Earth Day began in 1970 as more people in the United States and across the globe became aware of the environmental impact caused by humans. Before the 1970’s, many people considered air and water pollution a normal and expected part of life. Celebrating Earth Day each year is vital because it recognizes the harm caused to the environment while showing support across the globe for protecting the Earth. You can take steps this Earth Day to support sustainability through your own collective and individual actions. 

How to contribute to Earth Day every day 

You can be a part of Earth Day by coming together with the 91��Ƶ community to protect our planet. Whether you are on campus or not, you can get involved and make a difference in numerous ways. Here are some of the ways you can participate in Earth Day today and every day. 

• Participate in advocacy: One of the best ways to make a difference is through advocacy. You can sign petitions and participate in Earth Day events on campus and in your community. You can also write to your local, state and national officials. Ask them to support legislation that protects our planet. 
• Sustainable fashion: Fast fashion negatively impacts the environment by increasing clothing waste and pollution from textile production. Donate or sell your unwanted clothing instead of throwing items away to reduce waste and give your clothes a new life. You can also make an impact by shopping at thrift stores, buying fewer new clothing items and supporting brands that intentionally support sustainability in their production processes. 
• Take part in a community or global cleanup: The Environmental Center hosts events to support sustainability locally, like their Boulder Creek cleanup and the annual Campus Sustainability Summit. If you're not in Boulder, you can search for cleanup opportunities in your area or connect with a local organization to offer your support. 
• Make your next meal plant-based: Choosing more plant-based meals can help lower carbon emissions and reduce the impact of food production on the environment. Transition your breakfast, lunch or dinner to plant-based options and look for plant-based meals at the dining halls on campus. While you can opt for a fully vegan diet, choosing one plant-based meal a day can still have an impact.  
• Get inspired: Explore and make a difference throughout the year. A few standout ideas include picking up trash while you run (hello, plogging), switching to reusable bags, meal prepping and growing a container garden on your patio. 
• Join the CU community via the AWorld App: The AWorld app supports the United Nations ActNow campaign, encouraging individual action on climate change. Once you download the app, you can join the CU community to track your sustainable actions. Actions include daily tasks like meditating, eating a vegetarian or vegan meal, carpooling or taking public transportation. 

Remember, every small action adds up to make a significant impact. Let's work together to create a sustainable future for generations to come. These are just a few examples of how you can make a difference. 

The impacts of Earth Day 

Since its inception, Earth Day has continued to grow and increase awareness of environmental issues and the actions people can take to support sustainability. 

• Just one year after the first Earth Day, 25% of Americans believed protecting the environment was important. 
• In the years that followed, many national environmental policies passed, including: 
• The Clean Air Act  
• The Water Quality Improvement Act  
• The Endangered Species Act 
• The Toxic Substances Control Act 
• The Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act  
• The Environmental Protection Agency was established in 1970, following the first Earth Day marches.  
• Earth Day celebrations every April 22 continue to make an impact across the globe. 

The importance of Earth Day 

Earth Day is an annual reminder that climate change has a major impact on our planet, our lives and our future. It can also increase awareness and drives change. Earth Day continues to evolve and add value to sustainability movements across the globe. 

• Earth Day provides a day to focus on education about environmental issues affecting our planet.  
• Demonstrations on Earth Day help signal to government representatives the importance of environmental issues to their constituents.  
• Earth Day sets aside a day each year to reflect on the significance of the planet's health and what we can all do to positively impact our environment.  
• Earth Day has influenced major national policy in the past and will continue to do so. 

The history of Earth Day 

Author Rachel Caron released her book Silent Spring in 1962. The book brought attention to how the use of harmful chemicals, such as DDT, caused everlasting damage to wildlife, nature and people, and it called for humans to act responsibly as stewards of the living earth.  

Caron’s book motivated Junior Senator Gaylord Nelson of Wisconsin to create Earth Day. He selected April 22 because it fell perfectly between spring break and final exams and would allow space for college students to get involved. 

On April 22, 1970, an estimated 20 million people gathered at schools, universities and community centers across the U.S. to host inaugural events that brought awareness to the need for more environmental laws. These events also brought attention to a wide variety of environmental issues. 

Denis Hayes, who helped organize the first Earth Day with Gaylord Nelson, went on to found the Earth Day Network, which spread Earth Day internationally, helping organize events in over 141 countries. 

Earth Day Monumental Moments: 

• 1970: First Earth Day celebrated. 
• 1990: Twentieth anniversary, an estimated 200 million people in over 141 countries celebrate. 
• 2010: Fortieth anniversary, an estimated 1 billion people worldwide gathered to celebrate. 
• 2020: Fiftieth anniversary of Earth Day, in-person events were canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but people globally celebrated via social media. 

Want to learn more? Check out the official website for more information on the history of Earth Day, different projects you can participate in and simple ways to change the planet. You can also connect with the Environmental Center to learn ways to get involved. 

April 22 is only one day each year, but you can treat every day like Earth Day! 

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The 30th annual Campus Sustainability Summit takes place Wednesday and Thursday, April 19 and 20, at the UMC. Following the global focus of the Right Here, Right Now Global Climate Summit and the Conference on World Affairs events, the Campus Sustainability Summit is an opportunity for faculty, staff and students to localize the focus on the 91��Ƶ’s impacts and goals. Join the Summit to share, learn about and celebrate the wide array of accomplishments, challenges and new ideas.

The Summit starts off on Wednesday, April 19 with four sessions and workshops: 

• Aiming for Zero Waste
• Accelerating the Transition to a Clean Energy Future
• Sustainability across the Curriculum
• ​Navigating Climate Anxiety

More than 50 will showcase climate and sustainability solutions at the summit, with the opportunity to win $25,000 in funding from the CU Climate Action Fund. Drop in to the UMC ballroom on Thursday, April 20 anytime during 12-3 p.m. to browse exhibits. Vote for your favorite when you attend. 

Help shape the campus climate action plan through the Town Hall. Learn about the strategies that are being developed for CU to get to zero emissions. The format will be a one-hour session on the plan's climate justice and equity initiatives, a one-hour session on the CAP presentation, followed by interactive whiteboarding breakout sessions. Choose to attend the portions that are of interest to you and learn how the campus plans to further define its climate commitment. 

The “Buffs Kick Gas!” exhibition will feature some of the newer low carbon transportation provided by CU and our partners that are driving us towards a cleaner transportation future. Stop by the UMC south plaza to touch, sit in and even ride some of the latest in EV transportation options. 

In collaboration with campus partners, CU Environmental Center has produced a Campus Sustainability Summit annually or semi-annually since 1994 for the campus community. The Campus Sustainability Summit and the Campus Sustainability Awards program are sponsored by the Office of the Provost, the Office of the Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs, the Office of the Vice Chancellor of Infrastructure and Sustainability and the CUSG Environmental Center. The Summit is open to all 91��Ƶ students, faculty and staff and community members.

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Earth Week is here and it's time for all of us to come together and do our part to protect our planet. Whether you are on 91��Ƶ’s campus or not, there are numerous ways you can get involved and make a difference. Here are six ways you can participate in Earth Week:

1. Participate in advocacy: One of the best ways to make a difference is by advocating for our planet. or attend the  and participate in the following . You can also write to your local officials in Boulder or wherever you are registered to vote. Ask them to support legislation that protects our planet.

2. Sustainable fashion: Don't throw away your clothes! Instead, donate them or check out the bins at the  event on April 25 in Boulder. This is a great way to reduce waste and give your clothes a new life.

3. Take part in a community or global cleanup: Attend the on April 19-20, or participate in the on April 27. If you're not in Boulder, you can via Earthday.org.

4. Make your next meal plant-based: Transition your breakfast, lunch and dinner to plant-based options. Look for plant-based meals at the C4C on campus. A few places to check out plant-based recipes include and .

5. Get inspired! There are many ways to participate in Earth Day 2023 and make a difference throughout the whole year. Earthday.org has a phenomenal list of . A few standout ideas include picking up trash while you run, switching to reusable bags, meal prepping and growing a garden.

6. Join the CU community via the AWorld App: The app's goal is to support the United Nations ActNow campaign that encourages individual action on climate change. Once you download the app, you can join the CU community and . A few actions you can log include meditating, eating a vegetarian or vegan meal, carpooling or taking public transportation.

Remember, every small action adds up to make a big impact. Let's work together to create a sustainable future for generations to come. These six ways are just a few examples of how you can make a difference.

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Have your voice heard in November - remember to register and vote! Here are a few helpful tips and resources to help you.

In only a few weeks, it will be ! So, it’s a good idea to determine if you’re registered to vote, where to vote and who is running. If you’re from Colorado and registered to vote in Colorado, you will receive a ballot in the mail in the weeks leading up to election day. If you plan to vote by mail, it’s recommended that you put your ballot in the mail before Oct. 31. After the 31st, you should place your ballot in a 24-hour ballot box.  can be found throughout Boulder County. 

If you’re not registered to vote in Colorado but want to be, you can  to vote in Colorado. If you do so before Oct. 31, you will receive a mail ballot. You can also register in person on election day. To register, you must have a valid ID. 

If you’re not from Colorado and want to vote in your home state, you can go online and request an . It’s best to request an absentee ballot as soon as possible as each state has different deadlines to make sure that all ballots are received in time. 

If you’re living on campus, you can also register to vote and vote on campus! Boulder county has a great  to help break down the process of voting as a student and answers some common questions students may have regarding the voting process. If you are a student and plan to vote on campus, you can stop by the UMC Vote Center starting on Oct. 24 to register and vote. There is also a 24-hour ballot drop box right outside the UMC. 

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The Environment Center (or E-Center) is located in the University Memorial Center (UMC) building on campus. We are responsible for zero waste programs, organizations, events and general sustainability efforts on campus. Here are some interesting resources available on our website!

Find out more about the E-Center

• Check out the Environmental Center on campus. 

Graduate and Family Housing sustainability

• Check out the GFH Sustainability website! 

E-Center newsletter

• Join the newsletter listserv  

E-Center job board

• Looking for some extra income and want to get more involved in sustainability efforts on campus? Check out the jobs available at the E-Center.

• Highlighted job opening: Food Justice Coordinator (will assist with running both the Saturday and Tuesday free food distributions).

E-Center event calendar 

• Stay up to date on upcoming events.

Highlighted events

• Green campus tours are a great opportunity to learn more about various “green” features of CU’s main Boulder campus. Sign up for a tour  

E-Center publications

• Interested in reading the results of research done by the E-Center? Dive deeper into our publications section for pieces on our STARS report, Energy Guides and the Colorado Food Waste Composting Guide, among many other resources!

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The term CSA, short for community supported agriculture, originated in Japan during the 1970s. Japanese philosopher Teruo Ichiraku started warning local communities that large scale farms were using dangerous pesticides. Around the same time, a local farmer named Yoshinori Kaneko experienced an abundant season of produce that led him to realize that his farm could feed more than just his family. Both men’s philosophies eventually intertwined, and the concept of community shares were introduced. The first trial of the CSA system happened when 10 Japanese families agreed to pay the farmer a sum of money to receive rice, wheat and vegetables. The definition of a CSA is outlined by the soil association as “a partnership between farmers and consumers where the responsibilities and rewards of farming are shared. CSA is a  to building a more local and equitable agricultural system, one that allows farmers to focus on good farming practices and still maintain productive and profitable farms.” Since established, CSAs have spread across the globe, appealing in many ways to both community members and farmers.

To further investigate the benefits of a CSA system, it is essential to address the most prominent food supplier in the United States, which is industrial agriculture. Industrial agriculture was promoted originally to decrease the number of farmers and increase the amount of factory workers after World War II. Today, these factory farms continue to operate under the two primary arguments that they are, one - cheaper from an economic standpoint, and two - the key to sustaining a growing population. 

• Industrial agriculture, while mass produced, still is not properly sustaining the entire United States population, let alone the world. One in nine people are malnourished worldwide and  in the US experience food insecurity. 

• The US participates in agricultural dumping, which is when cheaply produced grains are exported at a price cheaper than the price to produce. This practice not only puts farmers out of business in the United States but also disrupts other world agriculture markets. There is clear evidence that this practice raises poverty rates through unemployment and decreases crop diversity. .

• In order to generate large yields of crops over a short period of time, pesticides are sprayed over thousands of acres of land. Pesticides are toxic to humans and animals; runoffs and biochemical buildups make them extremely dangerous to our health. Pesticides and herbicides create a dangerous feedback loop as they stop working over time, and then stronger pesticides are needed in order to be effective. 

• Due to government gifted tax breaks to large scale farms, local communities are suffering because the government is paying for pesticidal use. This damages any local communities' housing prices and physical health. They are paying taxes to have their community damaged. A study from. This includes higher obesity rates, polluted drinking water and more.

• There are also  tied with industrial farming, as the need for human employment decreases with the advancement of large pesticide spraying machines. 

• Practices such as monocropping, when only one crop is grown across a vast area, are responsible for a decrease in . Animals, plants and fungi cannot survive on one type of plant and thus are forced to relocate. 

• A key part of a CSA is a diverse selection of crops. Plants with different root types increase the fertility of the soil in which they grow.

• CSA members have lowered their ecological footprint. They are less reliant on fossil fuels, produce less pollution and cut back on chemical pesticidal use. 

• The localization of food also uses less water.

• CSAs support biodiversity because farmers tend to cater to the ecosystem they are in. They grow crops suitable for the climate and organisms to flourish in. Local farmers respect the land.

• Pest control is one worry that people have. Luckily, the best pest disposable systems are already in place in the ecosystem. Ecosystems naturally balance out - that's how they thrive. If a farmer grows produce suitable for the ecosystem, pests will not be a problem.

• Large scale factory farms receive tax breaks and permission from the government to use as many pesticides as that farm sees fit to produce optimal produce. In turn, these farms end up causing extreme damage to the local communities in terms of pollution and falling values of property.

• As more of these factory farms have expanded, more have closed down. Being a part of a CSA helps farmers get the proper funds to expand their land while helping the community. 

• Local farmers already have to pay higher production costs, and sometimes farmers can’t even afford to pay themselves a salary. A CSA ensures farmer prosperity and helps them with the hefty taxes the US government implements.

• Due to the rarity of farmers in the US, the few that are left form deep connections with each other and the land. Farmers that have a CSA system tend to communicate with other farmers around the area. They are all aware of each others' specific situation and grow crops with mindfulness of each other.

• Consumers can be more aware of how their food is produced.

• Community supported agriculture also saves money because shipping and processing costs are eliminated from the price of the produce. The food will also be at peak flavor and ripeness. There will also be a more diverse spread of crops each season. 

• Members enrich their cultural heritage by learning farming practices and techniques. 

• Locally grown food is more trustworthy than organic food which is oftentimes still used with pesticides. 

• The idea of “shared risk” is really what breeds a sense of community. When a crop does fail (a very rare occurrence) every person in the share is equally affected. The lack of disparities and inequalities ends up building the community up as people work together to find another alternative. The negative result becomes more manageable as people band together. 

• For the most part, when we go to a supermarket, most vegetables and fruits are available all season long. This is because produce items are grown all over the world and shipped to large supply chain grocery stores. The natural way of growing harvest is to work within the seasons by growing and harvesting at certain points of the year. When consumers unpack a CSA box, they get the luxury of naturally grown vegetables that helps consumers form a connection with the land and the seasons. It helps them appreciate the environment more.

Around the Boulder county area, there are many opportunities to buy a share of community agriculture stock. Here is a brief listing of family-owned farms that grow varieties of produce and goods:

, Longmont

• Seasonal vegetables, all USDA certified organic

• Organic flower farms

• Option to purchase seeds and plants and get instructions on how to grow them at home

, Boulder

• Picking vegetables “buffet style”

• Mushroom shares

• Honey harvested straight from the orchard

, Longmont

• Arugula, broccoli, cabbage and turnips

• Has single person, couple and family share options

, Niwot

• Raises crossbred sheep and llamas that are grass fed

• Wool is certified as naturally grown

• Natural dyes made from plants

, Longmont

• Seasonal vegetables, fostering community and providing education

They have a weekly drop off at CU Graduate and Family Housing too!

Final Thoughts

On a global level, findings show that the close relationships between farmers and members of a CSA are organized around the values of food quality, locality and respect for the environment. The systems we have in place right now do not feed the world adequately yet still contribute to obesity rates. Feeding the world is a problem stemming from the need for power and control, not food availability. The food we grow right now is enough to feed a population of 10 billion, yet 1/9 people are starving in the world. Sustainable farming depends on working within the climate barriers and human-made barriers already set in place. Studies have found that within the right circumstances, crops grown on local farms can produce the same and sometimes even over the amount chemical crops produce. So as a community, let's all support our CSA farmers for a better future.

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There are many ways we can change the way we see the world. One way is to walk. Walking instead of driving changes your perspective of the world. In Boulder, you can see unique sculptures and street art. You can walk along Boulder creek and hear the water trickling down. You can spot a wide variety of animals, and you might pass by a few cute dogs out for their walks as well. You can hear the sounds of the city and breathe in some much-needed fresh air. 

You can see the city from a different perspective, you can explore different neighborhoods, streets and paths that connect our unique city. Pop in your headphones and listen to that podcast that you’ve been looking forward to, listen to an eBook, call a friend that you haven’t talked to in a while or maybe just enjoy a few minutes away from technology and allow yourself to reconnect. Grab a friend and walk a path that neither of you has explored before, maybe you’ll find a new unique place that you love, or you’ll walk past a local business that you can’t wait to check out. 

Walking through the city may provide you with a unique perspective of the city, or it may inspire your next project or assignment, or maybe you just want to enjoy the fresh air and see what Boulder has to offer.  So put on your walking shoes and explore this beautiful city. 

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The environmental movement can seem overwhelming, and you might feel as though you have to be a “perfect” environmentalist to contribute to the movement. That is a lie. We all bring something different, unique and impactful to the environmental movement, as the people we are today. You and I may speak different languages, come from different countries, be of different races or have different political views, but no matter what, we all deserve to live in a world where we see ourselves represented in the environmental movement. 

We can all commit and contribute to being more environmentally friendly. We must strive for progress in the environmental movement, not perfection. Understand that it’s okay to mess up, or be an imperfect environmentalist. 

You can get involved in the environmental movement as the human being you are at this exact moment. Start by looking at your life and the changes you can make; don’t feel pressure to replicate what others within the movement are doing. Don’t shy away from making mistakes as you maneuver the movement. These mistakes are educational opportunities that allow you to become a better environmentalist. Sharing our imperfect moments within the movement makes the movement a more welcoming space; it breaks down the barrier that many believe prevents them from getting involved. 

You don’t have to radically change your everyday life. Maybe you actively try to walk or take public transportation to school or work, or you participate in  or follow a few different environmentalists on , or you grow your own herbs or tomatoes at home. All of these small steps matter. 

Well-known zero-waste chef Anne Marie Bonneau framed the environmental movement perfectly by saying, “we don’t need a handful of people doing zero waste perfectly. We need millions of people doing it imperfectly.” 

So cut yourself some slack, and remember that you don’t have to be perfect to be an environmentalist. 

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FLOWS, Foundations for Leaders Organizing for Water and Sustainability, serves primarily low-income communities with energy and water conservation upgrades and information. This fall the program is back in action with some exciting news to share. The City of Boulder has funded FLOWS to support the Climate Mobilization Action Plan (CMAP) and to take bold, innovative and collaborative actions to create systemic change that equitably address the global climate crisis and ensure the quality of life of all Boulder residents and beyond. Since 2016, FLOWS has been an in-person program that highlights the leadership of members of Boulder's BIPOC communities that live in affordable housing.

The COVID-19 pandemic put a temporary halt on our service, but this has also allowed us to become more adaptive and to implement creative solutions to continue to build capacity in the communities that we belong to. Through this partnership's funding, FLOWS has decided to host a virtual education series for the community led by community members, and to continue to provide training for our FLOWS technicians. These Spanish-first educational series will be a platform for diverse voices to speak on social and climate justice and its undeniable intersection.

With this partnership, FLOWS hopes to support the City’s racial equity commitment, in order to create an equitable and resilient community that is able to respond to the effects of the climate crisis and to engage and mobilize all of Boulder’s communities in climate justice.

From our technicians

This is what our amazing FLOWS technicians had to say about working and learning with the program.

"My favorite part about FLOWS is having a good time doing the work." - Henry

"The best part about FLOWS is getting together with people from different backgrounds who are working together towards a common goal." - Elizabeth

"My favorite part is the education that FLOWS provides to diverse communities in order to understand how we are all interconnected with climate change." - Andrea

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Boulder B-cycle has been Boulder’s exclusive non-profit bike share system for almost nine years. With 300 bikes and more than 40 stations operating 24/7 in and around Boulder and main and east 91��Ƶ campuses, Boulder B-cycle offers a convenient, reliable and safe alternative transportation option for everyone.

The Environmental Center has partnered with B-cycle to offer ALL CU students  beginning in fall 2019. The 91��Ƶ student pass includes unlimited 30-minute trips for a whole year and has introduced more than 1,500 first-time student members to bike sharing at CU. These new riders helped trips by CU affiliates increase by 75% from fall 2018 to fall 2019; CU riders have taken nearly 25,000 trips by Boulder B-cycle since classes began in August 2019!

B-cycle installed three new station locations on the CU main campus in 2019, expanding the number of stations serving CU to 13 and making sure that no location at CU is more than ¼ mile (a five-minute walk) from a Boulder B-cycle station. The Rec Center location was a collaboration with Google and Ralphie’s Green Stampede where attendees at a CU Buffs game voted on the location.

The connectivity of all these CU stations means that the average time of a bike-sharing trip between all of them is only 10 minutes, making Boulder B-cycle an extremely fast way to travel from place to place. The most-utilized B-cycle stations since the start of the 2019-20 school year are all at CU: Center for Community, Williams Village and Folsom and Colorado, with the most highly ridden route during this time being C4C to Williams Village.

Redistribution of B-cycles from station to station is a great way for the 91��Ƶ community to earn PIPs - Positive Impact Points. . At the end of each month, riders have a balancing score which is the net total of all positive and negative redistribution behaviors from B-cycle trips. Learn more about PIPs at 91��Ƶ.

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