Earth Day is celebrated on April 22, we will celebrate the 50th Earth Day. The theme for Earth Day 2020 is Climate Action. This year, Earth Day is hosting their events online for 24 hours on Wednesday, from 12:00a.m-11:59pm ET. In the meantime, here are 10 Climate Actions we can participate in from home.
1. Reduce Food Waste.
If the greenhouse gas emissions from global food waste were a country, it would rank 3rd in the world as a top greenhouse gas emitter. With over 800 million people undernourished around the world, by reducing food waste we can address climate change AND food insecurity. Check out how to reduce food waste at home. (1,2)
2. Add More Plant Based Meals To Your Day
Food production emits greenhouse gases from farm to table. Animal based foods, particularly red meat (beef, pork, and lamb), tend to emit the most greenhouse gases. Eating more plant based meals and less animal based meals is a healthy option for Earth and possibly a healthy option for us. Check out a Guide for a Plant Rich Diet for ideas and ways you can make your next meal plant based. (3,4,5)
3. Renewable Energy Direct from your Electricity Provider
Installing solar panels or a wind turbine for our home may not be a viable option for us for a variety of reasons. However, you may be able to receive renewable energy through your electricity provider. See if your utility provider has an option for your home to be powered by renewable energy and make the change today!
4. Switch to LED bulbs.
The team of scientists from Project Drawdown estimates that if 90-95 percent of homes switch to LED bulbs by 2050 we could keep over 10 billion metric tons of greenhouse gases from being emitted. Let’s get a head start while we are at home and switch out old incandescent or CFL bulbs with new LED bulbs. Changing your light bulbs to a more efficient LED light bulb will also save you money on your utility bill. If you have extra LED bulbs, share with your neighbor. You may be able to get FREE LED bulbs through your electric company. Our electricity provider has an online store for FREE or discounted LED bulbs to install at home, with FREE delivery! Check with your electricity provider today. (6)
5. Seal up your Home
It is possible to save 10-20% on your heating and cooling bill by sealing air leaks in your home. US Department of Energy has a dozen ways we can seal our homes. Don’t have weather stripping or caulk readily available? Several hardware stores have online ordering and delivery. Make your next home project more air tight. 😉 (7)
6. Rethink “trash”
Earth Day added 3 more R’s to the traditional 3 R’s of Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle. They added Remove, Refuse, and Rally.
- Remove: Start a solo litter clean up around your neighborhood (make sure to wear protective gear like a mask and gloves). Next time you are out for a walk, keep a spare bag and gloves on you to pick up litter as you go. It is quite satisfying to see how much you can clean in your neighborhood in one hour. Encourage your neighbors to join in on their next walk. Make sure to follow your local guidelines.
- Refuse: Respectfully, refuse single use plastics like straws, cutlery, and cups.
- Rally: Check if there is a single-use plastic ban in your area. If not, contact your local officials and advocate banning single-use plastics.
Finally, rethink “trash.” Think of certain items that we may consider trash in different lights. Could these items be donated, recycled, repurposed, or upcycled? Scrap cloth? Make a mask. Use bottle caps and other trash to decorate an Earth Day poster to display in a window of your home
7. Become a Citizen Climate Scientist
Help scientist gather data about the effects of climate change in your own neighborhoods. Simply download the FREE Earth Challenge 2020 app onto your phone to start.
8. Contact your Elected Leaders
Check who your representatives are and contact them. Let them know how important collaborative climate change action is to you. The climate change policies and agendas they build and support should be backed by evidenced based science. Here is how you may look up the contact information for your United States Elected Officials from the President all the way to your local town and city officials If you feel inclined to, you may inform your elected officials that their climate change policies will influence your…
9. Vote!
Voting is a powerful climate action. We cannot necessarily vote from home right now but we can inform ourselves on the candidates and Pledge To Vote for Earth. Climate actions need to come not only from us at home, we also need the government to act on climate change as well. Inform yourself on the climate change plans and views of the candidates. Their plans should be backed by evidence based science, address the inequalities of our society, and how climate change will affect the vulnerable populations the most.
10. Start a Climate Conversation
Rather than focusing on the devastating effects of climate change, steer your next Climate Conversation, to what we CAN do about climate change. Guess what? You just read about 9 Climate Actions we can do. Also be mindful of who you are talking with. Everyone may not have the same ideas on climate change as you. Be kind and respectful of these differences.
If you are like me, and not so subtle in conversation topics, check out these articles from Fast Company and Grist of how to start the difficult and important discussion of Climate Change today.
Bonus Climate Action
Close your eyes, then slowly breath in, and even more slowly breathe out.
Climate change is a global crisis that can easily make us feel overwhelmed. I know I have felt overwhelmed lately. What has helped me push past the weighted feeling is to do something about it. Whether, that is learning about climate change solutions, the inspirational droves of people working towards the same goal of climate change, and acting on climate change in my own life. As we have witnessed with global crises we have a choice in how we address it. Fortunately, the solutions to address climate change are there. Unified and effective climate actions are opportunities to prevent the worst effects of climate change, to protect and restore natural ecosystems, to uplift marginalized people and narrow the gaps of inequality, and shape a truly better future for us all.
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Another great post, Christine. Yes, I do so agree that it is time for Climate Action! In a lot more ways than one, I never thought in my lifetime I would see our climate go through so much change from glaciers melting to rainforests burning, and more. We need to establish an everyday attitude of taking care of our common home for all of humanity, now and for future generations.
Thank you, R! You are absolutely correct. We should foster a Climate Action attitude everyday so we can prevent rainforests from burning, slow glacier melting, and build a brighter future.