On Earth Day, invest your care and energy in the planet to make it healthier, greener and happier

Give back to the planet with these simple, easy-to-follow steps

Earth Day is celebrated annually on April 22 to highlight the importance of protecting the environment. The official theme for 2022 is “Investing in Our Planet” and while the idea may seem daunting, giving back to the earth is easy. Mahatma Gandhi once said, “The Earth provides enough to satisfy every man’s need, but not everyone’s greed. We could begin by acknowledging that the land and its riches are a gift to us and not privileges we have earned. When we exploit its resources for our greed, we forget that it is the only home we have. Here are some simple ideas for becoming a responsible citizen of the earth and being more eco-conscious.

On Earth Day, invest your care and energy in the planet to make it healthier, greener and happier

To plant a tree:

Reforestation is the greatest gift we can give to parched cities, degraded wildlife habitats and plundered forests. Signing up for planting campaigns, planting trees as often as possible, and even gifting and dedicating trees to loved ones can lead to a greener planet, one sapling at a time. Check out Grow-Trees.com, for ideas on how you can be part of programs that bring riverbanks, forests, urban areas, ecologically sensitive regions, mountains and greenbelts back to life. With a simple click, you can be part of these afforestation campaigns, help increase green cover, nurture wildlife habitats and help local communities. With the help of companies and individuals, Grow-Trees.com has planted millions of trees across India and you too could be part of this ecological revival. So go on, donate to a cause or gift a tree to a loved one. Grow-Trees.com will send your wishes to the person you are celebrating via an eTreeCertificate and you can even give trees to multiple people at the same time.

Conserves water:

Water is the most crucial resource for any living organism and yet, as the WHO says, more than 2 billion people live in water-stressed countries and these figures are expected to be exacerbated in some regions due to the climate change in the near future. Target 6.1 of the Sustainable Development Goal “calls for universal and equitable access to safe and affordable drinking water” and the least we can do is not waste it. Take shorter showers, try to catch rainwater, check your kitchen and toilet for leaks, turn off the water while you brush your teeth or shave, use your washing machine only for full loads and water your plants during the cooler times of the day and remember every drop. that you save account. Simple things like using buckets to collect rainwater, rinsing fruits and vegetables in pots of water, flushing the toilet with the water you have saved will make a big difference.

Adopt green energy:

India is the third largest consumer of electricity in the world and our reliance on conventional or non-renewable energy sources such as coal, oil and natural gas is considerable. The growing demand for energy has altered nature and generated a shortage of environmental assets. It goes without saying that the benefits of renewable energy far outweigh those of fossil fuels. Fossil fuels will eventually run out and the world’s reliance on them has led to irreversible damage to the environment from pollutants and catastrophic accidents like oil spills etc. emissions. We could ask policy makers to reduce the use of fossil fuels at the national level, but also to limit the irresponsible use of energy. As citizens, let’s start small by conserving electricity at home, using CFL bulbs whenever possible, using task lighting, turning off fans when not needed, and unplugging unused electronic devices, etc.

Switch to a sustainable lifestyle

Earth Day is a great opportunity to choose environmentally friendly behaviors. This is the ideal time to take stock of the state of the biophysical environment, the impact of human actions on it, both individually and collectively, and to change lifestyles. We can become more responsible as citizens of this planet, by consuming less, recycling and upcycling items, reducing waste, switching to organic and local products, eco-friendly cleaning products and avoiding fast fashion. The results of these choices may not be apparent right away, but they have permanent long-term implications. Let’s make a small change today for a big positive impact in the future.

Say “No” to plastics:

Plastic is the ubiquitous and indestructible enemy invading our oceans, landfills, mountains and rivers. According to an in.undp.org report, India generates 15 million tons of plastic waste every year, but only a quarter of this waste is recycled due to the lack of a functioning solid waste management system. This, according to the report, “results in a burden on landfills and poor socio-economic conditions for waste pickers, mainly women”. Plastic waste that ends up in landfills and the seas, releases toxins into the ecosystem and it’s time we said a firm ‘no’ to single-use plastics like disposable coffee cups, plastic cutlery, straws and water bottles. Simply carrying your own grocery bag, water bottle, cutlery and replacing plastic storage options with glass or steel containers will make a huge difference in the amount of plastic waste generated each day. .

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