Happy Earth Day 2022!
Today we celebrate our Earth and bring awareness to pollution issues and our environment. The first Earth Day was held in the year 1970 by Senator Gaylord Nelson of Wisconsin who was inspired to educate people after seeing the massive 1969 Santa Barbara oil spill in California. Following the events of the Santa Barbara oil spill, a series of environmental laws and policies were taken into action in the 1970’s to help protect our environment. One example is the support for the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the creation of the Clear Air Act and Water Quality Improvement Act, and Endangered Species Act.
Today, we face problems in our community such high levels of pollution due the increase number of fossil fuels, destruction of our natural environment for industrial development and more. As planners, we have the knowledge, resources and potential to make a difference in our planet by creating laws and policies in our communities that will help mitigate environmental problems and create sustainable communities.
To learn more about how Urban Planning relates to our environment please listen to my Podcast Environmental Justice Episode 5. Click here for Podcast
What are some ways you can help?
If you live in a city where public transportation is available, you can limit the amount of days or times you drive your personal car.
Take a ride in your bike to run errands to limit vehicular use.
Limit the use of beauty, bath and food products that contain Palm Oil.
Palm oil is a form of edible vegetable oil obtained from the fruit of the African oil palm tree. It is overproduced and destroying millions of acres of rainforest each year.
For more information about Palm Oil, visit:
Planning With Norms 