There’s a reason New Year’s resolutions often fall by the wayside. And it’s not because we’re weak-willed.

The fact is that our behaviors are only partly driven by our own ambitions. They’re largely shaped by the world around us. For example: It’s hard to bike everywhere if your city has no bike lanes.

This doesn’t mean our resolutions are doomed — or that they’re not worth pursuing. It just means we need to be more strategic if we want to achieve them — including working for systems change in addition to personal action.

We broke down the science behind broken resolutions and what you can do to set yourself up for success in 2026.

Maybe you’re considering a resolution to live greener this year. But which choices actually make a difference for the climate?  

WRI research reveals which actions pack the biggest punch, showing where we can aim both our individual and collective efforts for the maximum impact.  

The number one priority? Vote. And take collective action. Getting governments and big businesses to act is how we'll drive the broader, systems-level changes needed to halt the climate crisis.  

Yet everyday choices make an impact, too. We ranked the most important things you can do for the climate at home, on the road and on your plate: the three areas of daily life  with the biggest carbon footprint.