How to Live a Climate Plus (+) Lifestyle
Celebrating the 50th Anniversary of Earth Day by living Climate +
Amidst the chaos that is COVID-19, it’s easy to lose track of the days, heck even the weeks that are flying by. On April 22, it will mark the 50th anniversary of Earth Day. In 2019, we witnessed the tragic Australian Wildfires that decimated their country and wildlife, along with other worldwide natural disasters. This year, we have faced something unprecedented — the COVID-19 Pandemic. During which time, the economy essentially halted, people have lost their lives, and to stop the spread, humanity is under quarantine.
With millions (even billions) of people staying at home, our Earth is showing us signs that it can recover. We have seen articles of wildlife returning to what is usually highly trafficked areas, and air pollution clearing up enough for the Himalayans to be visible, for the first time in 30 years, in northern India. But unfortunately, this is not a “silver lining” to the pandemic. We still must change our ways.
Once we return to society, post-quarantine, it can go one of two ways: one of which, is we return to environmental destruction and wasteful consumerism; or the latter, is we move forward and strive to create a more sustainable future.
We are so much more connected than we think, and I hope that COVID-19 has taught humanity that we are, in fact, global citizens. Once the pandemic subsides, and we return to “normalcy,” we have a decision to make about how we want to continue living. I am not Greta Thunberg by any means, but I consider myself to be an environmental advocate. So, to hold myself accountable, I decided that this year, I’m putting on my learning hat, throwing on my global citizen-centric pants, and dedicating that Earth Day, and beyond, I will strive to be Climate Positive +!
So, what does it mean to be Climate Positive +, and how can I participate? I took to my friends at Tentree:
Climate + is the action of going beyond net zero. It means doing more than just offsetting carbon emissions — by creating an environmental benefit by removing additional carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.
Now that we know what it means, how can we, as global citizens, be more climate positive? On Earth Day, we can start at home — you know, since we’ll be there anyway! Here are some tips on how we can start:
- Opt for Plant-Based. I challenge you to take the day to eat plant-based. There are a ton of plant-based food bloggers that can give you plenty of inspiration. Just last week I made vegan carrot cake-cinnamon rolls. If the name of the recipe itself doesn’t make your mouth water, I promise the end result does.
- Turn off your lights, and unplug appliances as well as chargers when you aren’t using them. Hello natural light and saving on your energy bill!
- Get to gardening and planting! Trees, in particular, are one of the most effective tools in the fight against dangerous greenhouse gases that contribute to climate change and global warming. If you don’t have space to grow a tree, try flowers and vegetables on your porch or balcony. Buy some seeds and start organic growing at home. It’ll save you some money at the grocery store, and it’s therapeutic to get outside.
- Sign up for a Climate + Package put together by Tentree. They will carbon offset your lifestyle choices — I’m talking binge-watching on Netflix, long showers, shopping on Amazon, and even taking a leap to offset an entire year’s worth of carbon. Carbon offsetting is a reduction in emissions of carbon dioxide or other greenhouse gases made in order to compensate for emissions made elsewhere. By purchasing Climate + packages, you are planting Mangrove trees, which sequester carbon at a rate two to four times greater than mature tropical forests, and contain the highest carbon density of all terrestrial ecosystems. These trees absorb CO2 and store carbon — which means better air for us, cleaner air for Earth and fighting against greenhouse gases that contribute to climate change and global warming.
As we stay safe in our homes, let’s start to think about our actions as global citizens. If you think that you, as an individual, can’t make a difference, I promise you, you do. As humans, we have a duty, and the honor, to protect our Earth today, and every day.
Happy 50th anniversary, Earth Day.
