Every April 22 is Earth Day, and 2016 was a special one, with people celebrating the 46th birthday of the environmental movement as well as the signing of the Paris Agreement.
The Paris Agreement saw the representatives of 195 nations meet in New York to sign this historic climate deal (177 countries signed in the end). At present just 15 countries have ratified this treaty (it needs 55 nations to ratify it to come into force), which aims to halt the rise in global temperatures and to hugely reduce carbon emissions. The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) hopes to start implementing the terms of the agreement by 2020 at the latest.
A group of investors, worth $24 trillion, urged the world’s heads of state to sign this deal and start to fast-track it through their countries’ legal systems in hopes of starting before 2020, but whether this will happen or not remains to be seen.
However, we don’t need to wait for those with money and power to give us permission to make a difference! There are lots of things the man (and the woman and child) on the street can do to make every day of the year Earth Day.
Make a promise board at work and at home
You can have your very own Paris Agreement on a whiteboard – get family and colleagues to make pledges to help the environment. Their promises can include things like turning off lights when leaving a room, turning off electrical appliances at the end of the work day, using a reusable water bottle or shopping bag and starting a car share.
Plant a tree or two (or three)
The UN has asked citizens of the world to send their governments the message that they support the Paris Agreement. One way it’s suggested is for people to plant a tree to mark the signing, then taking a photo and sharing it on social media at #Trees4Earth. If you’re not sure what tree will work best for your neighbourhood, visit thetreecenter.com for advice and ideas.
Hug a tree or three
If you can’t plant a tree, hug one! The UN also suggested taking photos of you and your friends hugging a tree before sharing it at #Trees4Earth to raise awareness of the Paris Agreement. It’s all about letting people – and governments – know how many people care about the climate.
Go to a local event
There is bound to be an environmental event or two in your area, and if there isn’t one, get one together yourself. You could have a swap shop, where people turn up with their unwanted clothes, books and household objects and leave with other people’s unwanted items. This is much better than adding to landfill! Alternatively, host a sustainably-sourced picnic or a craft fair featuring recycled goods.
Lose the paper
2016 is all about the tree! To this end, switch your bills and bank statements to online versions and encourage your colleagues to think before they print.