I love that analogy. No, you're not going to personally save the world by reducing your carbon footprint. But you know what you are going to be? One leaf on a tree in a forest, making that little bit more oxygen that helps collectively make the world a better place.
And that's worth doing. Especially if you can encourage other people to be leaves too.
Oh it fits in perfectly. A solarpunk future implies a balanced approach to individual rights and community responsibilities. Things are very out of whack under late industrial capitalism.
So your story reads like a community burdened with individualism. Trust is low because selfishness is seen as natural and expected. The culture doesn't support mutual respect much. Me first. This is widely seen as uncivilized behaviour in modern literature.
So there you are, showing community minded acts, being a quiet leader. You are on the front lines. Be proud and oil your feathers and keep going.
You have an affinity community here, outside your region. Maybe find other like minded folks in your area by looking into the Transition movement.