As Trump is now president of the United States, federal action on climate change in the next four years is unlikely, even as we approach the 2030 deadline. For sustainability practitioners, this changes the landscape. Without regulatory pressure to guide businesses to better practice, professionals who want to prepare for the future are forced to rely on business cases, moral cases, and other arguments.

There is a great amount of debate on the role and effectiveness of government action related to climate change. As observed by Rebecca Henderson in her book Reimagining Capitalism in a World on Fire, without government action to maintain free, open, and transparent markets, businesses will struggle to maintain sustainability in the long term. The more complex an industry is, the more needed is government regulation to keep things stable and open for business.

This does not mean, however, that all companies must take their cues from government action. The law is a lagging indicator, usually years behind best practices, technology, and societal shifts. Furthermore, many companies are operating in multiple legal regions. The differences in regulation between states, countries, and trade organizations mean that a company needs to have its own strong internal compass to understand and respond to the various legal requirements.

Even when regulation is strong, a government cannot legislate company culture or communal bonds into existence. These are things that must be built by individuals working together to build a better society. A government can provide infrastructure, funding, and resources, but if no one takes advantage of those things, then sustainability does not have a chance.

We cannot spend the next four years waiting for government to lead us. Climate change, biodiversity loss, and pollution – the triple planetary crisis – are happening now and must be addressed. We must build the world we want to see, acting in all parts of our lives – personal, social, professional, etc. – to address our collective challenges and take advantage of the opportunities.

For individuals, remember that consumers do hold power. You must wield it. Whenever you have a chance, act responsibly with your purchasing power. When can you use secondhand items? When can you use recycled items? When can you avoid purchasing at all, and instead continue the usage of things you already own? When are you able to choose low-impact options?

Create community wherever you can. Build relationships with your neighbors. Be there for friends and family.  Get involved with local organizations or municipal government. The making of resilience can take years, but it will prove useful during extreme weather events and other effects of climate change. You may feel resistance to this idea. Certainly, individuals cannot be held responsible for societal challenges. There are limited options for consumers. It may feel pointless to invest in sustainability actions when the major drivers of climate change are decoupled from your actions. As an individual, you may not hold much power on an international level. You do, however, hold power in your house, on your street, and in your social circle. Please use it.

For businesses, if you have not already considered how the triple planetary crisis will impact you, you are leaving your company at risk. You need to seriously consider what the future of the planet will look like and how your industry will respond. Businesses can provide options for consumers, set the tone of societal action, and build change through action, funding, and campaigning. To ignore climate change is to act irresponsibly towards your shareholders, customers, and other stakeholders. You can become a leader in your community by taking these threats and opportunities seriously.

Though action will slow or even reverse at the national level, the opportunity for regional and local leadership is significant. Lower-level government and nonprofit organizations can drive an immense amount of change. As the work of climate action is so often locally-focused, these organizations have an advantage and can respond to the problems faced by their communities.

I am excited to see the work done by sustainability practitioners in the next few years. I am also worried that our momentum will slow and efforts will be inadequate. To stop a macroeconomic threat, we must have a macroeconomic effort. This is a call to action for us all.