Ways to Celebrate Earth Day 2021 in Jersey City
The first Earth Day was held 51 years ago on April 22, 1970, now every April we celebrate environmental achievements and raise awareness for the need to protect our planet for future generations. There is no denying that future generations will experience the long-term effects of global climate change. Our generation is already seeing them first-hand. In 2020 alone, the US saw devastating wildfires in California, extreme weather in Texas, and 2020 tied 2016 as the warmest year on record. We can no longer ignore climate change or think of it as something that will not affect us personally. The future is now! We all must celebrate Earth Day every day, demand change, and do our part to protect this beautiful place we call home.
Take Action!
Here are some actions Jersey City residents and businesses can take today to support our community and the planet:
Sign Up for Community Solar
Go solar without installing solar panels on your own roof! JC residents and businesses can support clean local renewable energy and see 10%-15% savings on their utility bills. Sign up through Greener JC’s partnerships with Solar Landscape and PowerMarket! Learn more.
Join Project Budburst
Study and track the effects of global climate change in Jersey City by observing plants and pollinators through Project Budburst.
Support Pollinators
Plant native flowers such as Milkweed and Black-Eyed Susans to support pollinators like bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds. Pollinators are vital to maintaining healthy ecosystems, even in urban areas. Stay tuned for an upcoming pollinator event!
Sign a Letter of Support for the Essex-Hudson Greenway
Show your support for the Essex-Hudson Greenway, a project to create nearly nine miles of linear park in Northern New Jersey! Sign the letter of support here.
Support Greener JC
Volunteer with Greener JC or donate to support our summer internship program! Read all about the 2020 internship program here.
Go Plastic Free
Most of us are pros about using reusable bags and water bottles. Try taking it to the next level and make other swaps – metal straws, silicon ziplocks, refillable deodorant, mouthwash tablets, and shampoo bars! Check out https://zerowastestore.com/ and “10 Easy Household Swaps to Live Low-Waste” here on the blog.
Compost
Jersey City has multiple compost drop-off locations around the city. Get started today!
Become or Support a Certified Green Business
Jersey City’s Green Business Certification Program recognizes businesses that incorporate sustainable practices. Shop green or apply to be certified as a JC Certified Green Business.
Buy Second Hand
Skip Amazon and thrift your next purchase. JC has a lot of great local shops or try online sites like Depop, ThredUp, or Facebook Marketplace.
View this post on Instagram
No act is too small. Try something new for one week, make an easy swap to start, or team up with a buddy for your sustainable journey! As Anne-Marie Bonneau, @ZeroWasteChef, said “We don’t need a handful of people doing zero waste perfectly. We need millions of people doing it imperfectly.” The same holds true for other aspects of environmentalism, more people doing meatless Mondays rather than one perfect vegan can have an impact! Let us celebrate Earth Day every day and hold industry, government, and ourselves accountable. Get involved, sign petitions, vote, be a conscious consumer, and make personal changes to support a more sustainable future!
Great, timely information! Thank you for posting! I will be using a few of those suggestions to support the Earth.