Here are some tips to be GREENER and Honor Mother Earth:
Plant something:
Trees not only cool things down (collectively, they can help decrease a city’s temperature by up to 10 degrees) but they also clean the air and give off more oxygen, among a ton of other benefits. Plant one in your family’s yard (if Mom or Dad need convincing, tell them that it’s been proven that trees can increase your property value by 15%). Another option is to plant your own fruits and veggies which will benefit your health and reduce the amount of fossil fuel emissions by not having to transport the food to stores.
Ride your bike:
Find transportation alternatives that help reduce your carbon footprint but get you moving. The fewer cars on the road, the less 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.
Let your voice be heard:
Feeling passionate about a certain environmental cause or piece of legislation that you believe should be passed? Check out some of the excellent youth climate activist organizations out there like Sunrise Movement, Zero Hour, Extinction Rebellion Youth, and Fridays for Future. See how you can volunteer with them and participate in the many initiatives they’re already working on. Write an email to your local representative to share your thoughts. Here’s how to find their contact info. You can also start or sign a petition for something you’d like to see changed. Go to change.org to get started.
Make a Water Conservation Plan:
We’re not talking about cutting your shower by a few minutes one time. Sit down and really look at the water you use and how you use it. There are a surprising number of ways to cut back: Install a water-saving showerhead, turn off the water while you brush your teeth, have your parents or roommates check the toilet for leaks, use your dishwasher sparingly or only for full loads, plant a garden full of drought-resistant trees and plants that don’t need frequent watering. Conserving water is a long game that requires a plan to be really effective. Plan a family or group dinner to discuss how you all can contribute to saving water in your household.
Use a refillable water bottle:
Just because you’re tossing your plastic water bottles into the recycling bin doesn’t mean they’re not hurting the environment. Besides the fact that it takes over 1.5 million barrels of oil to manufacture all of those bottles each year, there are still over two million tons of water bottles that have ended up in Canadian landfills. Buy a reusable bottle, preferably one that has a filter attached to it, so you’ll be getting fresh water every time.
Get produce from a local farmer’s market:
Besides supporting area businesses, you’ll also be helping the Earth by buying your fruits and veggies local. That’s because food in the grocery stores travels an average of 1,500 miles to get to you, and all that shipping can cause pollution plus an increase of fossil fuel consumption and carbon emissions. When you buy locally, it’s transported in shorter distances.
Shop smart for clothes:
Want to treat yourself to a new outfit? You can do it in a way that’s environmentally friendly! As with any kind of material good, buying something that’s already been used is great for the Earth because it doesn’t involve new resources. Check out the local thrift stores, or even have a local clothing swap!
Unsubscribe to catalogs:
The fact is that over 100 million trees are cut down each year to produce junk mail including catalogs. Plus they usually just end up in the trash anyway. Sign up for the free opt-out service at catalogchoice.org and they’ll help you get your name off the mailing lists for all those unwanted pieces of mail.
Spend time outside!
Sometimes we can be so caught up in what’s happening on Instagram, Yellowstone or Tiktok that we forget how much fun it is to be outside. Earth Day is just a reminder of how beautiful and awesome our planet is. Take advantage of it! If you have a backyard, spend the afternoon outdoors reading, having lunch, or just taking in deep breaths of the fresh air. If you live in a major town/city and outdoor spaces are crowded, try going for a walk at an off-hour when the streets are quieter. Just try to spend some time outside and show some love to the amazing place we all call home.
*Recycle many household items
*Clean up yard and roadways in your area
