There’s no denying that climate change and money are closely intertwined. Whether it’s big industry polluters cutting corners to save (or make) a buck, carbon taxes in the news, or the cost of cleaning up after yet another extreme weather event, dollars and cents contribute to the dialogue around our planet’s decline. 

It can be difficult to separate our bank accounts from the climate crisis, especially when the contents of those bank accounts—and how much we’re willing to spend—might be our best means of bringing about change. 

We live in a democratic and capitalist society, meaning many find it empowering to voice our opinions with our ballots and paycheques. Unfortunately, elections typically only occur once every four years for each level of government, which restricts our window for lasting political action. 

Money, on the other hand, can be used every day to tell business and political leaders what we want, from social reform to action on climate change. When your voice can’t be heard, speak with your wallet. 

But if a student don’t have much in their wallet, they shouldn’t feel disenfranchised.

For many students, university is a time of frugality. While every person’s financial situation is unique, many Canadian students live on limited funds. After tuition, textbooks, rent, and utilities, there often isn’t much cash left over for us to use to express our opinions.

It doesn’t help that environmentally responsible options tend to be more expensive than their alternatives. 

Take the produce section of the grocery store, for example, where there’s often two iterations of the same item: conventional and organic. Unlike conventional products, organic products are grown without synthetic nitrogen fertilizers. According to studies like this 2014 report, these fertilizers are a major source of nitrous oxide, a powerful greenhouse gas. 

Unfortunately, this reduction in carbon emissions doesn’t come cheap, as organic products are generally pricier than their conventional counterparts. A 2015 Consumer Reportscomparison found that within the grocery store chains they surveyed, organic products cost on average 47 per cent more than the same product grown conventionally.

Conscious consumers might want to opt for the eco-friendly option, but they’re forced to consider the bite it’ll take out of their grocery budget. Someone staring down next term’s tuition or struggling to pay off OSAP loans will find a bag of conventional carrots less attractive but more financially feasible than a bag of organic carrots.  

The same issue arises when purchasing clothing, footwear, hygiene products, and other necessities. High prices and low bank balances mean students can’t always spend money to reflect their environmental philosophy. 

When it comes to housing, too, students aren’t in a position to shrink their carbon footprint. Many student houses are old, with outdated appliances, inefficient heating, and poor insulation. Big changes are needed in order to make student accommodation eco-friendly, and those changes cost money. One Energy Star-certified window goes for more than $300 before installation costs.