I've given a lot of thought to this. Here's a few points I think about:
0. Your own environmental impact is significantly reduced, so the baseline to "counteract" is lower than "Western society".
1. Change happens incrementally. Moving the needle in small ways slowly changes the big picture. Greta is moving the needle in big ways within her lifetime, but like you say, that's not the norm.
2. Raising awareness and leading by example can have an outsized impact in your community.
3. Voting and other political involvement (won't turn this political, but every vote matters, especially for local issues that might be decided by 50-100 votes).
4. Supporting companies that align with your values. Consider the total dollar spend of an individual over the course of their life.
5. Charitable giving. Tons of great work is being done around the world by non-profits. Even if you don't pursue a career in non-profit work, donating is tax deductible and goes a long way.
6. Raising your own children with a similar mindset.
0. Your own environmental impact is significantly reduced, so the baseline to "counteract" is lower than "Western society".
1. Change happens incrementally. Moving the needle in small ways slowly changes the big picture. Greta is moving the needle in big ways within her lifetime, but like you say, that's not the norm.
2. Raising awareness and leading by example can have an outsized impact in your community.
3. Voting and other political involvement (won't turn this political, but every vote matters, especially for local issues that might be decided by 50-100 votes).
4. Supporting companies that align with your values. Consider the total dollar spend of an individual over the course of their life.
5. Charitable giving. Tons of great work is being done around the world by non-profits. Even if you don't pursue a career in non-profit work, donating is tax deductible and goes a long way.
6. Raising your own children with a similar mindset.