With Earth Day yesterday, the topic of supporting environmental protection is recalled. In an effort to help the earth, it’s important to take real action in everyday life towards preserving our planet. There are many ways to keep the ball rolling after Earth Day, and though Kermit the Frog may disagree, it is easy being green.
1. Reduce Plastic Usage
Earth Day 2018 is dedicated to ending plastic pollution. Think about the plastic items you often use that can be replaced by something reusable: water bottles, bags, takeout containers, or plasticware. Plastic is harmful to Earth because it can release harmful chemicals that affect our wildlife, groundwater, and human health, and it never goes away, clogging up our Earth when discarded. Instead of using disposable plastic items, try using reusable water bottles, shopping and grocery bags, food containers, and silverware!
2. Save Water
Water is a finite resource, and only about one percent of the Earth’s water is available for human use. Water is being used up faster than it can be replenished, and since we need it to live, we should save it as much as we can. Try to take shorter showers, turn the water off while brushing your teeth, fix dripping taps, and wash only full loads of laundry!
3. Plant a Tree
Trees are essential to life because they produce oxygen and remove carbon from the air while filtering air pollution. Deforestation is rapidly occurring, and it destroys wildlife habitats and drives climate change. To prevent this, planting trees and plants or donating to an organization that can plant a tree for you can help!
4. Reduce Carbon Emissions from Driving
Carbon dioxide is a greenhouse gas emitted in many daily activities. Greenhouse gases trap heat in the atmosphere and can lead to climate change and rising sea levels. To reduce carbon emissions in travel, walk, bike, or use public transportation instead of driving a car! If you need to drive, help the environment by carpooling.
5. Recycle
The amount of waste created is constantly increasing, and it negatively impacts our environment by causing pollution, habitat destruction, and high energy usage. Recycling is necessary because space for waste is decreasing and natural resources need to be preserved. Plastic bottles, cans, glass bottles, and paper can be easily recycled to become something new.
6. Use Less Electricity
Conserving energy means fewer fossil fuels burned, more resources, and less pollution. Consider the ways you use electricity: air conditioning and heating, lights, televisions, and chargers all contribute to your use of electricity. To cut down on this, try to set your thermostats to more moderate temperatures, turn off lights when not in the room, turn off the TV instead of letting it play in the background, unplug electronics when not in use, or use a power strip that you can turn off with one click.
7. Change Your Diet
Consider going vegetarian to cut emissions from meat production, or cut out palm oil, which contributes to climate change, animal endangerment due to deforestation, and child labor. Eat locally and in season to avoid gases used in the transportation of products. Be aware of which fish are endangered and should not be eaten, cut back on dairy to reduce emissions, and waste less food, because more food than we think gets thrown away, and it ends up in landfills.
8. Don’t Litter
Litter is harmful to humans, animals, and plants. It can contaminate groundwater on land and affect marine life when tossed into the ocean. Please do not throw trash on the ground. Save a turtle from getting stuck in a six-pack ring. Volunteer for a beach cleanup to make the shore look nicer and prevent marine animals from dying.
Our planet needs to be protected, and action can be taken to thwart its deterioration. These methods of caring for the Earth can be practiced year-round. Remember the three R’s: reduce, reuse, recycle!
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