Simple environmental actions add up, be they to save energy, fuel, or water. Incandescent bulbs waste 95% of the electricity that they consume as heat; 70% of vehicles have at least one tire with an inflation problem; if every one of us checked the tire pressure on our cars, Canadian drivers could save enough fuel to fill 257 Olympic size swimming pools. Regular showerheads use 18 to 27 litres or more of water per minute; if every one of us switched to low-flow showerheads, we could each cut water use in showers by 50-70%.

World renowned primatologist Jane Goodall thinks giving people hope for the future is key to changing the way we interact with nature and our planet. Her organization Roots and Shoots aims to foster this respect and caring in youth through active learning and engagement. This hope for the future is what we need to see positive change on this earth. Take action now to help sprout change.

As Tzeporah Berman told George Strombolopolis on The Hour, Everyone remembers their moment, the one that thrust them into action, and set them on a path to realizing a goal and finding a solution to a cause they believe in.

Our reliance on fossil fuels, including heavy oils for transport and production, is the major cause of skyrocketing carbon emissions and soaring global temperatures. Racecar driver and environmentalist, Leilani Munter uses her Carbon Free Girl persona to raise awareness of the harms of fossil fuels and climate change, and offers alternatives to the way we use energy.

Emily Hunter is the daughter of late Greenpeace co-founder Robert Hunter and fellow activist Bobbi Hunter. Soon after graduating from high school, Emily became an activist herself when she witnessed appalling environmental and humanitarian conditions on a trip to China. This young GreenHero is well-informed on a wide range of issues from pollution to endangered habitats and species protection. She has participated in anti-whaling campaigns, oil-spill cleanups and projects opposing Alberta's tar sands, the latter of which she calls: "our biggest environment crime on the planet - our scar on the world".

Andrew Ference is a National Hockey League (NHL) superstar with the Boston Bruins, and a leader in the fight to reduce carbon emissions. He spearheaded a partnership between the NHL and the David Suzuki Foundation, forming the Carbon Neutral Challenge to inspire over 500 hockey players to offset their carbon emissions from travel. More astounding still, is Andrew’s personal dedication to change; he bikes to work every day to reduce his environmental impact.

Imagine the changes we could see in the world if every person acted on their ideas. For Cisco businesswoman, Willa Black , acting on her idea led to over a million changes; a million acts of green to be exact. When her workplace challenged Cisco employees to come up with an idea to bring the human network effect to life, Willa rose to the challenge, recognizing that major changes could come about by bringing together lots of people.

Ric O’Barry, trainer of 1960s TV superstar dolphin Flipper, began his career happily working with, and training marine mammals. However, after a life-changing moment watching one of these captive creatures die in his arms, he vowed to end the very practice in which he himself had been so involved-by any means possible. In that harrowing moment, he experienced a personal awakening, something he terms a ‘rebirth’ and began to fight for the rights of these mammals the world over.

Think of global environmental problems in the 21st century, and global warming will likely top the list. It’s something we hear about nearly every day, yet we don’t have a stable solution for. There are ideas though. Take trees, a major life force for the planet, providing shelter and food for up to 90% of terrestrial species, oxygen for humanity, and support for most of the world’s natural systems.

Laura Reinsborough is the founder of a local fruit harvesting organization, Not Far From the Tree. Laura's accomplishments gathering fruit from trees around Toronto has elevated the 100-mile diet to a whole new level. The average distance food travels from farm to plate is 4,000 kilometers – that's a whole lot of carbon dioxide and chemicals needed to keep the food fresh.