Last year was the hottest year on record and this year is set to surpass those records. The impact that humans have had on this earth has been egregiously destructive. We can all do our part to help and protect this amazing planet. On this first day of spring, let’s all honor nature and strive to preserve nature. Please read and share the articles below to spread awareness.
15 actions we can take to protect nature:
Rewild your yard or bring in even a few native plants that grown in your ecosystem.
Find your growing zone and research the native plants that grow best in your area.
You can do your entire yard, or a few key plants can even help.
If you do not have a yard, wind boxes, hanging plants, or native plants on your balcony are incredibly important.
Start your own fruit and vegetable garden.
These plants not only help you but they help all the wildlife in your area.
Don’t forget fruit trees. Birds and insects love fruit trees.
Find the native fruits and vegetables that are from your region. They grow better and they require less water.
Save your rain water for your plants.
Support 15 minute cities and towns.
Never use or purchase herbicides, pesticides, insecticides, and rodenticides.
Purchase less plastics because they cannot be recycled.
Bring your own bags to the store.
Always use a refillable water bottle.
Contact brands and ask them to change to a sustainable model like a refilling station.
End consumerism and only purchase goods that are necessary.
Donate your clothes and do not throw your clothes away.
Warn down or torn clothing makes great rags.
Shop at second-hand stores and support both charities and sustainability.
Drive and fly less.
Group your trips into one day instead of driving out everyday.
Travel does not require everyone to travel to all ends of the earth. Enjoy and support your local communities and explore nearer to where you are located.
Don’t take cruises.
Update your electronics on an as-needed basis.
No one needs the newest version of their phone, tablet, watch, or laptop every year. Purchase a new phone/device (or even better, buy a used device) when it breaks.
Leave the dandelions in your yard and don’t pull them.
Dandelions are an integral “weed” for insects and birds alike. They are a necessity for many creatures, so please leave them for the wildlife.
Keep your house lights off at night for birds and insects that need the darkness.
If you see litter out, pick it up.
Reduce your chemical usage overall.
Don’t use fertilizers for your yard. Use compost instead.
Don’t use harmful chemicals to clean your house. Use green cleaners instead.
Learn about your local ecosystem and share that knowledge with your family and friends.
What native plants grow in your zone?
What animals are endangered where you live, and what can you do to help them?
What land is threatened with development, and what can we do to stop it?
How are resources being managed in your community and local communities? Is it affecting and harming your local ecosystems?
Spend your downtime in nature and enjoy a special connection.
10 articles you should read and share about climate change and its effects:
Al Jazeera: UN weather agency issues ‘red alert’ on climate change after record heat
Bloomberg: Climate Change Speeds Up as Major Indicators Blow Off the Charts, WMO
Reuters: Mums ban outdoor fun as air pollution worsens in Vietnam capital
NY Times: Afghanistan’s Drought in Photos: Barren Fields and Empty Stomachs
Inside Climate News: Petrochemicals are Killing Us, a New Report Warns in the New England Journal of Medicine
The Grist: As heat becomes a national threat, who will be protected?
CNN: The 'Doomsday Glacier' is rapidly melting. Scientists now have evidence for when it started and why
Axios: Mexico City is running out of water, forcing many to ration
Brookings: Climate change- Foresight Africa 2024
Phys.org: Sea surface temperature research provides clear evidence of human-caused climate change