Earth Day, now more than ever, is both a celebration of our celestial home and a call to action to all who inhabit it. More than a holiday, it is a unification to change our ways as a global society - a partnership for the planet. This year, like many before it, Earth Day continues to challenge governments, businesses, and citizens around the world to act (boldly), innovate (broadly), and implement (equitably) by combining all efforts (collectively) to aid in reversing the negative effects of climate change for future generations to thrive.

A LITTLE HISTORY

Earth Day is not just about celebrating our home planet for one day and planting trees. It’s a day to learn how to bring about environmental awareness to change human behavior and provoke policy changes. Conceived by a group of Columbia University students in late 1969, Earth Day was introduced to the world on March 21st, 1970 to commemorate the first day of spring in the northern hemisphere. Now observed every year on April 22nd, Earth Day is recognized in more than 193 countries and coordinated by the Earth Day Network.

Most importantly, Earth Day serves as a reminder of the urgency surrounding our actions to help bring about positive change and sustainability towards the environment that sustains us. The scientific evidence is clear that humanity must change its ways, and those collective efforts are needed to limit the use of natural resources to sustainable levels. When it comes to our planet, many things can be done to impact environmental change, and every one of us really can make a difference.

WHAT CAN YOU DO?

Living by the 3Rs is a great start. Because when you reduce, reuse, and recycle, these three actions serve a vital purpose to buy less, reuse more, and recycle what is no longer useful. Not only are they easy practices to live by, but they can also reduce your household budget, which helps you save a little more go green in your pocket.

Another option is to reduce your carbon footprint. A carbon footprint is defined as the total amount of greenhouse gases produced, directly and indirectly, support human activities, usually expressed in equivalent tons of carbon dioxide, and calculated for the time period of a year. One way to reduce your carbon footprint is carpooling to work or take mass transit if that is an option for you. However, there are other ways to reduce greenhouse gases, including purchasing locally sourced foods and using solar power in place of oil, gas, or coal.

FREE DOWNLOADS

If you want to learn more about what you can do to impact environmental change, check out our free downloads Give Back to the Planet and Going Green at Home. These should provide lots of tips and tricks on all the things one person can do to really make a difference. Download them today and you might even find a surprise inside!