Benjamin Cuker, Ph.D. is a Professor of Marine and Environmental Science at Hampton University, a Pew Fellow in Marine Conservation and the author of the soon to be published book by Springer Nature, “Diet for a Sustainable Ecosystem: The Science for Recovering the Health of the Chesapeake Bay and its People.”

Smithfield Foods CEO Kenneth Sullivan was dead wrong when he said, “For the security of our nation, I cannot understate how critical it is for our industry to continue to operate unabated.”

In truth, the tight packing of animals in concentrated feeding operations promotes the emergence of diseases that cause human epidemics. And the tight packing of people on the production lines in slaughterhouses promotes the spread of these infections. 

In other words, the meat industry is making us sick. To prevent the next pandemic, and to survive the current one, we must stop eating meat. 

The human experience with epidemic infectious diseases is a relatively recent phenomena, tracing to the beginning of animal husbandry about 10,000 years ago. While humans hunted for thousands of years before then, domestication of livestock meant much closer contact with animals and their diseases.  

And every known epidemic disease to plague humans originated in animals. These diseases that originate in animals are called zoonotic diseases, which span through history: The Rinderpest virus of cattle gave us measles; domesticated pigs gave us whooping cough; domesticated ducks produced influenza; and chickens hatched typhoid fever. 

These disease agents are microparasites, bacteria or viruses that reproduce in the animal host. The host releases the next generation of the diseases to infect a new individual. As is true of parasites in general, these infective agents co-evolved with their hosts so as to rarely kill them.  A parasite that kills its host population is soon without its next dinner. Such is the balance of nature. 

When a human encounters a virus it hasn’t coevolved with, however, the human has little defense against it. That’s why thousands of people are presently dying of a coronavirus, a disease that most likely originated in bats, jumped to another mammal and eventually to us.

The next big epidemic lurks around the corner, awaiting a novel zoonotic disease to jump from animal to human. Most recent epidemics originated from two sources: industrialized animal farming operations and deforestation.

The global poultry industry poses the biggest threat. Confining 30 thousand or more broiler chickens in a single building is a recipe for epidemic soup. 

And factory farms act as laboratories for antibiotic-resistant bacteria that infect and kill thousands each year. Factory farming of livestock consumes about 80% of the antibiotic used in the U.S. Mostly as a growth promoter, and secondarily for controlling bacterial diseases. Even if not lethal, such infections compromise health, making people more susceptible to other pathogens, such as COVID-19.

Eating the meat produced by these factory farms causes chronic diseases — obesity, type-2 diabetes, stroke, various cancers — that eventually kill outright, but also weaken a person’s ability to fight COVID-19 and other pathogens. Coronary artery disease is the number one cause of death in the U.S. and around the world. The disease is essentially absent in populations that don’t eat animal products.  

Meat and dairy production is also a leading cause of climate change, contributing over 14% to global greenhouse gas emissions. A warmer world creates an environment where viruses more easily spread, be it through migrating animals or warmer temperatures that keep disease-carrying vectors like mosquitoes alive longer.   

If everyone adopted plant-based diets, not only would greenhouse gas emissions plummet, but it would save millions of people from dying of heart disease and emerging infectious diseases each year.

Visit Earth Day Network’s Foodprints for the Future campaign to learn how you can make the change. 

The post To help prevent pandemics, stop eating meat appeared first on Earth Day.

Good morning, and welcome back to This Week on Earth. Each week, we highlight the latest environmental news and what it means for our planet. 

We’re in what feels like the 5,437th day of the pandemic. All 50 states in the United States have lifted restrictions in some way. Air pollution rebounds in China after the country reopened. And several intense natural disasters remind us of the destructive forces of Earth.  

Check out our week in review.

Super Cyclone Amphan hits India and Bangladesh 

Super Cyclone Amphan is the strongest storm to form in the Bay of Bengal since 1999. As of Thursday afternoon, 84 people have been killed across India and Bangladesh.

Aggressive evacuation efforts seemed to spare lives, but now officials worry about the risk of COVID-19 with families crammed in shelters across the countries. This highlights a new dilemma: climate disasters in the time of coronavirus. 

The cyclone comes the same week that a new study found that climate change makes hurricanes stronger. 

Spring flooding in full swing

The dam breach in Michigan was a tragic reminder of the intense flooding in the Midwest. Flood waters are expected to reach five feet higher than what Midland, Michigan, saw in 1986 — their last major flood. 

“In the 1986 flood, it was considered a 100-year flood,” Midland City Manager Brad Kaye told ABC News. “Current flood is predicted to be the equivalent of a 500-year flood.”

If it seems like these disasters are hitting the Midwest more often than ever before, it’s because they are. The flooding is also complicating social-distancing efforts, with over 10,000 residents displaced. Read more in the New York Times. 

The end of the “human climate niche”

David Wallace-Wells, in typical David Wallace-Wells fashion, again reminds us of our “Uninhabitable Earth,” the title of his landmark essay and best-selling book. This week, he wrote about the end of the “human climate niche.” 

The term comes from a study published last month that highlighted the surprisingly narrow range of temperatures that make human flourishing possible. Climate change is narrowing the gap, shrinking how much of the planet can support prosperous, comfortable life.

“We have been shown repeatedly, and yet do not learn, that we live within nature, subject to its laws and limits and brutality, and that many of the fortresslike features of modern life that we once assumed were unshakable and unmovable turn out to be very fragile and vulnerable indeed,” writes Wallace-Wells in New York Magazine. 

Add cancer to the long list of climate change effects

Outdoor air pollution is already a proven cause of cancer, and air quality worsens with a warming climate. But scientists at the American Cancer Society and Harvard University are now adding cancer to the long list of climate change effects. 

Hotter temperatures fuel more frequent natural disasters, like wildfires and hurricanes. These storms release large amounts of carcinogens into the air and can delay access to cancer treatments, which lowers cancer survival rates. Read more at CNBC.

Still freaking out about climate change? So is most of the U.S.

Isolation, unemployment, death. Amid everything the pandemic has brought, people still have climate change on the mind. That’s according to a new report from Yale and George Mason universities, which found that two-thirds of Americans are still worried about climate change.

“The latest figures add to a trend of increasing belief in global warming since 2015, which some have attributed to changing demographics and impossible-to-ignore consequences of climate change in everyday life — like record temperatures and record-shattering heat waves around the world,” writes Grist. 

Bag bans on hold

States were finally banning single-use plastics. The pandemic changed that. Amid fears of the virus sticking to reusable bags and cups, states are shifting policies. New York postponed its plastic bag ban set to take effect on May 15. Maine, New Hampshire, Oregon and Massachusetts “temporarily transitioned” back to single-use plastics as well.   

“I think [preventative actions are] the appropriate thing to do,” George Leonard, chief scientist at Ocean Conservancy, told Vox. “But we’re also really worried about whether this pushes us back 10 years in terms of the real progress that has been made to reduce plastic consumption and use.”

Read the full story in Vox. 

3 billion more trees before 2030

Over the next decade, the European Union pledges to plant three billion trees as part of a larger commitment to protect nature on the continent. More than half of Europe’s forests have disappeared in the past 6,000 years. 

“This is the first truly serious biodiversity strategy at a large scale that we’ve seen,” Brian O’Donnell, director of the nonprofit Campaign for Nature, said in an interview with Fast Company. “There’s a huge opportunity to do reforestation and to bring back some of the original function of the ecosystems there.”

Restoring forests and protecting biodiversity have never been more important — read our recent post on the benefit of urban trees. Visit our reforestation campaign, The Canopy Project, to donate — every dollar plants a tree. 

Recreate responsibly

If you’re like us, you love a good National Park. While the pandemic has closed some parks, some remain open. But if you go to a National Park, or any park for that matter, remember to “recreate responsibly.” 

To remind us of safe social distancing, the National Park Service rolled out some new posters: They’re retro, colorful and, best yet, informative. Stay safe, explore a virtual park and keep six feet — or the width of a moose’s antler — apart. Check out all the posters online. 

The post This Week on Earth: Climate disasters in the time of coronavirus appeared first on Earth Day.

Amid a global pandemic, it may seem logical to push issues of conservation and biodiversity aside. 

But the coronavirus is directly linked to environmental degradation.

Humans are pushing further and further into new habitats, increasing human-wildlife contact. These interactions have serious consequences: When we interact more directly with wildlife, we also interact more closely with the diseases they carry.

Diseases that jump from animals to humans are known as zoonoses, and they’re increasing in frequency. In the early 2000s, SARS spread from bats and civet cats; a century ago, the Spanish influenza affected birds and other mammals before it transferred to humans; in the last year, COVID-19 spread from a wildlife market. 

And as we continue to infringe on forest habitats, diversity of species declines. Studies show that species richness and evenness have a “dilution effect” on disease within a host community, making it less likely to get passed to humans. 

We’re at a critical point in environmental history. More than a million species are at risk of extinction because of our actions. If we want to survive, humans must change our relationship with the natural world.

Infringing on wild environments has not helped anyone thus far. Instead, we must work to protect these environments and set limits for ourselves — if not for the sake of stewardship then for preservation of the beneficial species that live among us.

Species from coral reefs to rainforests make up roughly 40–50 percent of our pharmaceuticals. Experts have tried to put a dollar value on ecosystem services, but no amount of money could truly buy what they do for us. For example, one great whale provides us $2 million worth of services over their lifetime and helps fight climate change.

Conservationists argue that at least 50 percent of the Earth must be protected by 2030 to save our future. In 2016, we were only protecting 14.7 percent, with key ecosystems left out.

May 22 marks the International Day for Biological Diversity, a United Nations-sanctioned day dedicated to promoting issues related to biodiversity. We’ve seen where our business as usual has gotten us and it’s time to change. 

Hold your leaders accountable for protecting land this November: Vote Earth. And keep up to date with Earth Day Network’s Conservation and Biodiversity campaign. 

The post As we encroach on habitats, biodiversity declines appeared first on Earth Day.

If you’ve been to the post office this month, you may have noticed a new stamp. In honor of the 50th anniversary of Earth Day, the United States Postal Service unveiled the Earth Day Forever stamp. 

The Earth Day Forever stamp features USPS art director Antonio Alcalá’s painting of the Earth with small green lines surrounding it, rendered in gouache (a type of watercolor using opaque paint) on watercolor paper. 

“Earth Day Forever,” the words written on the new stamp, is a reflection of Earth Day Network’s motto: Earth Day is not a day — it’s a movement. 

“Today, [Earth Day] remains an important way for Americans and people around the world to recognize the importance of the planet,” reads USPS’s Earth Day stamp landing page.

Fifty years ago, more than 20 million people took to the streets and called on our leaders to demand change. That event, which became the nation’s first Earth Day, launched the modern environmental movement. Today, Earth Day is an international movement, serving as the catalyst for environmental protection in every country around the world.  

The new Earth Day stamp spreads the message of environmental protection no matter how you use it — maybe you want to write more letters as an “isolution” during the pandemic, or you still need to mail your tax paperwork (or that birthday card from last month).

As a Forever stamp, the Earth Day stamp’s price will stay consistent even if postal rates go up. Support the U.S. Postal Service and our essential U.S. postal workers by ordering the Earth Day stamp. Or buy them at your local post office. 

Support our work, too, as we strive to protect our planet and ensure Earth Day is forever.

The post US Postal Service unveils Earth Day Forever stamps appeared first on Earth Day.

During these trying times, grocery stores may be low or out of some of your mealtime staples — meat and dairy included. 

The COVID-19 pandemic exposes many of the challenges within the agriculture industry, as working conditions in meat processing plants place employees and the supply chain at risk. A Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report from late April cited nearly 5,000 cases in facilities across the country, driving both beef and pork production down 35% from this time last year. 

For those who are home with their kids, it may feel difficult to come up with creative, tasty meals that appeal to the little ones — especially when some of their go-to favorites are in short supply. With unpredictable meat and dairy supplies, now is a great time to get creative with plant-based meals. 

We came up with some easy plant-based swaps and kid-friendly ideas to help you get started. 

Breakfast

Pancakes

A smiley face pancake can start anyone’s day off on the right foot. Swap a few ingredients, and make your pancakes plant-based — while still keeping them fluffy! 

Use whole grain flour to boost fiber and nutrients or a gluten-free flour option to accommodate for allergies. Complete your plant-based pancake masterpiece with a chocolate chip, banana or blueberry smile.

Bacon

One of the most common struggles of plant-based hopefuls is giving up bacon. But I am happy to tell you that you can still complete your breakfast spread with a crisp, salty strip… of mushroom! 

Hear me out. With the right spices and flavors, you can transform a variety of mushrooms into a bacon alternative that will work perfectly as strips, bits and in wraps — oh my! 

Muffins

Plant-based muffins and breads are another easy, quick breakfast that you can pack full of healthy nuts and berries, or make sweet with vegan chocolate chips. 

Easily switch to a dairy-free milk alternative and use canola or coconut oil instead of butter. I personally love a warm banana-nut muffin with a spread of peanut butter to start off my day. 

Lunch

Mac and cheese

Mac and cheese is a quintessential kid’s meal with so many opportunities for creativity. 

You can use whichever pasta is best for your kiddo (bows or shells, whole grain or gluten free) and top it off with broccoli or the aforementioned mushroom “bacon” bites. Wow the dinner table with this dairy-free mac and cheese recipe!

Cauliflower Bites

Whether it’s a quarantine lunch on day…(what day is it??), or your first potluck back together with family, BBQ or buffalo cauliflower bites are sure to impress hungry mouths of all ages. These healthy alternatives to wings are great for a quick lunchtime finger food and easily pair with your favorite veggies and dip.

Grilled Cheese

If there were ever a time for comfort food, quarantine is it. Try a nice, melty, dairy-free grilled cheese with your favorite soup. This recipe is interesting because the dairy-free cheese is actually made of potatoes, carrots and onion — great for slipping some hidden veggies passed picky eaters. 

Snack

PB&J bites

If you thought a PB&J couldn’t get more “to-go”, think again! These peanut butter and jelly balls are the perfect afternoon snack. You can switch to a nut-free butter, pick your favorite fruit spread and add in whatever extra mixings your tastebuds desire. Recipes are more “guidelines” anyway, so get creative!

Ants on a log

Invite your little anteaters… er… I mean children… for an afternoon snack of ants on a log. With tons of different veggie and dip options, this is a great snack for even the pickiest of eaters. 

Crispy kale chips

There is no disguising this leafy, green, fiber and nutrient packed snack, but if you season these crispy kale chips like your favorite chips, you and your snack pack will only have to worry about who is going to get the last bite!

Dinner

Sloppy joes

Dinner tastes better when it’s messy. 

Sloppy joes are a fun and easy meal for any busy family, and this plant-based sloppy joe recipe is packed full of protein. You can DIY the flavors from the recipe, or just buy the spice mix at your local store. Maybe pick up some extra napkins while you’re there…

Pizza

Making plant-based pizza at home is a choose-your-own-adventure experience. 

Whether you make your own dough and cheese or buy premade, the process of dressing and topping your pizza with the family is almost as fun as eating it. Swap out flour dough with a cauliflower crust for an extra serving of veggies.

Spaghetti and “meat” balls

Whether you’re making a quick dinner for hungry preteens or preparing a romantic candlelit meal, spaghetti and meatballs is a fan favorite. Chickpea plant-based meatballs are super easy to make and packed with flavor. For extra veggies, switch your pasta of choice to zucchini noodles or spaghetti squash. 

Dessert

Cookies

Need to find your happy place? The smell of warm chocolate chip cookies might be a good start. The switch to plant-based is almost unnoticeable in this super easy dairy-free chocolate chip cookie recipe. 

Pudding

This dairy-free pudding recipe is the perfect base for creative concoctions. Get creative with toppings like cookie crumbles and gummy worms (to stay plant-based, look for gummy brands without gelatin).

Apple nachos

A dessert that doubles as a hearty helping of fruit? Yes, please! End your evening with a plate of sweet apple nachos topped with caramel, coconut and chocolate chips. Try sticking it in the oven for a warm, gooey version.

Stick to plant-based, even after everyone is full

According to recent research from Earth Day Network and Yale, over 90% of Americans are willing to eat more fruits and vegetables, and more than half indicated that they would willingly eat more plant-based meat alternatives. Why not try some plant-based recipes with your family?

For more plant-based recipe inspiration, check out our Earth Day Climate Friendly Recipes. Follow our Foodprints for the Future campaign to learn more about the environmental and health benefits of eating a plant-based diet.

The post Plant-based swaps for kid-friendly meals appeared first on Earth Day.

The coronavirus brings the best, as well as the worst, out of people. 

As millions of healthcare workers and volunteers sacrifice their personal wellbeing for those affected by coronavirus, messages of hope and unity surface in every sector of society. Unfortunately, so too do messages of hate and ignorance. 

This “tsunami of hate and xenophobia,” as António Guterres, United Nations’ secretary-general, called it last week, has erupted in racial slurs and attacks, both online and in person. In addition to deeply held societal stereotypes, many of these comments are rooted in ignorance and misinformation.

Some social media platforms have adjusted how they deal with these comments. Just this week, Twitter announced it is marking COVID-19 misinformation as fake news. Other platforms like YouTube have been pulling misinformation videos from their site. 

These are steps in the right direction, but we must continue to address these negative comments everyday by reframing the conversation about coronavirus through our actions and words. 

“I ask everyone, everywhere, to stand up against hate, treat each other with dignity and take every opportunity to spread kindness,” Guterres said.

No greater example of this exists than in the healthcare industry, culminating in the actions and attitudes of nurses. For the first time ever, International Nurses Day falls in the middle of a pandemic, reminding us of the power of empathy against a destructive and deadly virus. 

If you’ve ever had a medical procedure, you know firsthand the power of this empathy. Research even shows that caring for others can reduce stress, increase happiness and increase our sense of social connectedness — all increasingly important during times of isolation.  

Nurses and healthcare professionals are models of empathy in uncertain times. They’re also stewards for human health. And how they combat the coronavirus pandemic can be a model for how we deal with another global crisis: climate change. 

In the dire and dark times of coronavirus, we can still remind ourselves and others of the gifts of nature — what we’ve lost, what we stand to lose, what we still can fight for — as well as the struggles people all over the world face. 

“I have seen stars in the sky for the first time in 40 years,” says Karuna Singh, Earth Day Network’s director of Southeast Asia, who lives in India. As the coronavirus pandemic has caused air pollution, including India’s dense smog, to plummet, Singh can also see bright sunsets for the first time since her childhood.

Climate change, like coronavirus, is changing our world and affecting people differently. And to tackle both crises, we must stay resilient and project empathy. As we strive to restore our Earth amid the coronavirus pandemic, let nurses and healthcare professionals remind us of this responsibility. 

The post Practicing empathy in the coronavirus and climate crises appeared first on Earth Day.

The 50th anniversary of Earth Day came in the middle of a pandemic, completely restructuring what a traditional demonstration may look like. But these changes also allowed an opportunity for reflection: Digital Earth Day let people hit the reset button and discuss a different Earth, one we haven’t seen in decades. 

With everyone at home, the Earth seems to be reverting to its natural self. Sea turtles are hatching and surviving at record rates. Oceans are the quietest they’ve been in decades, allowing whales and other marine wildlife to safely migrate and communicate. And, air pollution has plummeted in major cities.

“It’s a time of reflection,” said Sylvia Earle, renowned oceanographer and conservation activist, during an Instagram livestream on Wednesday. “Never before has the world come together in such a comprehensive way. We have a common enemy. We’ve had the wake up call to take care of nature and protect the underpinnings of what keeps us alive.”

Earle spoke with National Geographic photographer of ocean wildlife, Paul Nicklen, on the 50th anniversary of Earth Day. The extended online conversation aired on Earth Day Live and was framed around the future of the oceans, as well as the hope that still exists amid a warming world.

For Earle, who has spent more than 7,500 hours ocean diving on conservation and research expeditions, the oceans keep us alive. Oceans are huge carbon sinks, and they regulate weather and climate, making life on land possible. 

But the ocean is in danger, taking the heat for unchecked climate change. Just this month, the Great Barrier Reef saw one of its worst coral bleaching events in history.

“We’re not addressing the overall problem: The planet is sick,” said Nicklen, who is also a co-founder of conservation organization SeaLegacy. “In one year we had the biggest fires in history in Australia, in the Amazon and the biggest hurricane ever. And now with the pandemic, it’s all stacking up. It’s our global health system. The problem is us.”

Infectious diseases have been on the rise since the 1950s, and a warmer climate only makes them harder to eradicate. When we clear forests  — which also act as carbon sinks  — and burn fossil fuels, CO2 flows into the air and into the oceans, accelerating acidification.

“No ocean, no life. No blue, no green,” said Earle.

Earle isn’t the only one driving the urgency of climate change and environmental degradation. Ashok Sridharan, the president of Local Governments for Sustainability, declared 2020 a turning point for sustainability and climate action. Sridharen promised new frameworks on biodiversity and innovations in urban development so that humans and our environments can better coexist.

Near the end of the livestream, Nicklen asked Earle what the 100th anniversary of Earth Day might look like.

“We’ve begun to develop this network of hope,” said Earle. “We will still see consequences on the land and in the sea, but we are beginning to respect nature and treat all life with dignity. Fifty years from now, the children of today will be thinking about their grandkids, and they will look back at us and say, ‘thank you,’ for doing what we could.”

In the last several months, we’ve seen how much the Earth can change without our negative influence. That should give us hope. But only if we act on this knowledge. Join Earth Day, the largest environmental movement in the world, and share your hope for the planet’s future. And come election day, vote for the Earth.

The post Sylvia Earle and Paul Nicklen: We need immediate action to preserve our oceans appeared first on Earth Day.

Life has slowed to a crawl. 

In the United States alone, 22 million people have filed for unemployment since the second week of March. Meanwhile, the global GDP is expected to fall more than 3 percent. And as of Saturday afternoon, 159,620 people have died globally from the coronavirus. 

With all that’s at stake, we must do what we can to avoid these viruses in the future. But right now, we’re headed in the wrong direction: Pandemics are likely to be more frequent in the coming decades.

Infectious diseases have been rising since the 1950s, with an increasing number of them coming from animals — a strain of diseases called zoonoses. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that three out of every four new infectious diseases in people come from animals. 

We’ve seen examples of rampant zoonotic diseases in our lifetimes, like Ebola, SARS, H1N1 and yes, COVID-19. 

Part of this increase is from climate change. Climate change increases the likelihood of both zoonoses and vector-borne diseases because as the Earth warms and seasons shift, some species move from their habitats while others breed earlier in the year. 

But the other part of this is habitat destruction. As humans encroach and destroy habitats, like the Amazon Rainforest — where more than 20 percent of the rainforest has been cleared for farms, logging and more living space — they come in close contact with wildlife and all the diseases they carry. 

Research suggests that between 2003 and 2015, for every 10 percent of forest the Amazon lost, it gained 3 percent more malaria cases. 

And on top of making pandemics more likely, deforestation also contributes about 10 percent of emissions worldwide, making it a primary contributor to climate change. Rainforests, in particular, are huge carbon sinks, helping to slow climate change by removing carbon from the atmosphere and storing it in trees. Models typically predict this benefit will last decades more, but we’re quickly outpacing their intake. 

When we burn trees, all that carbon is released and heads back into the atmosphere, worsening air quality. Smoke from the clearing of forests for palm oil plantations in Indonesia, for example, began killing animals and humans in neighboring towns. And, research strongly suggests that any amount of air pollution increases the likelihood of dying from the coronavirus. 

New diseases are likely to emerge as medicines become less effective, but they won’t come nearly as frequently as with unchecked climate change. If we take climate action and stop or slow deforestation, all species will be safer and healthier. 

Stop deforestation by supporting companies that take an active role against it. And, this Earth Day, consider donating to The Canopy Project, where every dollar plants a tree.

The post Planting a forest could help prevent the next pandemic appeared first on Earth Day.

This spring, as we stay home and social distance to flatten the curve of the coronavirus, life looks a lot different than it did a year ago. Gyms and restaurants are closed, public transportation is running shorter hours and less often and most businesses are working from home.

One silver lining of all these restrictions is that carbon emissions from fossil fuels could fall by 2.5 billion metric tons this year — the largest drop on record. Energy use has also declined, and since December, the U.S. is down 5 percent, with an increase in the use of wind and solar. 

Earth Overshoot Day, or the day at which we use up more resources than the planet can regenerate in one year, has been creeping earlier and earlier since 1970. Last year, we used 1.75 Earths worth of resources. 

But this year, we can assume our overshoot day will move later in the fall, due to all of the grounded planes and reduced commutes. In major cities, we’ve already seen the lowest levels of air and water pollution in decades. 

And as we adapt to these unprecedented restrictions in our own lives, the makeup of our carbon footprints is changing too. 

I know my carbon footprint has changed a lot since our stay-at-home order began. Instead of using my car five or six times a week to go to work and grocery shop, my roommates and I coordinate our outings — we visit the grocery store once every week together, reducing our weekly trips from three to one. 

We also canceled a 1,000-mile round trip drive to South Carolina and threw out our Caribbean vacation to celebrate the completion of my master’s degree. Transportation makes up 27% of U.S. carbon emissions, so these decisions make a huge difference in my personal carbon footprint. 

And, other than a few online shopping sprees for quarantine “necessities,” we’re just consuming a lot less. 

One big way to ensure we continue shrinking our carbon footprints is to make note of our new, more eco-friendly habits. For example, when the pandemic ends, my roommates and I can keep coordinating grocery trips to reduce gas usage. We can plan more stay-cations and game nights instead of weekend trips away. 

And even while we’re waiting for the virus to run its course, there’s a lot we can do to cut our own carbon footprint. We can open the windows to get some fresh air instead of running the air conditioner. We can read more instead of streaming Hulu all Saturday. With more spare time to cook, I can get more fresh produce without plastic packaging and learn some new plant-based recipes. I’m sure my household energy use has gone up, so I can contact my utility provider to switch to green power. 

The first step to reducing our carbon footprint is to understand it. So, in preparation for the 50th Anniversary of Earth Day, join us for the next week of our Daily Earth Day Challenges leading up to April 22. Calculate your personal carbon footprint and make changes to reduce it — it’s something we can all do to help the planet.

The post Coronavirus shrinks carbon footprints, but can we keep it up? appeared first on Earth Day.

The COVID-19 outbreak has drastically altered daily life. For millions of students and parents, that means homeschooling. 

Social distancing is a necessary and effective measure to keep us safe, but it also commands widespread school closures, which can make for a challenging transition for many children. Home from school, many children are feeling anxious about the future, unsure of how to help. 

For many climate-minded young people, the feeling is familiar. They’re already concerned about the Earth’s future in the face of climate change — now the pandemic is compounding these emotions. 

Fortunately, many inspirational kids are also leading the fight for a greener planet and safer future. Young people around the world have the power to make a difference, even from their homes. 

Below are some at-home activities that students can do to beat boredom, stay positive and create a climate-friendly future:

1. Attend or host a virtual teach-in

Since the first Earth Day in 1970, teach-ins — or educational lectures and discussions on important public interest topics — have been a valuable tool for environmentalists to inspire community action. This year, as Earth Day goes digital, teach-ins can still prompt meaningful community responses to ongoing environmental challenges. 

Encourage your student or child to attend one of these virtual teach-ins or follow Earth Day Network’s guide to create their own. They can livestream a nature walk or backyard exploration. They can also ask viewers to find what species live in their backyard and explore how they can protect local habitats.

2. Download the Earth Challenge app 

Download Earth Day Network’s new Earth Challenge app to gather air quality and pollution data in your community. The app empowers citizen scientists to monitor their local environment and offers tools and tips for environmental protection.

3. Try some delicious plant-based cuisine

There’s no better way to spend time at home than trying new recipes. Fortunately, your family can both eat delicious food and reduce their carbon footprint by adopting a more plant-based diet. Help your child research plant-based recipes or recreate family favorites with plant-based ingredients. 

If they’re craving something sweet, try these easy swaps to indulge in their favorite desserts. Your child can even livestream a plant-based cooking lesson for family and friends or create a cookbook of their new favorite recipes.

In addition to mastering new recipes, students can learn food preservation techniques, such as canning, pickling, drying and freezing to enjoy fruits and vegetables year round and minimize food waste.

4. Make a plan to cut down on plastic pollution

Ask your child to help audit your plastic use at home by counting how many plastic containers, wraps, bottles and bags you purchase for your kitchen and bathroom. Encourage them to research products that have more sustainable packaging for your next grocery trip or online order. And when you order to-go meals from restaurants, make a note asking for no plastic utensils and limited plastic packaging.

5. Learn new ways to protect our species

If your child is interested in protecting biodiversity, learning about different species is the best way to start. Watch an environmental documentary or animal show and learn how individuals can help protect endangered species. Many zoos and aquariums are offering free teach-ins and livestreams, so tune in to learn about different species and their habitats.

Customize your species education by researching what pollinators need are native to your area and what plants they rely on. Learn how to make a thriving habitat for pollinators and help your child design a pollinator garden for your yard or community.

6. Create eco-art

Creating art is an excellent way to spend time indoors and still connect to the Earth (not to mention, reduce stress). Repurpose materials from around the house, and encourage your child to create something new, like jewelry, bags or plant holders. They can even transform trash into treasure by creating a sculpture out of recyclables. Gather some inspiration from Earth Day Network’s Artists for the Earth gallery.

Creating art is also a great way to get outdoors while practicing social distancing. Supervise your child as they gather items like leaves and pinecones from your backyard and create an innovative art project. 

While you’re outdoors, encourage your child to pay attention to nature and wildlife. Students can write short stories or poems about what a bird sees as it flies or what a squirrel thinks about as it climbs trees.

7. Join EARTHRISE and make an Earth Day Poster

Amid the pandemic, the 50th Anniversary of Earth Day is still as important as ever. Join the digital EARTHRISE movement and show your support for climate action today and into the future. 

One way to show your support is with an Earth Day poster: Provide your child with supplies to design an Earth Day poster, and put it in your home’s window for neighbors to see. Make sure to tweet your poster to @EarthDayNetwork.

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