EARTH DAY 2023
Invest in the planet
22 April 2023
EVERY DAY SHOULD BE EARTH DAY
"Every April 22nd, stakeholders of all backgrounds come together to advance sustainability and climate action in commemoration of Earth Day.
Our world needs transformation. It’s time for the people of the world to hold governments and the private sector accountable for their role in our environmental crisis while also calling for bold, creative, and innovative solutions. This will require action at all levels, from business and investment to city and national government.
That’s where you come in: as an individual, you yield real power for change through your influence as a consumer, a voter, and a community member.
Don’t underestimate your power. When your voice and actions are united with millions of others around the world, we can create an inclusive and impactful movement that is impossible to ignore."[1.]
It's time to review your relationship with the planet. Choose to live sustainably to help build a better world, and a better future. We all make choices that impact the world. During a financial crisis, it's almost impossible to be able to invest in home improvements such as getting heat pumps, or to replace windows to double-glazing etc. However, even just small changes will all contribute to collective change.
Simple everyday changes you can make[2.]:
- Take 5 minute showers - water is a precious resource, try and use less.
- Bring your own bags - cut down on disposable plastic bags to prevent waste and damage on the environment.
- Drive less - where possible, create less carbon emissions and get some exercise at the same time!
- Lights off - if you're not in the room, turn off the lights. You'll be saving energy and money in the long run.
- Buy local produce - support local economies, and reduce the climate impact by lowering the carbon emitted from farm to table.
- Eat more plant-based meals - reduce greenhouse gas emissions as well as land, energy and water use.
- Recycle - not only does this help minimise waste, recycling saves energy and reduces the extraction of raw materials for new products.
- Refill and Re-use - stop using throwaway items. Reusing a coffee cup not only saves on paper but on carbon emissions and water in the production.
- Unplug - Even when switched off, electric appliances can still use energy. Unplug when not in use to save on electricity and carbon emissions.
- Zero-waste fashion - don't buy into fast fashion. Most clothes don't even get worn before they are considered 'out of fashion' and then thrown away. Instead, buy less, shop second-hand, swap with friends, upcycle, or even better, make your own so you know it fits and suits your personal style. And choose fabrics that don't harm the environment or the people that make them.
So what is Earth Day?
The first Earth Day was on April 22, 1970. In 1969, a massive oil spill in Santa Barbara, California. Senator Gaylord Nelson, a junior senator from Wisconsin saw the devastating effects of the oil spill, alongside the deterioration of the environment in the United States. He saw an opportunity to use the energy of student anti-war protests with the public's emerging consciousness about air and water pollution to raise awareness of the environment by a teach-in on college campuses to the national media. Recruiting Denis Hayes, a young activist, they chose April 22, a weekday between Spring Break and Final Exams, which would maximise the greatest student participation[3a.].
Creating a team of 85 staff nationwide, they created 'Earth Day' which sparked national media attention inspiring 20 million Americans, bringing together people of shared values, rich or poor, Republicans or Democrats.
By the end of the year, there was the creation of the United States Environmental Protection Agency, the National Environment Education Act, the Occupational Safety and Health Act, and the Clean Air Act. This brought about the importance of the environment, creating laws that protect millions of humans from diseases and death, as well as protecting hundreds of species from extinction[3b.].
In 1990, Earth Day become global, gaining a bigger audience, raising awareness of worldwide issues and the climate crisis.
Earth Day engages people across the world into the environmental movement to protect the planet.
Find out more about the environment and what can be done to help. Visit: https://www.earthday.org/take-action-now/
Sources:
1. https://www.earthday.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/ED2023-Action-Toolkit.pdf
2. https://www.un.org/sustainabledevelopment/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/ActNow-action-guide.pdf
3. https://www.earthday.org/history/