In April 22 this year, marks the 50^th anniversary of Earth Day. With the theme 'taking climate action,' different environmental sectors and organizations gather representatives from different sectors to discuss broken systems that must be fixed to attain a just community for Filipinos that is resilient to any crisis.

You might be wondering what you can contribute for the Earth Day this year since everybody is inside their houses. So here are some of the several things that you can do for Earth Day 2020:

Turn that switch off

If it’s daytime, and if you’re just sitting at the corner, wondering what you are going to do for the entire day, you might wanna turn that switch off to conserve electricity and money.

Turn that tap off

If you’re in the middle of washing your dishes or if you are brushing your teeth, you can turn that tap off and just turn it on when necessary. And if you follow the right way of washing your hands with soap for at least 20 seconds, you could save at least six gallons per day by turning off the tap while you scrub.

Segregation and waste disposal

Proper segregation and disposal of waste is important because it is becomes much easier to recycle. Effective segregation of wastes means that less waste goes to landfill which makes it cheaper and better for people and the environment. It is also important to segregate for public health.

Recycle as much as possible

You can recycle almost everything, from plastics to papers, etc. Before you throw it away, take a minute to find out if you could just recycle it instead.

Avoid using disposable materials

Since you’re in your own house or apartment, it’s best not to use any disposable materials such as straws, plastic cups, tissue, etc. Instead, you can just use reusable plates, cups and other utensils and just wash it afterwards.

The quarantine that COVID 19 required many countries to impose has resulted in clearer skies, more breathable air, cleaner seas, and more vibrant wildlife. For climate change moderation and adaptation, our responses may be less drastic, as they generally require only lifestyle changes. But we must invest in and institute the necessary concerted reforms speedily and extensively, before it becomes too late.

This Earth Day 2020, let us look beyond COVID 19. With the help of the mass media, let us challenge all nations, including ours, to take decisive climate action. After all, this has long been overdue.