14 Ways To Have a Positive Impact During Earth Month

Earth Month (Photo – Graphics Dept, ColoradoBoulevard.net)

Earth Day is on April 22 and you probably don’t need me to tell you that things aren’t looking so good for the planet.

By Cheryl Auger

The number of species that are in decline is accelerating. For instance, there has been a 25% decline of the gray whales off the California coast. Since 2016 an average of 29 grey whales beached themselves in California, but in the 2019-2020 season this increased to 378 whales.

Higher average temperatures are creating increased and elongated droughts and summer heat waves that have already begun to financially impact California’s crop owners. We have also seen increases in the number and magnitude of wildfires. The Bobcat fire raged in our backyard this past December, and now 2021 is ushering in extreme weather events across the country. Meanwhile we seem to be oblivious to our relationship to extinction, fires, droughts and accelerating weather.

It is important to know we can all do things that collectively will have a positive impact on climate change. Here are some of those activities:

1. Switch to green energy
   If you’re served by SCE, you can opt into Green Rates and for Pasadena Water and Power, opt into the Green Power program.
2. Start composting
   Start composting or find a compost program to manage your organic waste.
3. Plant a tree (or several!)
4. Say no to single use plastics
   Bring your own reusable bags, utensils and containers to farmers markets and to restaurants for your leftovers or take-out (AB 619 supports this)!
5. Trash clean-up event
   Organize a trash clean-up event in your neighborhood or local park.
6. Stop buying bottled water
   Reports show that your bottled water might contain coliform, arsenic, iron, phenols, BPA, fluoride and microplastics.
7. Join your local Buy Nothing group
   Find your group at buynothingproject.org/find-a-group.
8. Reduce your animal consumption
   Try Meatless Mondays or swap a dairy product for something plant-based!
9. Ditch the car
   Ditch the car for a scenic walk or bike ride.
10. Air dry
    Save energy by air drying your laundry!
11. Swap your plastic packaging for something more eco-friendly, like glass or paper containers.
12. Less packaging
    Switch to produce without packaging like cantaloupes, other melons and apples.
13. Repair an item that can still be used.
14. Conserve water
    Reduce shower times, wash full loads of laundry, turn off the faucet when not in use, etc.

Post a picture of yourself doing one or more of these items and tag @bansup_refill  and use the hashtags #BanSUPEarthMonth and #BanSUPinAction to be entered in a challenge to win one of four prizes. Every activity tagged counts towards one entry.