April is a big month for our planet’s health and future.
April 22nd is Earth Day, a growing movement and annual event to help protect and save our planet. This year’s theme is Invest in Our Planet with the message that “we need to act (boldly), innovate (broadly), and implement (equitably).” There are community-led events happening locally around the globe, such as outdoor cleanups at beaches, parks, neighbourhoods, rivers, lakes and so on, and EarthDay.Org–led initiatives to support and participate in.
And, April 26 is Stop Food Waste Day. This is the largest single day of action in the fight to eliminate harmful food waste for good. Stop Food Waste Day aims to educate, inspire, and ignite action against food waste and its big impact on our planet.
Stop Food Waste Day and Earth Day forces combined
How are these two events related? Fifty-eight percent of food produced for Canadians is lost or wasted every year. Food waste contributes to many of the problems that we face globally today. This includes climate change, hunger, poverty, and the health and sustainability of our oceans, land, air, water, and other natural resources. In fact, food waste and loss contribute 8% of our global greenhouse gas emissions every year.
It is amazing, however, what we can accomplish together when we focus our efforts.
Achieving the impossible when we focus and combine our efforts
For Earth Day, millions of people come together every year to protect, clean up, and improve the health of our planet. And it makes a huge impact! For instance, hundreds of millions of trees have been planted through EarthDay.Org’s Canopy Project. Likewise, there have been 2.7 billion acts of green initiatives and 36 million cleanup volunteers all organized through this annual event.
As you may know, Second Harvest’s vision for Canada is one of no hunger or food waste. We’ve seen first-hand the power of grassroots and community-led initiatives to make a positive, real impact. With the support, donations, and help of so many people, non-profits, and organizations, Second Harvest has rescued 53 million pounds of surplus food in Canada and redistributed it to those in need.
When it comes to protecting and investing in our planet and stopping food waste, there is still so much to be done. But it’s annual celebrations and educational days like Earth Day and Stop Food Waste Day that makes us focus our efforts and get the work done.
Let’s act together to save our planet
Our challenge to you this year is to act. Take charge and help make the change that you want to see in your local community.
Earth Day 2023 initiatives to check out and support:
- Sign up to join the Great Global Cleanup
- Find out how you can take green action
- Find out how you can help end plastics in your community and home
- Use your vote to help our planet
- Read more: 7 Things You Can Do About The Climate Crisis
Stop Food Waste Day 2023 initiatives:
- Take the pledge to stop food waste
- Check out Stop Food Waste Day’s online toolkit
- Read more: Top (Free) Resources on How to Stop Food Waste
- Learn more about the Avoidable Crisis of Food Waste
- Follow these helpful tips to curb food waste in your home
Learn more about Second Harvest and how you can help in Canada.
