April is Earth Month: Celebrating the 50th Anniversary of Earth Day
BY: STEPHANIE LICCIARDI, GROUP FOR THE EAST END ENVIRONMENTAL ASSOCIATE
April 22nd is a day that is marked on the calendar of every environmental organization, every plant lover, backyard naturalist, field biologist, and fellow citizens that care about the protection of this planet that gives us so much: Earth Day! This year, it's Earth Day's 50th Anniversary and climate action is the official theme. Global warming and climate change are the current biggest challenges to our ecosystems, communities, and future.
You might be wondering, “What is the difference between global warming and climate change?” According to NASA, climate change is a change in average conditions in a region over a long period of time. Earth’s climate has always been changing, but the recent changes are unusual. Scientists attribute this accelerated change to an increase in carbon dioxide, methane, and other greenhouse gases. Greenhouse gases allow the sun’s rays to pass through the atmosphere, but they prevent the heat that the sunlight brings from leaving the atmosphere. So, as we continue to release more greenhouse gases through activities like transportation and meat consumption, they trap more heat, and the Earth’s atmosphere warms. Scientists around the world have observed global warming in the rapid heating of the Earth’s surface, with most of the warmest years on record being in the last 20 years.
To me, the most glaring proof of global warming on the East End is the dramatic reduction in snowfall and cold weather during our winter months. This winter, I watched it snow only a few times and all snowfall melted within two days. When I was a child, the Peconic Bay had ice sheets, ponds frozen over, and there was always snow on the ground. Some other effects of global warming include rising sea levels, increases in droughts and heat waves, more intense hurricanes, and an ice-free arctic. Check out this Sag Harbor Express article for more information on how global warming is affecting the East End. These scenarios are frightening, but with collective action, we have the tools to save our planet!
At Group for the East End, in honor of it being the 50th anniversary of Earth Day, we are celebrating Earth Month. Considering the climate action theme, we have created a permanent page on our website dedicated to global warming. There, you can learn how the Group’s work combats global warming. Last summer, we joined an ongoing collaboration with the East End chapter of Project Drawdown, which is a comprehensive list of climate solutions that reduce greenhouse gases in our atmosphere. We are inspired by their work because it is a positive movement built on hope for change using methods and technology that exist today.
Now you know what global warming and climate change are and how Group for the East End has joined the fight. If you are concerned about global warming and want to start changing your personal habits, it’s easiest to start small and work your way up to bigger lifestyle changes. There is so much to be concerned about in today's world so we want to provide you with easy, actionable steps you can make that will reduce your contribution to global warming.
1. Use less plastic. Plastic is made from fossil fuels. Fossil fuels are carbon-intense, which means that their production, usage and transport release greenhouse gases. Reducing the plastic in your life can be as simple as switching from bottled liquid soap to paper-wrapped bar soap, using reusable water bottles and coffee cups instead of disposable, or choosing to buy your pasta in cardboard boxes rather than plastic bags. My favorite swaps have been using shampoo bars in place of bottled shampoo and cotton produce bags instead of the plastic ones at the grocery store. The list of easy swaps is endless!
2. Reduce the amount of meat you consume. Meat production is a large contributor to global warming and pollution. You do not have to adopt a vegetarian or vegan diet, but you can pinpoint where you are comfortable reducing or eliminating animal products. Participate in Meatless Mondays or pick a mealtime, like lunch, where you commit to a plant-based meal. Your diet is where you hold the most individual control in fighting this climate crisis.
3. Participate in local advocacy. Your influence is strongest on the local level. When you contact your elected officials and make your voice heard, real change can happen. Organize a letter-writing night so you and your loved ones can help convince your local government that immediate climate action matters to their constituents. Attend protests and climate marches. Look out for our upcoming Earth Month post about how to craft your own climate protest sign! Most importantly, vote for the climate action candidates in every single election – local, state, and federal.
We are so excited to kickoff Earth Month and dedicate our time at home to our planet. Stay updated with our Group for the East End blog, where you will have a variety of Earth Month activities at your fingertips. We are in this together!