Living Green: Pledge to go green for Earth Month
April 11, 2023
April is Earth Month. It’s a time to raise awareness of environmental issues, helping to prevent further harm to our planet’s natural resources and assisting in reducing the impact of climate change.
It’s a time to take stock of our own efforts to be green and learn what more we can do to aid the environmental health of the world. The theme of this year’s Earth Month is “Invest in Our Planet” — creating a “partnership for the planet” that accounts for all people, and holds businesses and governments accountable.
So with that in mind, here are some Earth Month pledges we can make to contribute to the better stewardship of our planet.
Learn more about the environmental problems we face
Knowledge is (renewable) power. It’s important to keep up to date with the realities of the challenges we face, and the official Earth Day campaign is calling for every learner in every school in the world to receive climate and environmental education as an urgent priority. So it’s worth our while to stay on top of current research and events, to dig deeper into current events, and to know how to check sources.
Commit to a month without single-use plastics
Ending our reliance on plastic is a critical issue. Studies suggest that the vast majority of plastic we use either does not get recycled, or can’t be recycled. Plastics are reliant on fossil fuel-based chemicals in their manufacture, and the most harmful plastics are those designed to be discarded after a single use. Explore ways you can avoid single use plastics for just a month; this will give you an idea of how much single use plastic you throw away, and make a small difference in the amount of plastic waste generated that month. It will help in its way to reduce the harm we do to marine and human health; and by littering beaches and landscapes, in addition to clogging waste streams and landfills.
Help to plant trees
The Earth Day organization works with The Canopy Project to plant trees across the globe, reforesting areas in dire need of rehabilitation, including areas with some of the world’s communities most at-risk from climate change and environmental degradation. The Canopy Project has also helped with tree planting in the wake of environmental disasters. You can donate directly to The Canopy Project or get involved with a local tree planting charity to help out on the ground.
Buy sustainable fashion
The fast fashion industry is a major cause of damaging waste. Clothing manufacturing can deplete healthy soil, contaminate fresh water sources, pollute the air and our oceans, contribute to deforestation and damage eco-systems and the health of their biodiversity.
Sustainable fashion, on the other hand, uses a clothing supply chain that is ecologically and socially responsible. You can choose to buy less, opting for quality over quantity. Natural materials, such as organic cotton, linen or hemp are good choices, as are 100% recycled fabrics. Of course, buying secondhand clothing is a great option, as is repairing older clothes yourself.
And if you’re buying new, Earth Day organizers recommend choosing brands “that are manufactured in their own community and connected to the place, people behind them, local economy, and environment”.
Opt to eat environmentally
Eating green doesn’t mean eating only greens. Choose to eat in-season, locally sourced foods, and you are cutting down on factors like waste, transportation, and poor agricultural practices, while supporting local food producers. And if you eat more plant-based foods, you are helping to reduce the greenhouse gas emissions of the livestock sector. Start easy: try opting for plant-based over meat twice a week. You’ll be surprised how easy it is to do this these days.
This article was originally published on The Coast News, read it here.