Earth Day, April 22, 2023, recognizes over 50 years of environmental achievements and accomplishments by millions of people worldwide. It’s a steady call to never rest in the work to protect the only planet known to sustain human life, because we now know it’s a myth that pollution and overpopulation must be the marks of a prosperous society.

It’s easy to be a participant in Earth Day, every day. Here’s a few ways.

• Bike or walk
• Carpool or take public transportation
• Choose an energy efficient vehicle
• Make fewer trips by grouping your errands
• Drive smart: go easy on the breaks and gas, use cruise control, and keep your car well-maintained
• Reuse or repurpose containers, clothing, and cloth grocery bags
• Give clothes a second life by donating or buying used
• Know what items your local recycling programs collects, and what items are recyclable
• Repair leaky faucets and replace old equipment like toilets and dishwashers when possible
• Turn off the water to brush teeth and shave
• Run full loads of laundry and dishes
• Collect rainwater to use in your garden
• Check your refrigerator, pantry, and freezer before shopping to avoid buying foods you don't need
• Plan your meals for the week before heading to the store
• Properly store fruits and vegetables so they last longer, https://www.almanac.com/how-store-vegetables-and-fruit-keep-it-fresh
• Befriend your freezer and leftovers
• Pick up litter, join a cleanup, https://www.earthday.org/actions/green-up-with-a-cleanup-volunteer-for-a-cleanup-in-your-community/
• Plant a tree
• Make a call-to-action to share on social media: Get your environmentally-conscious message out there and show your support for Earth Day by posting an educational video on your social media feed.
• Give your friends an Earth Day Challenge to try, like picking up 15 pieces of litter, or simply share a few facts about global warming or rainforest preservation to help spread awareness.
• Build (or buy) a quality birdhouse or bird feeder, https://www.wbu.com/
• Brainstorm energy-friendly ideas for your house or apartment, such as switching to LED bulbs, turning off the AC when you're not home and other simple, energy-efficient ideas.
• Go on a nature scavenger hunt -- Learn about local birds, wildlife, flora and fauna by searching for flowers, plants and trees, and observing wildlife in your region or around your neighborhood. Look for a regional list of birds, animals, and plants online to help guide your search! https://www.inaturalist.org/pages/what+is+it; https://ebird.org/home
• Start a compost bin in your backyard, https://www.bhg.com/gardening/yard/compost/how-to-compost/
• Start your own garden, or petition your local government to start a community garden.
• Cut down or eliminate plastic bottles
• Make your voice heard: https://www.earthday.org/action/
• Donate to any number of reputable environmental or ecological steward organizations, https://www.networkforgood.org/topics/animal_environ/earthday/; https://www.overshootday.org/; https://www.earthovershoot.org/
• Adopt a plant-focused diet, https://www.pcrm.org/good-nutrition/plant-based-diets  
• Stop pesticide and herbicide use

FOR BUSINESSES

• Reduce paper usage by printing on both sides, using digital files, or implementing paper-free days.
• Provide opportunities to teleconference rather than travel when possible.
• Repair and update old equipment before replacing it. When it must go, research donation or eco-friendly disposal options.
• Turn electronics off when not in use, enable auto-sleep options to save energy.
• Host your own event, like tree-planting, a cleanup or Teach-In.
• Sponsor a local student group to conduct an environmental project.
• Adopt a river, roadway or vulnerable species.
• Promote environmental awareness on company social media.
• Challenge other business in your community to go green.
• Switch to post-consumer waste paper products, LED light bulbs, and rechargeable batteries.
• Hire a green cleaning company or purchase eco-friendly cleaning products.
• Create a company garden or green roof.
• Plant native species to support pollinators and reduce run-off.
• Implement compost collection and host a workshop on reducing food waste.
• Conduct an energy audit to identify efficiency improvements.
• Replace equipment with energy efficient options.
• Switch to a renewable utility provider.
• Switch to renewable auto-fleet.

Key Sources:

https://www.earthday.org/earth-day-2023/

https://www.epa.gov/earthday