I’m an atmospheric scientist. I study climate change, one of the most pressing issues we face today.
I don’t accept global warming on faith: I crunch the data, I analyze the models, I help engineers and city managers and ecologists quantify the impacts.
The data tells us the planet is warming; the science is clear that humans are responsible; the impacts we’re seeing today are already serious; and our future is in our hands. As John Holdren once said, “We basically have three choices: mitigation, adaptation, and suffering. We’re going to do some of each. The question is what the mix is going to be. The more mitigation we do, the less adaptation will be required, and the less suffering there will be.”
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Earth Day is an important day to celebrate the planet we all call home.
This year, why not get your family involved in STEM earth day activities? These fun and educational activities are sure to be a hit with kids of all ages!
From making solar ovens or planting trees, there’s something for everyone. Plus, these activities can help us become better stewards of our environment while having a great time together.
Let’s take a look at some awesome ideas that will make this Earth Day one to remember!
Making A Solar Oven
Making a solar oven has become the trendiest way to celebrate Earth Day. It’s both fun and educational, requiring nothing more than some cardboard boxes, aluminum foil, and your own two hands – not to mention it saves energy!
Reducing waste is easy when you’re making something that can be used again and again for outdoor cooking. After gathering all the necessary materials from around the house (or garage or shed!), start by cutting out pieces of cardboard – think pizza box-sized rectangles – for the outer walls of your oven.
Next, cover them with thick sheets of aluminum foil, shiny side up! Then assemble the pieces together like a three-dimensional jigsaw puzzle until you have an enclosed rectangular prism shape. Finally, attach a piece of glass over one end as a makeshift window so heat doesn’t escape.
Once completed, find yourself a sunny spot outside to set up shop and get ready to bake away in your very own solar oven! With just this simple homemade device you can save energy while still enjoying delicious treats using no electricity at all.
What better way is there to show your commitment towards being environmentally friendly?
Planting Trees
Planting trees is a great way to celebrate Earth Day. Trees are essential for the health of our planet and provide numerous benefits, such as reducing air pollution, providing habitats for native species, and preventing soil erosion.
Native tree species can also help sustain local wildlife by providing food sources and homes for birds. When planting trees on Earth Day, it’s important to select the right tree for your region – choosing one that is adapted to its climate will increase the likelihood of survival in the long run.
Make sure you have enough space around the tree so that it can grow properly without competition from other plants or structures. Additionally, be mindful of where underground utilities may exist before digging into the ground.
Once planted, Earth Day activities don’t need to end there! To take part in stewardship of these new additions to your community, consider setting up bird feeders nearby and make time each week to observe what kind of feathered friends visit your yard. With patience and dedication you could become an expert birder in no time!
Building A Rainwater Collection System
The idea of harvesting rainwater and reusing it is an ancient one, but with the ever-growing global population and the need for sustainable practices, this age-old concept has taken on a new relevance. As we approach Earth Day 2021, now more than ever should be the time where we look to revolutionize our water usage – both in terms of conservation and creative reuse.
There are several ways that you can go about building a rainwater collection system for your home or community. Here’s a quick list of some key components:
- Gutters and downspouts: These help collect runoff from your roof into barrels or tanks.
- Filters: This helps keep debris out of your tanks while ensuring clean collected water.
- Storage containers: Anything from barrels to cisterns can work depending on how much water needs to be stored.
- Water pumps (optional): If there is no gravity flow available, this will help move the water around as needed.
Whether you plan to use it for landscaping irrigation or simply want to have an emergency supply during drought season, investing in a proper rainwater collection system is something everyone should consider!
By taking steps like these at home or in your local community, not only will you be doing right by Mother Nature but also helping ensure access to safe drinking water for generations to come!
Creating A Recycling Center
Creating a Recycling Center is an important step in reducing waste and upcycling materials. It can be as simple or elaborate as you’d like, depending on the resources available to you.
To start off, you’ll need containers for sorting your recyclables: paper, plastic, metal cans and glass bottles should each have their own dedicated container to help make sure that everything gets sorted properly.
In addition to separating out these items, you may want to add additional steps such as cleaning them before going into the recycling bin. This helps to ensure that any dirt or food residues don’t contaminate other types of recycled material when it’s taken away by the collection service.
You could also consider setting up bins specifically for composting organic matter – this would reduce the amount of food waste which ends up in landfills.
If you’re feeling particularly creative, there are plenty of ways to repurpose old items into something new and useful. Upcycling projects include making planters out of tin cans, creating furniture from pallets or turning old clothes into pillowcases – all great options for diverting usable materials from landfill sites.
By taking small steps towards reducing our impact on the environment we can all do our part in preserving our planet for future generations!
Exploring Renewable Energy Sources
Earth Day is a great time to explore renewable energy sources, particularly ways we can use them right in our own homes.
Composting kitchen scraps and yard waste into nutrient-rich soil provides an easy way to generate natural fertilizer that doesn’t harm the environment.
Wind turbines are another example of how people can turn their home or property into an environmentally friendly source of electricity. Wind turbines work by catching air currents with propeller blades and turning it into usable electrical power.
Many homeowners have had success installing small wind turbines on their roofs or in their yards that produce enough electricity to offset some of their utility costs while reducing carbon emissions.
With larger installations, you could even become completely self-sustaining from your own wind turbine!
Making conscious choices about where we get our energy is one of the best ways for everyone to help protect the planet this Earth Day and beyond.
We all have the potential to make positive changes that reduce our environmental footprint, so why not start today?
By tapping into renewable sources like composting kitchen scraps or investing in a wind turbine, each person has the ability to make a real difference when it comes to protecting our world’s resources.
Conclusion
As we celebrate Earth Day, it’s important to remember the many ways that people can take action and help protect our planet.
It’s estimated that over 50% of Americans participated in some sort of environmental activity on this special day last year. This shows just how dedicated we are to protecting our home and creating a better future for generations to come.
You too can join in these efforts by engaging in activities such as building a solar oven, planting trees, constructing a rainwater collection system or exploring renewable energy sources.
Whatever you choose to do, know that your actions will make an impact – not only today but also long into the future! Let’s continue striving together towards making this world a healthier place for all of us.
