Here, I paraphrase a website that answers the question: Why do we still need Earth Day? For the entire site, of course, click on the link.
Climate Change
While scientific consensus is close to 100% on climate change, its causes and effects, our politicians can’t get their acts together. We can see it all over the world, and it is affecting us now.
We have registered globally warmer temperatures. We have also experienced extreme winter storms. They are connected. Unusually harsh droughts in one area are connected to the unusually harsh floods. While all of this affects us, our food sources, and our security, it also leads to an imbalance for wildlife.
Such a big problem. But individually, we can take steps. We can switch to LED bulbs and eat less meat. Plant trees. Buy a more fuel-efficient car or – if you can – use public transportation. Educate yourself and vote accordingly. Make purchasing and investing decisions that align with climate health.
Reduce. Reuse. Recycle.
Deforestation
Trees are being uprooted at an alarming rate. Deforestation is a rapidly-growing problem in areas like Africa, Central and South America. Not only does this mean less trees, less cleansing oxygen, and the displacement of the wildlife, deforestation means a dangerous decrease in a natural fighter of global warming, the #1 threat to our Earth right now. Removing trees also leads to much drier climates, as trees extract groundwater to release into the air.
Humans have destroyed nearly 50% of the rainforests that once existed on the planet, and if we continue at the current rate, we will destroy them completely in the next 40 years. We have short-sighted governments and multi-national logging companies to thank. And ourselves, if we a) didn’t vote, or b) voted for someone who doesn’t care.
What can we do? Vote. Use recycled paper, purchase products made with FSC-certified wood, and plant trees. As many trees as you can.
Pollution
Pollution is litter, smog, and trash in our lakes, streams and oceans. As our desire for “stuff” grows, so does the proliferation of trash, both visible and in our landfills.
Watch Annie Leonard’s Story of Stuff, which details our need for manufactured items, which leads to air and water pollution, which leads to…..stuff in our landfills.
What can you do? Make a mental change. Before making a purchase, ask yourself: Do I really need this? Can I purchase used?
Reduce. Reuse. Recycle.
Loss of Biodiversity
When a species dies out, it affects all of us. Sometimes the effect is catastrophic. Some reports say we’ve lost 60% of our wildlife since 1970. Additionally, up to half of plant and animal species in the world’s most naturally rich areas, such as the Amazon and the Galapagos, could face local extinction by the turn of the century due to climate change.
What can you do? Educate yourself and donate to organizations that protect plant and animal preservation.
Melting Polar Ice-Caps and Rising Sea Levels
Climate change is contributing to melting polar ice-caps, which in turn causes rising sea levels. According to experts (and the article that is paraphrased here), average temperatures in the Arctic regions are rising twice as fast as they are elsewhere, leading to ice melt and rupture. NASA satellite images shoe the permanent ice cover is shrinking at a rate of 9% every decade.
Where would that melted ice go? Well…New York and London are worried.
Oceanic Dead Zones
An oceanic dead zone is an area in which depleted oxygen levels cannot support marine life. Recently, 146 dead zones were found in the world’s oceans.
But I live inland. I don’t care.
Do you eat fish? Seafood plant life? Want to breathe?
Good news is on the horizon here. Dead zones can be reversed. The Black Sea dead zone disappeared in 1991 and 2000 because of the discontinued use of fertilizers.
Yes. Fertilizers. Imagine what’s happening to our inland streams, rivers and lakes.
Explosive Population Growth
Our limited resources must be shared. Population growth affects water and food resources, not to mention our sanity.
Statistics show that we have enough food to feed everyone on the planet, but we end up wasting a lot. According to the article that I paraphrase, Americans waste 30 to 50% of all food produced while others go without.
What can you do? Easy one-off: instead of grabbing a fistful of napkins, take one.
In Closing
Education, exercise of voting rights, thoughtful contributions of your time and resources, and a conscious effort to reduce, reuse and recycle will go a long way.