Just as there are still people who perpetuate the notion that the earth is flat, there are people in this world who deny the existence of climate change. One of their biggest arguments against global warming is the concept of climate cycles. Many feel that the hole in our ozone and melting polar ice caps are no problem. After all, the earth was once a tropical paradise.

However, we all know what happened to the dinosaurs. The climate changed drastically and they were ill equipped to cope. If the leaders of this nation continue to deny that the world is changing now, due to human practices, we could very well go the way of the dinosaur.

President elect Trump has nominated to his cabinet a number of politicians with archaic notions about the environment such as Scott Pruitt, Mike Pompeo, and even Dr. Ben Carson. Not so coincidentally, many of his picks have ties to the petroleum industry. We can only assume that the next four years will set environment friendly practices back half a century.

In fact, Trump’s pick for Attorney General, Jeff Sessions actually believes that the more carbon dioxide we have in the atmosphere, the better. In 2015, he was quoted as saying, “Carbon pollution is CO2, and that’s really not a pollutant; that’s a plant food, and it doesn’t harm anybody except that it might include temperature increases.”

Of course, we know that due to an exponential increase in carbon dioxide combined with deforestation, our plants can’t process enough carbon dioxide to balance the climate as they have in the past. That’s why it’s more important for individuals and businesses to focus on sustainability than it ever has been before.

Even if government mandates on environment friendly practices relax in the coming years, responsible business practice is to continue following environmental science. Implementing a plan for sustainability is key. Keeping our air clean, reducing waste, and sourcing responsibly should be the concern of both producers and consumers.

As a concerned citizen and consumer, you can do your part to conserve the environment by spending your money wisely. Send a message to the government and to big corporations by frequenting responsible business.

Look for products and companies that give back to the community, make efforts to conserve resources, and who are constantly looking for new ways to protect the environment. As science advances, so should business.

If you’d like to take it one step further, lobby for environmentally friendly practices with your local legislators. They are your voice, just as much as your discretionary income is!