Earth Day 2021 is a few days away! Before I launch into my Earth Day Tips, some of you might be wondering what on earth (!) is Earth Day?
Earth Day is held annually on April 22nd with events focused on celebrating our environment. The goal is to raise awareness about environmental issues and encourage people to adopt a greener way of life.
2020 marked Earth Day’s 50th anniversary — a day that was celebrated around the world, despite the crippling effects of the pandemic. This year, our ability to celebrate in large gatherings will most likely be limited, but there are still ways to take action, safely and, if need be, in a virtual setting.
Now that that’s settled, here for you are my Earth Day Tips. Some are simple and others, a bit more involved. Either option you choose will make a difference, but why not try some from each category?
While I hope you’ll follow one or two (or more) Earth Day Tips on Earth Day, try making whatever you change a permanent one!
Table of Contents
Calculate Your Carbon Footprint
Easy Earth Day Tips: Simple, But Effective
You know the saying: you can’t manage what you can’t measure. So this Earth Day, learn about carbon footprint and then use one of the carbon footprint calculators to determine your own footprint so you can work towards reducing the environmental impact of your actions.
Taking it to the Next Level
Now that you know your carbon footprint, commit to reducing your environmental impact:
- at home, by making energy efficiency improvements, sensible water and lighting usage, and climate-friendly food choices.
- on the go, by reducing car usage, shopping locally, and making climate-friendly changes at school and in the office.
Get Outside!
Easy Earth Day Tips: Simple, But Effective
Take a walk or hike. It’s Earth Day, so what better way to celebrate nature than ditching the device and enjoying the outdoors? Explore one of your area parks or nature centers, or simply take a walk outside.
Race for the Earth by taking part in one of the many running (or walking) events that occur around Earth Day. There are events and races for every ability level, and many are organized as “virtual races” where you can participate from any location you choose. American Trail Running Association is a good site for finding race events in your area. Visit Virtual Run Challenge for virtual Earth Day races.
Bike to school, work, town. Reduce your carbon footprint and get some exercise in the process.
Clean up as you go. A simple Earth Day Tip is to pick up debris and litter while you’re out on a walk. Bring a small bag to collect the litter and you’ll be surprised by how quickly it fills up.
Taking it to the Next Level
Volunteer. Volunteer for a cleanup of your area parks, beaches, or open spaces. Even better, organize one.
There’s nothing more gratifying than spending the day outdoors clearing and cleaning up with fellow residents and helpers. Check your local volunteer groups and civic organizations. I list a few organizations here:
- VolunteerMatch has nationwide listings. Join first to view options.
- Earth Day Network is coordinating volunteer cleanups for 2021.
- Earth Day Initiative in the NYC area has a number of volunteer activities.
Plant a garden. Whether it’s a vegetable or pollinator garden, make sure it’s a healthy one for you and your family. Read here about ways you can make your yard healthy and beautiful.
Reduce, Reduce, Reduce
Easy Earth Day Tips: Simple, But Effective
Swap out one single-use item. Just say no to a single-use disposable item(s). Pick one to swap out and then try to add a few more to your waste reduction plan.
Earth Day organization has put together a handy Plastic Pollution Calculator to learn about how many plastic items you consume and discard every year. You might be surprised to learn how much you’re consuming!
Whether you’re out and about or trying to reduce your reliance on disposables at home, committing to make just one change will make a difference, particularly if you keep at it. Eventually, your actions will rub off on others, and you’ll look for ways to reduce your dependence on other single-use disposables.
Learn how to reduce and recycle responsibly, and then do it! Every spring I take a look at the junk in my house and wonder how I’ve accumulated such a pile. It’s a never-ending battle to minimize purchases and dispose of unwanted items in a responsible way.
We all face that challenge of whittling away waste. Green That Life’s spring cleaning post will get you started on how to re-purpose old items, donate stuff that could be reused by others, and finally dispose of unwanted items responsibly, so you recycle right and avoid wish-cycling.
Taking it to the Next Level
Start a waste reduction initiative. As chair of Rye Sustainability Committee, I oversaw numerous waste reduction initiatives, including the Reusable Bag Initiative and a community food scrap recycling program. These types of initiatives involve planning and organization, but it’s possible to create a successful program, even on a limited budget and with passionate volunteers.
Start composting. Whether it’s through backyard composting, participating in a community composting program, or paying for a private service, food scrap (or waste) recycling is an incredibly effective way to reduce food waste. Start your own composting set-up in your home and you’ll soon learn how to transform food waste into nutrient-rich compost. Green That Life’s post on home composting will get you started.
Go Easy on the Chemicals
Easy Earth Day Tips: Simple, But Effective
Learn why chemicals in your home have serious health effects for you, your family, and the environment.
Green clean your cleaning products. Swap out a few of those cleaning products that contain chemicals and replace them with natural alternatives or practices. While you’re at it, green your entire kitchen. The Earth will thank you for it!
Green your personal hygiene and beauty products. Your beauty and personal hygiene products can be riddled with ingredients that are harmful to you and the environment. Environmental Working Group’s consumer guides are a good place to search for natural products or check out these green alternatives to health products from Porch.com.
Taking it to the Next Level
Make your yard a healthy yard. Transform your yard into a healthy yard that’s beautiful and safe for all. Learn the what and why of healthy yards in 5 Healthy Yard Lessons for a Beautiful Yard.
Eat Green
Easy Earth Day Tips: Simple, But Effective
Learn about climate-friendly food choices. Believe it or not, but our food choices can be a key contributor to climate change and have a negative impact on the environment. Learn about which foods have the biggest environmental impact.
Calculate your foodprint using a food calculator to determine how your food choices impact the environment.
Eat less meat and more plant-based foods. The good news is that a climate-friendly diet is one that’s also healthy for you. Start with Meatless Mondays and gradually expand your plant-based diet.
Taking it to the Next Level
Commit to a climate-friendly lifestyle that involves eating less meat, shopping sustainably, and eating locally sourced, seasonal foods that are minimally processed and packaged.
Grow your own food with natural techniques, using natural remedies for combating pests while feeding the soil and plants with natural fertilizers and soil amendments.
Learn Something New or Take the Lead
Easy Earth Day Tips: Simple, But Effective
Learn about it. Learn some of Green Terms lingo so you understand the issues and what others are talking about.
Read about it. Pick up a book about the environment or sustainability. Green That Life’s 10 Earth Day Books that Inspire and Inform lists Earth Day-themed books, but also visit the Best Environmental Books page for dozens of book suggestions in every category, including fiction and children’s books.
Vote on it. Here’s one of the easiest Earth Day Tips: Vote! It’s a fundamental right of our democracy and such a simple thing to do, but so many of us don’t vote. Make it a point to vote in every election, including local and school board elections. See Green That Life’s voter resources page.
Taking it to the Next Level
Spread the word. Join a local or national group committed to sustainability, conservation, and/or environmental issues. Pick one issue that you’re passionate about.
Advocate for systemic change by contacting your elected representatives, demanding that they prioritize environmentally-friendly legislation. Don’t forget your local school board. Encourage board members to make climate literacy a core part of the curriculum.
Talk to friends, neighbors, and members of your community who aren’t as well versed on climate facts. See Green That Life’s post on climate communication strategies for tips on how to engage people.
Take the lead. Even better, create your own group to take action on environmental issues. I offer my experience spearheading a Reusable Bag Initiative and Healthy Yard Project, but much of what I and my fellow activists learned from these projects can be translated into any initiative.
