Nurturing Planet Earth for the Health of All
April is Earth Month. Earth Day is an annual event celebrated globally on April 22 to promote environmental protection and encourage climate action. It’s a reminder of our collective responsibility to safeguard the health of our planet for future generations.
Building Climate Resilient Communities
Maine is warming faster than the global average and climate change is already affecting every community in our state. These impacts will grow larger and happen more quickly in the future.
Learn about Maine Won’t Wait, our state’s four-year climate action plan to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and secure a strong future for our people and economy. The plan is packed with actionable strategies and goals to emit less carbon, produce energy from renewable sources, and protect our natural resources, communities, and people from the effects of climate change. Visit https://www.maine.gov/climateplan/ to learn more.
Protecting Our Environment
The 2024 Earth Day theme is Planet vs. Plastics. Earthday.org advocates for widespread awareness of the health risks of plastics, rapidly phasing out all single-use plastics (The Maine Legislature passed a statewide ban on single-use plastic bags in 2019 which took effect in 2021), urgently pushing for a strong UN Treaty on Plastic Pollution, and demanding an end to fast fashion.
Fast fashion refers to the rapid production and turnover of inexpensive clothing collections by fashion retailers in response to the latest trends. This model prioritizes speed and low cost, often resulting in poor quality garments made with cheap materials and manufactured under exploitative labor conditions. Fast fashion encourages frequent purchases and discarding of clothing, contributing to environmental pollution, resource depletion, and social injustices.
It’s easy to ditch fast fashion with these alternatives:
Support clothing brands that prioritize environmental and social responsibility in their production processes. Look for brands that use eco-friendly materials, employ ethical labor practices, and minimize waste.
Embrace secondhand and vintage clothing shopping as a sustainable way to update your wardrobe. Thrifting, swapping, and purchasing pre-loved items reduce the demand for new clothing production and extend the lifecycle of garments.
Explore clothing rental services or borrowing platforms for special occasions or trendy pieces. Renting allows you to enjoy fashionable items without the long-term commitment and reduces the environmental impact associated with garment production and disposal.
Embrace a minimalist approach to fashion by curating a capsule wardrobe composed of versatile, high-quality clothing pieces that can be mixed and matched to create various outfits. Investing in timeless staples reduces the need for frequent wardrobe updates and promotes mindful consumption.
Get creative and repurpose old clothing items through DIY projects and upcycling techniques. Transforming old garments into new pieces or adding personalized touches not only extends their lifespan but also fosters creativity and reduces waste.
Beyond making sustainable clothing choices, we can take steps within our homes and communities to nurture and preserve our local environment. From fostering habitats for pollinators to hosting eco-swaps and instilling eco-conscious habits in our children, each endeavor contributes to the greater mission of environmental stewardship.
In honor of Earth Day, Community Health and Communications Coordinator Audra Stewart-Gordon shares five easy and fun Green Ideas for Earth Day we can do at home or in our community.
· Plant for Pollinators – Do you plant with a purpose—with wildlife in mind? Have you thought about increasing the habitat found at school or in your backyard to attract more birds, bees, and butterflies? The National Wildlife Federation’s Garden for Wildlife™ program has been working since 1973 to do just that, encouraging people at home, school, and in their community to create a habitat that provides food, water, cover, and places to raise young while incorporating sustainable practices. Discover how to plant with a purpose and learn more about the importance of keystone plants: Wildlife (gardenforwildlife.com)
· Serve up Eco-Snacks - Mix up some trail mix with raisins, sunflower seeds, peanuts, almonds and chocolate chips, or whip up a batch of these yummy Earth Day Granola Bars: Earth Day Granola Bars Recipe - Food.com Celebrating the global nature of the ingredients (raisins from California, chocolate from Africa, coconut from the Philippines) is a cute idea, but it's still a good idea to look for locally sourced ingredients whenever possible.
· Host an Eco-Swap - Steer clear of fast fashion. What better way to get rid of your old stuff than to give it to friends who will find another use for it? Gather up your friends and neighbors for a good old community swap where everybody brings a bag or two of stuff (clothes, toys, you name it) and then goes home with a bag or two of newish items in exchange.
· Bring it Home - Earth Day is the perfect day to talk to your kids about the green steps you take around the house to protect the planet and how they can help. Turning off lights and faucets, recycling, keeping the heat and air conditioning down low, and cleaning green are great ways to teach your kids about your family's impact on the planet, and the steps that you can all take to minimize it.
· Recycle - Recycling is a great way for kids to get involved in taking care of the planet. Talk with your kids about the items in the recycling bin and how they can be recycled into new products. Or you can check out some of the recycling opportunities available from groups like TerraCycle where you can earn money for your school or community organization by collecting items like candy wrappers or juice pouches so that they can be remade into cool new stuff.
Make every day Earth Day!
Check out these earth-friendly ideas from One Tree Planted: https://onetreeplanted.org/blogs/stories/best-ways-celebrate-earth-month
Explore resources and activities for kids: https://www.education.com/resources/earth-day/