SAVE THE DATE
Conserve and Preserve the Earth
Mark your calendars! Earth Day is April 22, 2023. With Earth Day, we can learn to appreciate and draw attention to the environment. It also promotes conservation and sustainability. While it is great to recognize mother nature once a year, some behaviors should be practiced year round. Read more to find out how to do your part.

What is Earth Day?
Purpose
Earth Day is centered around promoting and raising awareness of our environment’s needs, and climate change, while promoting volunteerism to give back to the land we call home for the future.
History
The first Earth Day was created and celebrated on April 22, 1970, by Gaylord Nelson. Nelson had long been concerned about the state of the environment in the country.
He made the decision to launch Earth Day in 1970 so that we might learn better ways to care for the environment.
Ways to Practice Sustainability
While going green may seem challenging, even little, simple changes can have a big impact on maintaining a healthy planet for future generations. In fact, by implementing simple lifestyle adjustments, and promoting healthy behaviors may result in saving time and money. This Earth Day and every other day, aim to be a part of the solution, not the problem.
Transportation
Increasing carbon emissions from human activity are contributing to climate change. In less than 200 years, human activities like transportation have raised the atmosphere’s carbon dioxide content by 50%! Find out how you can decrease your carbon footprint when it comes to transportation by following these tips below.
•Ride a bike
•Take a bus
•Carpool
Recycle
Trash products can seriously harm the environment, animals, wildlife, and human health if they are not disposed of appropriately. Here are ways to reduce, reuse, and recycle.
• Use paper/reusable bags
• Know what can be recycled and what can’t
• Use reusable water bottles/straws
Be Mindful of Usage
It can be easy to fall into the trap of wasteful behaviors. Here are some tips to be more mindful about utilizing the resources in your home.
• Take shorter showers
• Stop wasting heat
• Use LED bulbs
Nutrition
As our world becomes more industrialized, the more processed our food becomes and the bigger effect it has on our planet. For instance, in the United States, processed food travels more than 1,300 miles, whereas fresh produce must travel around 1,500 miles to reach your plate. A lot of carbon dioxide is released during transportation, storage, and refrigeration.
• Eat locally
• Consider going meat-free
Recyclable items
At minimum, everyone should aim to recycle bottles, cans, paper, and cardboard. Another key rule is to keep food and liquid out of your recycling. Lastly, refrain from recycling loose plastic bags and bagged recyclables. Learning the difference between various recycling codes can help you determine whether or not to recycle.

Take action!
Gators Go Green
You are encouraged to take part in an eco-friendly challenge to encourage you to make lifestyle adjustments that will increase your knowledge and impact on the environment.

Progress Towards a Safer Environment
EPA The Clean Air, Clean Water, and Endangered Species Acts, as well as the creation of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), were all made possible as a result of Earth Day in 1970. Soon after, several nations passed comparable legislation, and in 2016, the UN decided to ratify the Paris Climate Agreement on April 22nd.
Climate Literacy EarthDay.org (EDO) has launched several campaigns, programs, networks, and other resources to help educate the public about climate literacy, and local environmental issues, and promote a call to action. EDO has also implemented a design that provides educators with peer-reviewed environmental curricula.
Conservation Great efforts have been made to focus on the areas most in need of restoration, anti-pollution, conservation, and repair. For instance, the Great Global Cleanup Day heightened awareness for plastic pollution drastically. Click on the link below to learn more about the Great Global Cleanup Day and how you can get involved in this international movement toward a cleaner environment.
Research Amid our growing collection of technology, state-of-the-art science has allowed for studies to be conducted, reports to be made, and data to be collected. With that said, the United States and the globe have moved to a greater adoption of eco-friendly practices. Research and science can inform the design of integrated sectoral policies based on the best scientific knowledge available.
rESOURCES
Stop Deforestation
Every year, 10 million hectares of forest are destroyed due to industry’s effects on the world’s canopy. Sign this petition to make a difference and tell companies to stop deforestation and tree-harming practices. Tell them that it’s time for sustainability to play a bigger part in their business.

Change the Fashion Industry
There is a surplus of inexpensive apparel due to low-cost production, decreasing consumer expenses, and the influence of social media. Production of “fast fashion” is based on the take-make-waste paradigm and is intended to be worn once and then discarded. Through signing this petition, you are calling on legislation to regulate fashion.

Global Plastics Treaty
Due to the chemical makeup of plastic, it cannot fully dissolve, accumulating pollutants that is harmful to both the environment and human health. Our planet will suffer if we continue using plastic at this rate. By signing this petition, our environment can be free of plastic in our food, water, and the air we breathe.

Endangered Species Act
Deforestation, habitat loss, unsustainable agriculture, climate change, pollution, and pesticide use are all directly related to human activity, which has led to the catastrophic global destruction and rapid decline of wildlife populations. Help stop further extinction by signing this petition.

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