Wendy Oellers-Fulmer: What steps can we take to make a difference for the environment?

To The Daily Sun,

Earth Day, celebrated around the world on April 22, is hopefully a powerful reminder that our home place, Earth, is facing unprecedented weather events and rising temperatures caused by climate change. Climate change, habitat loss and pollution have also led to the extinction of species, damages to both biodiversity and ecosystems, and increased health risks for humans and wildlife. Bird species populations have been decimated due to loss of habitat and pollution. The disturbing aspects of what's happening to our world can cause anxiety, a sense of hopelessness, and sadly, blatant denials that there is even a problem.

But the good news is that each one of us can do our part to help preserve our planet.

Steps we can take:

• We can reduce our consumption, reuse and/or recycle
• We can buy less plastic and bring shopping bags from home
• We can monitor our consumption of water and not waste it
• We can use non-toxic products in our homes and workplaces
• We can volunteer in our communities for clean-up
• We can use energy efficient light bulbs to reduce greenhouse gas emissions
• We can choose sustainable products to minimize environmental pollution during extraction, processing, and disposal
• We can shop locally
• We can choose not to litter
• We can educate ourselves on the importance and value of our natural resources

The philosopher Lao Tzu has been attributed with the quote: “The journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step."

It can be a small step like turning off the lights when we leave a room, or a big one like buying only organically grown or made products. In either case, it’s still a step forward.

What steps can readers take today? Because ultimately, each one of us can make a difference.

Wendy Oellers-Fulmer

Gilford