Today is Earth Day, and you’ll likely see stories about how the earth responded during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. Pollution decreased, waters cleared, wildlife returned to areas it had not been seen in years… all of this because we were staying at home. This narrative is both an inspiration and a call to action. It’s an inspiration because it shows that ecosystems CAN respond and recover quickly. But it’s also a call to action. As we happily begin a “return to normal,” it’s obvious that increases in traffic and transportation, and resource usage will continue to put pressure on our planet. This is pressure that cannot continue. So what can we do?
There’s a saying that “Earth Day is every day.” While I don’t know if that’s actually true in how the world operates today, I do know that it has to become a reality. We need to reduce the stresses that we are putting on the planet. There are a number of things that we all need to do to help our planet survive. Some are complicated, but many are easy. Here are some quick ideas on how you can have an impact:
- Reduce your consumption – Everyone at every stage of their life can decrease the amount they consume. This can be small things like reducing your energy usage. Shut your computer off at night. Turn off the water faucet if you’re not actively using it. Adjust the thermostat so your home is slightly cooler in the winter or warmer in the summer. Those little actions add up. And there are bigger actions you can take. Your transportation choices are huge. Your food choices are important. Eat smart so you throw away less. The clothing industry is one of the biggest polluters on the planet. Before you make that next purchase, ask yourself whether you really need it. All of your consumption decisions matter.
- Consume responsibly – Buy local! By purchasing goods locally you decrease the carbon footprint and support your local economy. You help your neighbors and the planet. But it can have an even greater impact. By being aware of where your products come from and targeting ingredients like palm oil, you can have a greater impact. Palm oil is farmed extensively in southeast Asia and increasingly in the Americas. Palm oil plantations are resulting in fires and habit destruction that is decimating species like orangutans. Any time we try to create a monoculture for a product, bad things happen to the environment. Pay attention to the ingredients of foods and cosmetics. You can live healthier and make the planet healthier at the same time.
- Participate – Often conservation organizations will urge you to contribute financially. While I agree that is critically important and supports much of the conservation work around the world, you are more than your money. Often people think that you have to be a biologist to participate in conservation, but the environmental movement needs your skills. Zoological parks and aquariums hire individuals in the trades to maintain our facilities. Individuals working in guest services and horticulture play an important role in our organization. Other skills are valuable as well. Lawyers, accountants and HR professionals serve on non-profit boards for conservation organizations and provide valuable skills. Whatever your skills are, there’s an organization that can use your help. Look around, reach out. Your skills matter and you can help the planet and feel good about your impact.
This is just a quick list of ideas that can help you find your way to make an impact. You can learn more about how you can make a difference
here. As we continue on the slow path to normal, take a minute today to think about how you can reduce the impact of our “normal” world. It’s becoming painfully clear that the world cannot continue to support our consumption and our needs the way we’ve been living. It’s time for a change. Take today to think about what you can do to help. Earth Day
needs to be every day and you can make it happen.
Happy Earth Day everyone!
~Dr. Chris Kuhar, Executive Director of Cleveland Metroparks Zoo