The first Earth Day (called May Day at the time) was held in 1970 in the US and it’s often considered the start of the modern environmental movement. Since that initial march against environmental destruction, Earth Day has evolved into a globally celebrated event, with festivities occurring in more than 200 countries. In its simplest form, it’s a day for people to step back, take a deep breath and appreciate Earth in all its splendour. But for many people, Earth Day holds the potential to ignite broad environmental action.
Reduce carbon footprint, and contribute to a sustainable environment by:
- Participate in an Earth Day activity
- Join the Environmental Division
- Join the Institute for Sustainability
- Attend an IfS event (Institute of sustainability)
- Sustainability credentialing
Sometimes, it can be challenging to think about what we can do individually to contribute to a healthier environment. To make it easier, we’ve gathered a list of five things you can do to celebrate Earth Day, reduce your carbon footprint, and contribute to a more sustainable environment.
1. Start planning a rain garden for your backyard or neighbourhood
With people spending more time than ever at home, many have turned their attention to home improvement projects. You can get into the spirit of Earth Day by making your next project one that will not only beautify your yard or neighbourhood but also improve water quality and prevent flooding. Rain gardens, a type of green infrastructure, are an approach to water management that mimics the natural water cycle. Read our guide on building your rain garden to get started.
2. Get a recyclable water bottle
The US alone consumes 50 billion plastic water bottles annually. Most of these bottles are not recycled and end up in landfills, oceans and elsewhere, which harms organisms and the environment. Just creating these bottles uses 17 million barrels of gasoline, which would be enough to power 1.3 million cars for a year. Even more, energy is then spent transporting water bottles and then recycling them. Ending society’s addiction to unnecessary water bottles would be greatly appreciated by Earth. You can start your transition to an eco-friendly reusable bottle on Earth Day.
3. Ride your bike
Find transportation alternatives that help reduce your carbon footprint but get you moving. The fewer cars on the road, the fewer carbon emissions polluting the air and contributing to global warming. Riding your bike and just taking a walk are two of the best options available. And if you don’t have a bike or don’t know how to ride one, carpool or take public transportation.
Let’s break it down: If you drive 10 miles (16 kilometres) each way that means you consume about a 1 gallon (3.7 litres) of gas round-trip — at least.
Consider carpooling, taking the bus or train, teleworking from home for the day, or, riding your bike if feasible. Then you’ll be getting healthier right alongside the planet. Since our cars are some of the greatest sources of pollution in our daily lives, it makes sense to start there. Even if you have a short commute to work, driving to and from your job could still be a major contributor to pollution.
4. Plant a Tree
Kids love to get involved and what better way than to have them plant a tiny tree sapling that they can watch grow into a massive tree that can help reduce the carbon in the air. There’s no time like Earth Day to make your world a little greener, literally. Planting trees, bushes and any plant life will not only beautify your outdoor space but also will help absorb some of the CO2 from the air.
In fact, in 2018 the United Nations’ Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) report suggests an additional 2.5 billion acres (1 billion hectares) of forest could limit global warming to 2.7 degrees Fahrenheit (1.5 degrees Celsius) by 2050.
So why not get a jump-start on that by planting a tree in your yard. It will likely be around longer than you will, and aside from removing carbon from the air, it will also help prevent soil erosion. Just make sure that tree isn’t something invasive or one that will require excessive watering. Remember, the water’s a valuable commodity.
5. Start composting
Earth is the ultimate recycler–it reuses everything that it creates with a little help from the Sun. And everything that lives on the planet is cool with this system of recycling–everything except humans. Humans are the only things that will fully don’t recycle what they create and use. And that means that a lot of nourishing substances that would otherwise feed wildlife and help it flourish end up in landfills or on strips of asphalt or somewhere else.
But it doesn’t have to be that way. Composting biodegradable food and materials is a great way to feed the soil, organisms in the soil and plant life while reducing waste. All you have to do is create a compost pile in your backyard or, if you’re a city slicker, store all your vegetable, fruit, and other natural scraps in a plastic bag in your freezer and then dump it when full at a compost collecting place.
6. Take some small steps to make your home more sustainable
Spending more time in our homes also means using more electricity and water. But there are several ways you can make your house more sustainable that are good for both the environment AND your wallet. Earth Day is the perfect opportunity to commit to adopting these energy-saving habits, like using less AC, using cloth napkins, and growing your herbs. Learn more about the steps you can take in our blog post about creating a more sustainable home.
7. Make your home energy efficient
Houses consume a lot of energy for electricity and heating. 40% of the energy consumed in the US goes to residential and commercial buildings.
For the world to avoid the worst consequences of climate change, everyone would have to consume a set amount of energy annually. The average US household surpasses that amount in 2 weeks. Fortunately, there are many simple ways to cut down on this energy consumption. From improving insulation to using LED lights to get a water heater, improving a house’s energy efficiency both helps the environment and saves you a lot of money in the long run. Here are a few pro tips.
Concluding
However, you choose to celebrate, make sure it is a celebration and not a chore. Our planet needs narratives of positivity, hope and agency in the face of challenges. As the warmth of spring brings opening buds, returning birds and early wildflowers, it’s easy to see how much there is worth fighting for and protecting. We can follow the Earth’s lead with resilience and new growth, no matter what the past days held.
