Every year the climate crisis worsens, and the time we have to help the Earth is reduced. With only a few years left until the Point of No Return, the time to consider our personal impact and take action to reduce it is now. So for Earth Day 2023, take a moment to reflect on how you can limit your environmental impact.
Not sure what you can do to reduce your carbon footprint? Keep reading to find Earth Day facts, and learn how you can make a difference this Earth Day. We even have some fun Earth Day activities for the whole family.
This year’s theme is “Invest in Our Planet.” This year's theme “highlights the importance of dedicating our time, resources, and energy to solving climate change and other environmental issues.”
Earth Day is always April 22. Earth Day 2023 falls on Sunday, April 22.
1. The first Earth Day was April 22, 1970.
2. US Senator Gaylord Nelson witnessed a massive oil spill off the coast of Santa Barbara in 1969, prompting him to found Earth Day the following year.
3. While Earth Day originated in the United States in 1990, it became recognized worldwide.
4. It is estimated Earth Day is the largest secular observance globally, with over a billion people participating each year.
5. 10 to 30 percent of a household's carbon footprint comes from food production and transportation.
6. Each person emits an average of 19 tons of greenhouse gases per year, that’s the weight of 12 cars each year.
7. Since the first Earth Day, there has been a 60% worldwide decline in animal species populations.
8. In the last 22 years, the world has experienced 20 of the warmest years on record.
9. The average American generates 4.5 pounds of trash per day.
Helping the environment can get a little daunting. After all, one person can’t save the whole world. While you might not be able to reverse climate change all on your own, you can still make a difference. Keep reading to learn what you can do this Earth Day.
The average American will emit 70 metric tons of CO2 from their commute to work alone. Reduce your environmental impact by working from home for the day. To really make an impact, consider making working from home a habit. If being stuck at home all day sounds like a recipe for disaster, we have a few tips to help you work from home without going crazy.
If your job won’t allow you to work from home, opt for a form of green transportation. Walking or biking is the best way to reduce your carbon emissions. If your commute is longer than a couple of miles, see if your city offers carpool options or electric transportation.
Each year, offices in the United States use 12.2 trillion sheets of paper. That equates to 50% of all waste from businesses. Reduce the carbon footprint of your office by going paperless. Follow this guide to create a paperless office.
Using a dishwasher saves more water and energy than hand-washing dishes. Even if you only have a few dishes, the dishwasher is the green way to clean.
Nearly 80% of all plastic ever created still exists today. Switch to reusable options to reduce your plastic consumption.
Five hundred thousand trees are cut down each year to produce business cards. That’s enough trees to reach from Los Angeles to Rome. Switch to a more eco-friendly business card to reduce your impact on deforestation.
Use the Earth Day interactive map to find ways to get involved in your community. With events all around the globe, there are hundreds of ways to get involved.
Get your entire community involved with a community cleanup. Bring together friends, family, and neighbors to clean up any trash and waste from local parks, roadsides, rivers, and more.
Composting is an excellent way to reduce how much waste your family is sending to the landfill, and it makes excellent fertilizer! Start composting at your home, or help your children’s school start a composting program.
One tree provides enough air for three people. So planting even a couple of trees can make a difference. If you don’t have anywhere to plant a tree at your house, look for local volunteer opportunities.
Watching a movie might not seem like a very good Earth Day activity, but education is an essential part of benefiting our environment. Try an environmental movie this earth day.
As your children get older, many toys are often thrown away or sit in storage, unused. Don’t let those toys go to waste. Instead, donate them to a local charity. Not only will you keep old toys out of landfills, but you’ll also bring joy to a child in need.
Bees are endangered, and low bee populations are putting our food supply at risk. You can help save the bees by planting bee-friendly plants, building bee houses, reducing pesticide use, and more.
Bird populations have been declining. Since the 1970’s 29% of the North American bird population has been lost. You can help the birds near your home by building birdhouses, adding bird feeders, garden with native plants, and reducing plastic use.
Learn more about sustainability on the HiHello blog. We cover how to bring sustainability practices into your office, a full sustainability analysis of business cards, and more.
