Earth Day 2010
Earth Day, observed each year on April 22 in virtually every country on Earth, is a day designed to inspire awareness and appreciation for the Earth's environment. Earth Day, which celebrated its 40th anniversary in 2010, was founded by U.S. Senator Gaylord Nelson as an environmental teach-in held on April 22, 1970. Today it is celebrated in more than 175 countries every year. More than one billion people were expected to take action on Earth Day 2010.
Yet despite Earth Day’s growth and popularity, forty years after the first Earth Day, the world is in greater peril than ever. Global warming (climate change) may represent the greatest challenge of our time. However, if we all work together, Earth Day 2010 can be a turning point to advance climate policy, energy efficiency, renewable energy and green jobs. Earrth Day 2010 is a pivotal opportunity for individuals, corporations and governments to join together and create a global green economy. Learn how you can join the more than one billion people in 190 countries that are taking action for Earth Day by visiting the Resources section at the end of this article.
If you’ve been hearing about Earth Day and the environment, you’ve probably heard about “carbon footprints.” So what exactly is a carbon footprint? “Carbon footprint” refers to the amount of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases that get released into the air when the goods are made, shipped and stored, and then used by consumers.
To help you better understand carbon footprints, let’s put some numbers to them. The U.S. emits the equivalent of about 118 pounds of carbon dioxide per resident every day. That's nearly 20 metric tons per American per year—about five times the number per citizen of the world at large, according to the International Energy Agency.- Source: earthlab.com
The easiest statistic to understand when you talk about carbon-footprinting may be about cars. For every mile it travels, the average car in the U.S. emits about one pound of carbon dioxide. Given typical driving distances and fuel-economy numbers, that translates into about five tons of carbon dioxide per car per year. A study by the University of Michigan's Center for Sustainable Systems found that, over its expected 120,000-mile life, an American-made midsize sedan emits the equivalent of about 63 tons of carbon dioxide. That number includes all emissions, from the making of the car's raw materials, such as steel and plastic, through the shredding of the car once it's junked. 86% of those emissions come from the car's fuel use, while just 4% of those emissions come from making and assembling the car. That means you can lower your footprint by buying a car with better gas mileage. - Source: earthlab.com
Click here to learn more about carbon footprints.
So what’s your Carbon Footprint? Find out now by taking this simple 3-minute test.
The links below can help you learn more about Earth Day and what actions you and your family can take to help protect the earth’s environment.
National Geographic’s The Green Guide