By Jessica Sofizade
April 22nd marks the 50th anniversary of Earth Day, a time where we consider the effects of our actions on the planet. The mission of Earth Day is to build the world’s largest environmental movement to drive transformative change for people and planet.
Who?
Everyone. All of our actions have implications for this planet, even if you are unaware of them. The choices we make on a daily basis, from the food we eat to the clothes we wear, can contribute to the current climate crisis. But they can also become part of the solution.
Where?
This problem affects us all. From severe flooding in the UK, to devastating forest fires in Australia, to the threat of species extinction; the impact of climate change will be global and disastrous. Many thousands (if not millions) of people will become climate migrants or climate refugees, forced to leave their homes.
When?
Action needs to be taken now in order to avoid these terrible consequences. Many countries have committed publicly to combating climate change by signing The Paris Agreement. Nonetheless, as individuals we also need to start taking responsibility for our actions now.
Why?
We all need to take collective responsibility to protect this beautiful planet, and to prevent a global catastrophe. If we don’t act now we face severe consequences, such as extreme weather, health risks, costs to our society and economy, and irreparable harm to wildlife, just to name a few.
But we can be part of the solution! Now is the perfect time to join in this positive change! 🌍
How?
If everyone made simple lifestyle changes, it would already make a huge difference. We have seen recently how the reduction in global travel has significantly improved air quality and reduced levels of pollution.
The UN Act Now campaign identifies 10 key ways in which individuals can take action against climate change:
- 5-Minute Showers
- Bring Own Bag
- Drive Less
- Lights Off
- Local Produce
- Meat-free Meals
- Recycle
- Refill and Reuse
- Unplug
- Zero-Waste Fashion
By being a part of the solution, you can instigate positive change. “Social scientists have found that when one person makes a sustainability-oriented decision, other people do too.” (BBC)
Our top tip for Earth Day 2020
Eat Less Meat!
It sounds simple, but it will make a huge difference. This doesn’t mean that we all need to become vegans overnight. But a great change to make in honour of Earth Day 2020 would be to have one meat free day each week. Vegetarian or vegan, it’s up to you! It’s also a great way to try out some new recipes which are tasty and affordable.
Having a plant-based diet has also proven to have many health benefits, including for athletes. For anybody considering becoming 100% vegetarian, we recommend looking at NHS advice about vegetarian diets.
Below are some vegetarian recipe ideas. Please feel free to share your own in the comments below!
Butternut Squash Soup (BBC) – my tip: add a bay leaf, thyme and rosemary while the soup is simmering!
Creamy Aubergine and Chickpea Curry (Centr)
Tex-Mex Wrap (Centr)
Choose your favourite veggies (peppers, onions, sweet potato, courgette, butternut squash, brussel sprouts, beetroot, whatever you like!) and roast them in the oven. Eat with hummus, pita bread, halloumi and/or falafel.
Roast Vegetable Tart (Ottolenghi)
Pear & Blue Cheese Salad
Beetroot, Chickpea and Feta Salad (Tesco)
Some Jamie Oliver recipes
Earth Day recipe ideas
By Jessica Sofizade
Find Kairos Europe on Facebook
The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the official positions of Kairos Europe, its partners or their employees.