The 55th anniversary of Earth Day is on April 22, 2025, and provides a wonderful opportunity to recommit ourselves to protecting the Earth and to celebrate our beautiful planet. For those of you who are wondering why we should celebrate, and how to do so, we would suggest starting by pondering what the Earth and nature mean to you. Do you like to take hikes in the nearby woods? Or play basketball outside with your friends? Perhaps you want to swim in the ocean on a warm day, or hit the snowy slopes in the winter. Reflecting on how you interact with nature can bring into perspective its importance, like watching the snowfall in the winter after a long day at work. By appreciating these sorts of things, one can find themselves wanting to protect this feeling of peace nature offers.
Earth Day, celebrated annually on April 22, is a global event encouraging environmental awareness and action. Families can participate by cleaning up neighborhoods, planting greenery, reducing carbon footprints, and supporting local farmers. Originating in 1970, Earth Day continues to inspire billions to protect and preserve the planet.
With the world facing threats from global warming to pollution, there’s a sense of urgency in celebrating Earth Day. It can be easy to believe there is no hope, and that cozy, snowy days are no longer an option. With this in mind, we propose two options for celebrating Earth Day. You are welcome to do both, but doing just one offers a good starting point. The first option is to experience nature. By getting outside to appreciate all our planet has to offer, you might discover new ways in which you can interact with the Earth, thus discovering new reasons to protect it. The second option is to do something good for the Earth. Cleaning up your local environment, whether that be a park, beach, river or even your backyard, can be a great choice. You could donate your time or money to an organization that focuses on conservation or works with animals. If you want to go bigger, you can reach out to your elected officials and impress upon them the importance of legislation that will defend the rights of our Earth.
At Rider University, the Office of Sustainability works year-round to share these options and their importance with students. From Campus Race to Zero Waste, an eight-week program highlighting and educating students on a different waste material each week, to supporting TerraCycle, a company that recycles household items that cannot go in your street recycling bins, Rider stays committed to “going green.” Campus Earth Day is right around the corner and many organizations are getting prepared for Rider’s Earth Day Care Fair on April 22, 2025. For example, Broadway Green Alliance will be hosting its third annual Earth Day Cabaret, featuring students singing, reading original poems and dancing. This event will also have tables educating students on sustainability and environmental issues with activities and crafts to accompany them. Additionally, for those looking to stay fashionable sustainably, there will be a free thrift shop where you can grab some gently used threads.
In New York, leaders are being called to do more to embrace solar energy. The state aims to generate 70% of its energy from renewable sources by 2030, according to the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act (CLCPA). Large-scale solar projects like the Cider Solar Farm, set to be New York's largest, are crucial for achieving the CLCPA's goals. Solar energy projects offer economic benefits, including job creation and revenue generation for local communities. These projects also contribute to farmland preservation through agricultural mitigation payments. Earth Day is an important opportunity to measure our progress in creating a cleaner planet and healthier communities.
New York is already a leader when it comes to renewable energy. The state produces more power from renewable sources than any other state east of the Mississippi, with solar energy accounting for nearly 5% of its total annual power generation. Guiding these investments are targets established under the 2019 Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act, which committed the state to generating 70% of its total energy needs from renewable sources by 2030, with a longer-term net-zero target by 2040. Despite strong momentum behind solar and other renewable projects, New York still has a ways to go if it is going to meet its energy aspirations.
Meanwhile, in Indianapolis, Keep Indianapolis Beautiful (KIB) is spearheading a cleanup this Saturday, April 19, 2025, along more than five miles of the 27-mile Pleasant Run. Residents will flock to more than a half-dozen sites, from Christian Park on the near east side to Emhardt Park on the south side, spending hours removing litter from the White River tributary. In cities along waterways, up to half of all trash winds up in rivers and their tributaries, according to KIB's parent organization, Keep America Beautiful. Last year, KIB led an effort to remove 21 tons of litter from Indianapolis' waterways. "Every time there's a Coke can or a water bottle or a cigarette butt in the street and you get a rain event, it goes down the sewer and where's it end up?" said KIB CEO Jeremy Kranowitz. "In the waterway."
Earth Day reminds us to take action, whether it’s planting trees, cutting down on waste, or pushing for greener policies. As such, you can sign up to participate in Earth Day events with the Earth Day organization and The Nature Conservancy. On an individual level, you can use Earth Day to make a renewed effort to eliminate plastics and embrace green technology. Other tips for embracing Earth Day and encouraging sustainability include: Reduce, reuse, recycle: Minimize waste by recycling and reusing items whenever you can. For instance, use a reusable water bottle instead of buying plastic ones. Conserve water: Simple things like fixing leaky faucets and taking shorter showers can save a lot of water. You can also install water-saving fixtures like low-flow showerheads. Use energy efficiently: Switch to LED bulbs, which use less energy and last longer. Also, remember to unplug devices when you're not using them to save electricity.
However you choose to celebrate this year, we hope you will take a moment to appreciate our shared home and all that it provides. Happy Earth Day!
