

My main interests with this committee are initiatives that not only focus on combating climate change but also prioritize environmental justice to ensure that underserved communities have efficient resources for community preparedness, resilience, and recovery for all environmental hazards and disasters.

For fun, I enjoy hiking, roller skating, and travel, and during some of my spare time, I make sustainable jewelry. Dr. Joanne Carfioli Naylor is the current Treasurer for the National Federation of Business and Professional Women (NFBPWC) and President of the NFBPWC-NC Affiliate. She is a pediatric speech-language pathologist with 26 years of experience.

Her interest within our committee is in helping further NFBPWC's mission to preserve and improve the world for woman and men. 

In support of this idea, she not only collects shells and sea glass when she goes for walks on Atlantic City Beach, she collects and disposes of garbage, too. Dr. Jo believes that every little bit helps when it comes to helping keep the environment clean and healthy and looks forward to working both locally and nationally to make this world a cleaner and better place for all. She encourages every NFBPWC member to do their part to help the environment in any way possible.

December Sustainability Tip: Change your mindset on gift giving. Move away from material possessions and consider a gift membership or donation to one of the many climate organizations, charities, wildlife trusts, or NFBPWC.

Tracey MacDermott
Chair Environment & Sustainable Development

Calling on NFBPWC Members to join us—ESD Needs You!

You may be wondering what the environment has to do with NFBPW, well, look at these statistics from the United Nations Women’s page:

• Climate change is driving a surge in gender-based violence (2025 UN Spotlight brief)

• Climate change is a “threat multiplier,” worsening gender inequality in conflict-affected areas

• Women and girls are less likely to survive natural hazards.

• A Gender Snapshot 2024 report indicates that by 2050, climate change may push up to 158 million more women and girls into poverty.

Do these things concern you? Do you want to do all you can to help other women and Mother Earth?

If the answers are yes, consider joining us to work on climate issues together and create a just world for all of us.

Contact me at traceymacdermott@gmail.com

Tracey MacDermott

Chair Environment Sustainable Development

2024-2026

https://learn.houstonmethodist.org/cardiovascular-disease/how-2026#

For more information contact the Health Committee.

For information, please email.

TRACEY MACDERMOTT
NFBPWC ENVIRONMENT AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE CHAIR
(2024-2026)