Earth Day is a gentle reminder to demonstrate our support by raising awareness for environmental protection. If we want to see a change we have to be a part of that change by using our voices and making better choices. Earth Day is the perfect opportunity to make a personal pledge to decrease our impact on the planet but knowing where to start can be daunting and overwhelming. Here are five ways you can make a difference, every day.
Be An Influence
Earth is being polluted and stripped of its natural resources by over-consumption; our health is being affected by environmental toxins in the air, water, and food we consume. Our daily choices have an affect on our environmental impact. If you want to celebrate Earth Day and support environmental protection, be an influence by using your voice.
If you don’t usually share your passion for certain issues online, Earth Day is a good opportunity to raise awareness for the issues you care about, and make a difference. Easy ways to get involved include writing a blog post, sharing information on social media, signing petitions (and encouraging others to do so), writing to your local representatives, joining marches, attending events, and taking part in organised clean-ups.
Visit Earthday.org and Change.org for local events and ways you can demonstrate your support by using your influence.
Plant Something
Plants are a critical resource because of the ways they support life on Earth. They release oxygen, absorb carbon dioxide, provide food and habitats for both humans and wildlife, and they regulate the water cycle.
Planting a tree, sowing seeds, growing flowers, or starting a vegetable patch is one of the most influential acts you can choose to do on Earth Day. Trees help reduce greenhouse gas emissions, clean pollution, prevent soil erosion, and encourage wildlife by providing food and shelter for birds, insects, and other animals.
Growing native flowers to plant in your garden, in hanging baskets, on local nature areas in your community will help attract native wildlife, birds, pollinators, and mammals. Even growing your own vegetables in your garden, in an allotment, or even on the windowsill of your kitchen, will help reduce the emissions required to transport food from stores to your home.
Eat Earth-Friendly Food
Making changes to where we shop for our food and what we eat has a huge impact on our planet. Switching to a plant-based diet can lower our carbon footprint; there is a lot we can personally do to address climate change and that starts with reconsidering what we put on our plates.
If you can, start shopping at your local farmer’s market where you’ll be able to find locally grown seasonal produce. Look for plant-based food produced on small farms, which use less resources than mass-farmed meat and minimises the impact on our environment. Avoid processed and pre-packaged foods, reduce your meat and dairy consumption, and consider a vegan lifestyle.
Animal agriculture is destroying our environment. It’s the leading cause of species extinction, ocean dead zones, water pollution, and habitat loss. If you care about our environment and want to see a change, start by eating more earth-friendly foods.
Reduce Waste
Reducing our waste is far more important than recycling it. One of the best things you can do for Earth Day is adopt habits that reduce your waste, for good. Reducing waste isn't just about what we throw away, it's about avoiding it altogether.
Making ‘zero waste swaps’ can be as easy as saying no to plastic straws, taking your own bags to shop with, using a reusable cup or water bottle, avoiding single-use plastics and disposable goods like paper towels. You can reduce food waste through meal planning, using a refillable containers, and composting your leftovers.
Start with a few simple swaps like switching from tea bags to loose leaf tea, cotton balls to washable cotton pads, plastic bags to tote bags, and clingfilm to food wraps. Reducing waste can seem daunting but it doesn't have to be. Small changes can make a huge difference especially when it comes to reducing avoidable waste.
Live A Considered Life
Living a considered life simply means being more mindful of how we live our lives by making better decisions that reduce our personal impact on the environment. By consuming less, buying thoughtfully, reducing waste, wearing ethically made clothes and earth-friendly foods, we can start to build a life that reflects our respect and passion for protecting our planet.
Living a considered life starts with simple habits and easy changes. Drive less by walking, riding a bike, or using public transport. Save electricity, conserve water, and reduce waste by avoiding single-use disposable items. Declutter your home and create a minimal wardrobe; buy only things you need and add value to your life. Reduce your consumption of products that harm the planet and affect the lives of others.
Some of the smallest and easiest decisions you make can have the biggest impact. So now matter how small it might seem, every positive change makes a difference.
