Make a Difference on Earth Day – Find a Way to Get Involved

As you probably already know, Earth Day is just a little over a week away, and it presents a prime opportunity for everyone to get involved in improving the health of our planet.

The first Earth Day on April 22, 1970, activated 20 million Americans from all walks of life and is widely credited with launching the modern environmental movement. The passage of the landmark Clean Air Act, Clean Water Act, Endangered Species Act and many other groundbreaking environmental laws soon followed. Twenty years later, Earth Day went global, mobilizing 200 million people in 141 countries and lifting environmental issues onto the world stage. More than 1 billion people now participate in Earth Day activities each year, making it the largest civic observance in the world.

According to Earthday.org, the focus of Earth Day 2016 is Trees for the Earth.

Over the next five years, as Earth Day moves closer to its 50th anniversary,  you can help to achieve one of the most ambitious goals yet — planting 7.8 billion trees.

Trees will be the first of five major goals undertaken by the Earth Day Network in honor of the five-year countdown to the 50th anniversary. On their own and together, these initiatives will make a significant and measurable impact on the Earth and will serve as the foundation of a cleaner, healthier and more sustainable planet for all.

Why Trees?

Trees help combat climate change. They absorb excess and harmful CO2 from our atmosphere. In fact, in a single year, an acre of mature trees absorbs the same amount of CO2 produced by driving the average car 26,000 miles.

Trees help us breathe clean air. Trees absorb odors and pollutant gases (nitrogen oxides, ammonia, sulfur dioxide and ozone) and filter particulates out of the air by trapping them on their leaves and bark.

Trees help communities achieve long-term economic and environmental sustainability and provide food, energy and income.

Plant a tree. Make a donation. Activate your friends and social networks. Get involved and do something.

Here is how you can search for Earth Day related events in your area and find out how you can make a difference!