I questioned what to write on January 1. A simple Happy New Year with a good photo would be sufficient. As a committed environmentalist, however, I’d like to encourage all who read this, regardless of political affiliation, to pledge to step up your climate activist game in 2026. Think globally, act locally has never been more important. There are many Massachusetts not for profit groups which can use your volunteer hours and/or donations. There are the obvious ones, the botanic gardens, Trustees of Reservations, and park friends groups, and some which may be less well known, like Save Our Rivers, Mass Parks for All, and The New Garden Society. If you’d like to help with legal challenges, go to The Conservation Law Foundation and pledge your support. Write to your elected officials and encourage them to act in everyone’s best interest, whether your particular interest is preserving forests and farmland, rivers and oceans, clean energy, Monarch butterflies, song birds, seed diversity (Native Plant Trust’s Seed Ark comes to mind) or increased funding for local parks and green spaces. Don’t forget the Emerald Necklace Conservancy, The Charlesgate Alliance, The Nature Conservancy, and your town’s parks departments. Federal funding for all these groups, and many more, has been cut drastically. Do your research, and do your best. Enjoy the outdoors. Best wishes for a happy and healthy New Year! Photo courtesy of Laura Bern Interiors.