5 ideas for action on World Earth Day to help fight climate change

22nd of April, every year, is World Earth Day - an important date in the global calendar - where millions of people worldwide come together in unison to demonstrate support for environmental protection. 

Here's 5 ideas for action on World Earth Day to help reduce your personal footprint. Do one thing today!

World Earth Day was started in 1970 in San Francisco on 22nd April as that date represented the birth of Spring. Earth day calls to arms people of any generation, from every nation to make a difference as there is clear scientific evidence that human activity is causing our planet to warm at an alarming rate. International bodies of scientists have warned that we have just over a decade to halve our emissions to avoid the most devastating impacts of climate change on our food supply, national security, global health, extreme weather and more. 

On 20 April 2021, the UK government committed to reduce carbon emission levels by 78% of 1991 levels by 2035. We can’t just leave all of this to the governments and corporate heads: everyone has the ability to do something to address our climate challenge, every day.

So, what can little old you do to actively fight climate change today on World Earth Day? 

KNOW YOUR FOOTPRINT

Work out your own personal impact on the planet by measuring your life on a carbon footprint calculator. It will help you see where you can make adjustments.

SWITCH TO GREEN

Unplugging electrical items that are not in use and buying goods with high energy-efficient ratings are pretty standard practice (or should be!)...and if not already, make the switch to a renewable energy provider. 

CAR-FREE DAY

Transportation is now the largest source of carbon emissions in the world. No matter where you live, car or plane travel contributes heavily to our shared carbon footprint. Our lives are busy and time poor but pledge to either take public transport, or walk or cycle one day a week. You will notice the difference to your health and your wallet as well as the environment.

MEAT-FREE DAY

Your food’s carbon footprint is the greenhouse gas emissions produced by growing, harvesting, processing, transporting, cooking and disposing of the food we eat. Research has revealed the tremendous impact that the mass production of meat, dairy and eggs has on our planet. Now is the time to join in the massive leaning towards plant based products. The choice on the market now is enormous! It doesn’t have to be pretend sausages or anaemic tofu – get experimental, give it a go! When fruit and vegetables, always shop locally and seasonally. Check the labels in the supermarket to see where your asparagus or blueberries have come from. If enough of us reject far flung grown and unseasonal goods then the need for them will become null and void. This will benefit our farmers too!

BUY USED INSTEAD

Shop smarter – do you need to buy new? Avoid single-use, disposable or cheap brands that doesn’t last. Buying reused and pre-loved items is keeping goods from filling our already overflowing landfills - and moving us away from the make-use-dispose of a linear economy towards a circular economy.

If we all adopt more sustainable lifestyles including the above, over time it will be second nature and our children will grow up not knowing any other way of life. It’s not too late!