Happy earth day! To celebrate today, I have compiled ways we can be environmentally conscious and friendly in our everyday lives. While these are of course not the only ways to be environmentally friendly, they are relatively simple ways to a have a positive impact on our planet. By the way, these are not ordered for any reason, I just listed them to keep track of everything I wanted to mention.
Number 1, while I said I am not ordering these in any way, I did decide to start with something very obvious and that is, use reusable water bottles. Bonus points for using reusable straws too. I know, I know, this is a very obvious one, but nevertheless, it is important. One-use water bottles contribute to so much of the plastic waste and pollution in our oceans. There are about 20-30 billion pounds of plastic that find its way to oceans every year, a significant amount of which is one time use plastic like plastic water bottles according to Beyond Plastics.org.
Not to mention, drinking from them also means you are drinking micro-plastics which are not good for your health. A research done by researches from Columbia University and Rutgers University found that 240,000 detectable plastic fragments can be found in a typical liter of bottled water. Of course, this is easier said than done in places where tap water isn’t drinkable like it is here in New York City. But still, filtering your water and refilling a proper water bottle everyday is so much better for both your health and the health of our planet as opposed to using a plastic, one use water bottle very single day. Plus, get an insulated one for the summer so you can have cold water all the time instead of the lukewarm, micro-plastic water you would be drinking in a one use water bottle. Additional benefit is you can decorate it and make it cute like mine. I also feel like I’ve been drinking way more water since I’ve been using my water bottle, which I know some call their emotional support water bottle. So there’s just endless pros to using a reusable water bottle.
And bonus, to piggy back off of that, just avoid single use plastic like plastic bags. Opt for a tote, they are cuter anyways.
Number 2, another fairly obvious one, donate your clothes! Fast fashion is killing our planet and your wallet. Instead of throwing out perfectly usable clothes donate them to a thrift store or a shelter. And, while you’re at the thrift store, maybe look for clothes for yourself! If you don’t feel like going all the way to a thrift store, then hang them outside your house (if allowed) for people to pick them up. Often times, if your clothes are in good condition, someone or the other will pick it up. According to Earth.org, “Fast fashion is the second-biggest consumer of water and responsible for about 10% of global carbon emissions – more than all international flights and maritime shipping combined”. Do what you can, limit buying new clothes when you don’t need them especially from fast fashion brands and when you do purchase new clothes, donate your old ones instead of throwing them out. Our planet cannot sustain this major level waste, 10% of global carbon emissions is a lot. Your choice to donate old clothes or even items means something.
Number 3, use public transportation instead of a car. Oooooh controversial I know. I’m aware on how many car users diss on public transportation that its dirty and whatever. But cars emit so much fossil fuel and contribute so greatly to air pollution that collectively using public transportation has so many more pros than using a car does. And again, similar to the water story, I understand that it’s a privilege that only major cities actually have. The privilege being having a public transportation system that connects the city in a way that a car isn’t necessary, however, this is the reason we must push our governments to fund public transportation infrastructure and redesign our cities to be filled with many more public busses than cars and overgrowing flowers and grass rather than lawns of foreign grass, but hey thats a different number.
Number 4, try limiting your AI usage. Now, this is a big one. In a time where AI is everywhere and it’s everything, it’s really hard to avoid it, I know. Algorithmic AI is incorporated everywhere at this point from your search engines to social media. It is undeniable that it’s basically impossible now to completely avoid using AI. However, within your personal usage, there are definitely ways to limit AI usage, specifically generative AI because generative AI is posing a really big issue to the environment right now. An article from Harvard Business Review by Shaolei Ren and Adam Wierman does a deep dive on AI’s impact on the environment. A single AI model can consume thousands of megawatt hours of electricity and in turn, release hundreds of tons of carbon. Not only that but AI is requiring insane amounts of freshwater. At a time of great water scarcity, where in 2025 over 2 billion people don’t have access to clean drinking water according to the Human Necessity Foundation, AI, something completely unnecessary, is sucking fresh water dry. Drinkable water is not infinite, yet with the rise of AI too many are forgetting this fact. Does AI make some things more convenient, sure, but it’s not worth all of these environment impacts. You can say “oh I’m just one person, everyone else is using Chat GPT” I don’t care its just an excuse your making to be selfish and work only towards your convenience and not for the future of our planet. I could go on and on and on about why you should be anti-AI for so many other reasons but in honor of Earth day I just wanted to specifically talk about its effects on our planet and ecosystems. In another video soon we can do a deeper dive on AI though.
Number 5, and this is a big one. Call for systemic change and call out greenwashing. To look in the more political, critical lenses, no matter how much you and I reduce, reuse, and recycle, it’s true that there is only so much we can do. No matter what you and I do, a handful of billionaires will destroy the world regardless. And of course I’m no saying this to say that you shouldn’t do anything, the whole point of this video is to tell you things you should do for the environment, but to achieve a better planet and climate justice, we need to hold the right people accountable. Greta Thunberg was everyone favorite activist until she called out the capitalist system, wars, and genocide, for being responsible for the progressing destruction of our planet. She is the biggest inspiration for everyone, especially those who want to see our planet healthier. We already know we have reached the tipping point, but that should not be a sign that we are at an end all be all moment, because we are not yet. There is still hope and while it starts with our personal contributions in our everyday lives, it also means we need to apply pressure for legislative change, powerful change. Call you representatives, vote for candidates that will stand for the environment, attend protests and rallies to advocate for the planet. And while you do all of this, call out greenwashing because it’s really holding us back. Whether it’s companies trying to label their products as “eco friendly” just to convince you to buy it, even when it really isn’t. Using the climate crisis as a way to increase profits is so morally wrong and as consumers it’s our responsibility to call it out and pay attention to what brans we are purchasing from.
Number 6, try to lower your use of your AC this summer. This is a really difficult thing to do, I know. Especially with climate change making our summers unbearable. But its important, now more than ever, to acknowledge that air conditioning, while it may be cooling down your room, its contributing to heating up the planet for everyone. An article by Renée Cho for the Columbia Climate School explains how while air conditioning is absolutely necessary to prevent us from overheating and keeping food and medicine at an appropriate temperature, its also releasing massive amount of CO2. The article says, “In 2022, the IEA estimated that electricity for cooling produced 1 billion metric tons of CO2.” The article also mentions that air conditioning alone accounts for 7% of global greenhouse gas emissions. That may not seem like a major number, but it is. At the same time, it is essential to appreciate air conditioning and fight for people to have access to it everywhere, especially those in the global south who experience the hottest weather. But for those with the privilege to be able to turn on and off our ACs whenever we want, why don’t we try our bests to use it a little less.
Number 7, support conservatories. In times like these where you really need to look for hope, going to a conservatory and seeing some happy animals can sometimes be great place to find that hope. For earth day, we of course need to talk about our environment, but it is also necessary to talk about our animals which is why you should support conservatories who work towards taking care of and protecting endangered species through purchasing a ticket or attending an event they may be hosting. If you’re in New York City head over to the Bronx Zoo when you get the chance as they are a conservatory. And look at this adorable polar bear stuffie I bought from there
On a similar note, for Number 8, support local businesses. Huge companies and monopolies that you feel like you can’t escape like Coca-Cola and Nestle almost always are guilty of being some of the biggest threats to the environment. Which is why you should shop at local businesses when you can to avoid giving your money to the other evil companies. You could look at it like a boycott almost. Companies like Nestle though unfortunately are everywhere which makes it hard to be able to properly boycott, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t try. And as you do try, shop locally.
Number 9, and this is a really basic one I can’t believe I even have to say this but pick up trash when you see it and don’t litter obviously. Especially if you’re by the water like the beach, pick up those plastic bottles and through them out. Sure eventually they will probably end up in the ocean anyways but you can’t try to delay that process. Picking up trash could also help animals like birds avoid chocking. Our streets also just looks better clean so do us all a favor and pick up trash.
Finally, Number 10, volunteer. Whether it be a beach clean up or planting at your local park, volunteering locally can really make a difference. I know this is something I will be definitely trying to do this year.
And with that, you have 10 fairly simple ways to live a little greener. I hope you learned something new from this video or are inspired to do something after watching this video because thats really the purpose of this-to raise awareness and offer ways you can help the planet. It may not seem like it but every single choice you make has an impact somehow, it’s up to you to make sure that impact is good. Do what you can within your means and work towards a better world. Thank you so much for watching, and happy earth day.