April is the perfect time to talk about celebrating the Earth. The weather is getting warmer, so people are starting to get outside after their winter hibernation. April is Earth Month, and Earth Day (22nd), Arbor Day (28th), and National Park Week (22nd-30th). What better time to show our appreciation for this big spinning space rock we call home?
What is Climate Change
Our news is constantly full of stories and warnings about Climate Change, also known as “global warming”. We have been hearing about it for decades, but what is it really and why does it matter? The United Nations defines Climate change as “long-term shifts in temperatures and weather patterns.” Although the planet naturally goes through variations in temperature, climate, etc., these changes have been sped up and made more extreme by human activity and industry. Also, due to the concentration of greenhouse gasses like carbon dioxide and methane, the usual ranges are on an upward trajectory.
Why it Matters
The highs are getting higher, and the lows are not decreasing as much. It matters because everything in nature is connected. The pollution of the US or China or India doesn’t just stay over the country that it came from. It affects the entire global ecosystem. Cutting down the rainforests in South America doesn’t just affect the air quality in Brazil. We see a rise in temperature and an uptick in the amount of severe weather worldwide.
So, What Can We Do?
In general, we can be more mindful of what we do and how we do it. This applies to industry as well as the general public. For example, many people are diligent about recycling, but only about 29% of plastics actually get repurposed. Some data is as low as 5%! The rest either goes into landfills or is shipped off to 3rd world countries. Internal combustion engines contribute to about 10% of greenhouse gas emissions. That doesn’t necessarily mean that electric cars are necessarily the solution. They have their own impacts.
Here are some ways we can actually help improve the situation:
- Drive less: Since the outbreak of COVID-19, many companies now offer remote or hybrid work. If you still have to drive to the office, carpool! Don’t make special trips for errands. Do as many things as possible in each trip. Use public transportation whenever possible.
- Plan Meals: Knowing what you are buying and how you are buying it are ways to lower food waste. Also, things like shopping at local farmers’ markets, composting scraps and buying fewer things in plastic packaging go a long way to lowering your carbon footprint. Putting leftovers in reusable glass containers and using refillable water bottles as much as possible also reduces plastic a lot!
- Education: Everyone has heard of climate change, but many don’t really understand what it means. There are a wide variety of books, movies, tv shows, podcasts, websites, etc. that are jam-packed with information! Many of these are shown in the list of sources at the end of this blog.
- Get Outside!: What better way to find an appreciation for the Earth than immersing yourself in nature? Go on a hike, visit a National Park, plant a garden, or volunteer to pick up road trash. There are countless ways to just get out there.
- Keep at it: One of the hardest things is just sticking with it. I know that I have times when I just don’t want to bother. If you keep up with the news, it all can get very discouraging and make us feel like nothing we do will make any difference. The truth is, ANY one of these actions will help. Like any other habit in life, if you fall off the proverbial wagon, just get back on!
- Create reminders: Some of us spend little more time outdoors than the walk from home, to vehicle to office and back. Making an area that you will see daily to remind yourself of the outdoors is a great way to keep it present. Houseplants, artwork, statues, and crystals are a fun and meaningful way to accomplish this. Sometimes, even just pulling aside the curtains, opening the window, and letting in light and fresh air can work wonders!
Conclusion
There are so many ways that we can celebrate the Earth and build community. On Earth Day, get a group together in your neighborhood and clean up along the roadside. On Arbor Day, plant some trees. Take a vacation to a National Park and see an area of the country that you are not familiar with. Create an earth-centered sacred space in your home. We’re all in this together, all around this great big world of ours. We all share the same address: Earth, 3rd Rock from the Sun, Milky Way.
Sources:
https://www.un.org/en/climatechange/what-is-climate-change
https://greatist.com/happiness/ways-help-environment#tl-dr
https://www.goodgoodgood.co/articles/how-to-celebrate-earth-month
https://www.nps.gov/orgs/1207/12-08-22_2023-entrance-fee-free-days.htm
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