Tom Virden’s relationship with the Earth started young. Growing up in Massachusetts, he spent hours roaming the forest with a bird guide in hand, captivated by every wing, leaf, and sound around him.

“I think I memorized every bird and tree in New England,” Tom recalls. “I’ve always had a deep calling to help preserve the natural world.”

Today, that boy with the bird book has become a leader in the climate action space. Tom is known for transforming his own life to reduce his carbon footprint and for helping others do the same. He serves as Board Chair of Pachamama Alliance and leads Carbon CREW, an organization that helps people design Personal Climate Action Plans to cut household carbon emissions.

From Awareness to Action: Building a Low-Carbon Lifestyle

Tom’s sustainability journey accelerated in the early 2000s, when the science of climate change became impossible to ignore. He made a bold decision to radically reimagine his home, lifestyle, and spending around climate-friendly principles.

He converted his home into a fully electric, solar-powered system with battery storage. He stopped using plastic wherever possible. He shifted his diet and slashed his family’s food waste. 

“I wanted to understand the alternatives to our petroleum-based economy by living them,” Tom says. 

Every part of daily life was reconsidered with the climate in mind. Each dollar spent, every appliance replaced, and every habit adjusted became a vote for the future he wanted to see.

Tom’s personal efforts were deeply meaningful, but they led him to something even more powerful: community.

Learning from Indigenous Wisdom in the Amazon and Carbon CREW

In 2023, Tom joined a Founders Journey with Pachamama Alliance and traveled into the Amazon rainforest to learn from the Achuar people. The experience reawakened and strengthened his sense of purpose.

“It was life-changing,” Tom reflects.“I re-committed to doing everything possible to preserve the rainforest and communicate the teachings of Indigenous people who are asking us to awaken from the dream of the modern world.”

Around the same time, Tom discovered Carbon CREW, an organization who helps individuals create Personal Climate Action Plans  and identify ways to reduce carbon emissions. It provides a clear and accessible way for people to live their values, take measurable action, and “walk their talk” in addressing the climate crisis.

“Two-thirds of emissions come from household decisions,” Tom says.“That means we can’t just wait for governments or corporations. Our choices matter.”

For Tom, Pachamama Alliance and Carbon CREW are deeply intertwined. Pachamama Alliance offers a grounding in the Indigenous wisdom that everything is connected and that humans, like all species, are here to serve the flourishing of life.  Carbon CREW provides the structure, tools, and momentum to put that wisdom into tangible action.

Together, they form a bridge between ancient teachings and modern solutions, inspiring both the vision and the steps to create a thriving future for all.

Sparking Collective Action Through Office Hours

Tom brings his teaching skills and climate expertise together in Carbon CREW’s Office Hours, free monthly virtual sessions where anyone can:

• Ask questions about sustainable living
  
  
• Learn actionable ways to reduce your carbon footprint
  
  
• Connect with a community of climate-conscious people
  
  

Past sessions have covered reducing plastic waste, electrifying your home, and composting. The September 4 session will focus on sustainable finance—aligning your bank, investments, and spending with your environmental values.

In just six months, Office Hours participants have committed to over 14,000 climate-friendly actions, preventing more than 3 million kilos of CO₂ emissions—the equivalent of removing 700 cars from the road.

One of Tom’s greatest joys is seeing young people step up. Students often join Office Hours through Carbon CREW’s volunteer program. Something shifts when they do.

“You can see it in their eyes,”he says. “They go from fear to action. From hopeless to hopeful. And they bring that momentum into their families and schools.”

That ripple effect is what keeps Tom going. Once someone starts making small changes, they rarely stop. Living in harmony with nature is not only smart, it’s deeply fulfilling.

Join Tom on September 4: Your Planet-Friendly Portfolio

Tom will lead the next Carbon CREW Office Hour on Thursday, September 4 at 8 p.m.EST. The focus is on how to make your money a tool for climate progress.

If you’ve ever wondered whether your bank is funding fossil fuels, or how your investments could support clean energy, or what everyday purchases are quietly making an impact, this session is for you.

Register for the virtual call here. 

There’s no cost. Just an open door to learn, connect, and take the next step on your climate journey. Together, we move forward!