What We Can Do: A Climate Optimist's Guide to Sustainable Living

In this radically optimistic climate change book, find yourself empowered to achieve sustainable living across every facet of your life--the personal, the professional, and the political.

"Never has decisive action on climate and environment been more important. This book will help citizens all across America understand that while no one can do everything, everyone can do something--and offers a myriad of ways they can get started too."--Dr. Trista Patterson, Time100 Climate Leader, 2023, and co-founder of Playing for the Planet

Using a science-based framework to unearth the top ten things anyone can do to make a meaningful difference, Charlie Sellars takes readers from overwhelmed to empowered in the face of the climate crisis.

What We Can Do provides a practical, data-based approach to guide readers toward environmental impact across three key aspects of their lives: their daily choices, their careers, and their communities. This climate change book reminds readers they have far more power than they realize to make a meaningful difference on climate change.

Charlie Sellars pulls insight from his experience as a director of sustainability at Microsoft, which has underlined its commitment to be a green business with a pledge to become carbon negative, water positive, and zero waste by 2030 while protecting ecosystems. He also serves on the governing body of the iMasons Climate Accord, an industry coalition united to decarbonize digital infrastructure.

Inside this sustainable living book, you will learn how to:

Harness environmental science to make more sustainable decisions using the "Make It, Move It, Lose It, Use It" impact framework.Turn your job into a sustainability job, no matter what you do for a living.Unleash the power of your voice at the ballot box and in your local community.

This refreshingly optimistic environmental book for adults and recent graduates makes for a great climate change gift, like Hannah Ritchie's Not the End of the World and Katharine Hayhoe's Saving Us.

Nobody can do everything, but everybody can do something. It's not too late to defeat the climate crisis, and What We Can Do will show you how.

"What We Can Do brings cutting-edge sustainability techniques used by chief sustainability officers into the hands and context of everyday individuals. The result? A book that finally empowers readers to maximize their impact across every facet of their lives" --Ann Tracy, chief sustainability officer, Colgate-Palmolive

Charlie Sellars is a director of sustainability at Microsoft, which has pledged to become carbon negative, water positive, and zero waste by 2030 while protecting ecosystems. As one of the youngest directors at the company, he has overseen sustainability for both the Windows and Devices and Cloud Operations and Innovation teams at Microsoft, helping launch several sustainability-forward products ranging from new Windows PCs with repairable and recycled components to the Ocean Plastic Mouse. Recognized by IM100 as one of 2024's top one hundred most impactful individuals in the digital infrastructure industry, Charlie also serves on the governing body of the iMasons Climate Accord, an industry coalition united to decarbonize the digital infrastructure that underpins the next generation of cloud and AI services.

Charlie has previously served as board member and chief technology officer of an impact-focused nonprofit organization, The $100 Solution, which believes that "solutions to big problems start with small steps." He initially joined this nonprofit while studying for his Bachelor of Arts degree in physics from Williams College, a small liberal arts school nestled in the Berkshire Mountains that helped grow his love for nature.

Charlie's unique approach uses data-driven steps and daring optimism to empower readers to maximize sustainability in their personal, professional, and political lives.