Spring of 1970 – A shift in attitudes, values, and beliefs of 20 million Americans embodied through a movement of consciousness about our planet. 

Senator Gaylord Nelson of Wisconsin, U.S., created Earth Day as a way to give environmental issues a voice and put them on the national agenda. In December 1970, Congress authorized the creation of a new federal agency to tackle environmental issues – the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Since then, efforts to tackle environmental degradation and climate change have been adopted worldwide from introducing policy and legislation, to funding clean technologies and renewable energy, to manufacturing biodegradable materials. Here, we look at the honouring of this day through the decades. 

News headline from the first Earth Day, 1970 // Source: ETEE

In the decades leading up to the first ever Earth Day, industrialization took over North America and other parts of the world. Manufacturing (1900s), mining (1930s), transportation (1950s) and retailing (1970s), along with rapid urbanization and consumer culture, all played a part in developing our world as we know it today. North America was consuming vast amounts of leaded gas through massive and inefficient automobiles. Industry belched out smoke and sludge with little fear of the consequences from either the law or bad press. Air pollution was commonly accepted as the smell of prosperity. Mainstream North America remained largely oblivious to environmental concerns and how a polluted environment seriously threatens human health.

1980 – In the U.S., this year saw significant environmental legislative achievements. Just 10 years after the first Earth Day, government protections over the environment drastically increased. By 1980, the following U.S. government acts were passed: Clean Air Act, Clean Water Act, Endangered Species Act, Safe Drinking Water Act, and the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act. 

On September 11th, Paul Tinari, a graduate student from Queen’s University, launched the first Canadian Earth Day. Flora MacDonald, then MP for Kingston, Ontario and the islands, officially opened Earth Day Week, encouraging MPs across the country to declare a cross-Canada annual Earth Day. 

Through the 70s and 80s, Earth Day in North America focused heavily on pollution. By Earth Day 1990, organizers and environmental agencies shifted their focus to climate change. 

1990 – Earth Day goes global, mobilizing 200 million people in 141 countries and lifting environmental issues onto the world stage. 

The activities of the 20th anniversary of Earth Day in 1990 presented a huge boost to recycling efforts and paved the way for the United Nations Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, in 1992. The ‘Rio Declarations’ laid out 15 principles recognizing the impact of human activities on sustainability and committing to sustainability goals. In 1997, the United Nations Kyoto Protocol was signed setting commitments to reduce greenhouse gas emissions worldwide as well as establish the connection between human activities and climate change.

In Canada, this was the start of Earth Day Canada (Jour de la Terre Canada), combining efforts from both France and Canada, and the internationalization of Earth Day. Since 1995, Quebec has celebrated Earth Day through raising awareness on environmental issues. 

Earth Day Canada Logo // Source: EarthDay.ca

2000 – Earth Day goes digital. Through the power of connectivity, hundreds of millions of people in 184 countries celebrate the 30th anniversary of Earth Day, with a focus on clean energy. 

By leveraging the power of the Digital Revolution, Earth Day in the new millennium meant that environmental activities and initiatives spread faster to many parts of the world. Suddenly, awareness became the greatest tool in the fight against climate change. 

2010 – This was a challenging time for the environmental community as they faced climate deniers, well-funded oil enthusiasts with a not-so-environmentally-friendly agenda, a disinterested public, and neutral politicians. The Earth Day Network repositioned Earth Day as a day for environmental activism as the right time. On Earth Day 2010, over 250,000 people participated in a rally on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., and hundreds of millions of people observed Earth Day around the globe. Climate activism gained serious momentum. 

In 2015, the Paris Climate Agreement was drafted, going beyond the Kyoto Protocol, by setting a goal of achieving global net-zero emissions by 2050. In Canada, the French and Quebec teams joined forces to take the Earth Day movement to a new level for the French-speaking world. 

In 2018, Greta Thunberg acted as a voice for youth, by starting a protest in front of the Swedish parliament building, vowing to continue until the Swedish government met the carbon emissions target agreed by world leaders in Paris, in 2015. Students around the world quickly began following her lead, staging large protests and demanding change.

Greta Thunberg’s Climate Strike // Source: DW

In 2019, Earth Day Canada formed an alliance with EcoKids to enable environmental initiatives to be carried out across all provinces and territories. That year, I remember attending a climate rally in Ottawa and feeling empowered by the movement as a young adult living in the world today. 

2020 – Last year marked the 50th anniversary of Earth Day. The social and cultural movements that we saw in the 1970s rose back up again as we were hit with one of the largest crises of our time: COVID-19. The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic transcended almost everything in 2020 (the good and the bad), including the environment, from cancelled summits on climate and biodiversity, to a temporary dip in air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions, to greater awareness of the link between human health and climate change. As climate rallies and events were cancelled, Earth Day quickly pivoted from mobilizing millions on the ground to raising hundreds of millions of voices digitally. Fittingly, in Canada, the Earth Day theme was climate action with the main message being: “keeping our distance at home, but taking action for the planet together”. Now, we’re in the slow and gradual transition to a green recovery. 

Present day – The fight for our planet continues with increasing urgency. A\J has partnered with Earth Day Canada to shine a light on Earth Day celebrations through the years and explore the evolution of this day through this editorial series. This Earth Day will be spent at home, and Earth Day Canada has put together some practical, creative, and smart ideas for #EarthDayAtHome. The Earth Day Canada 2021 theme is Take Care of the Planet. The official campaign features “animals that have to clean up their polluted environments themselves”. The goal is to raise awareness about the urgency we are facing, and to encourage Canadians to #TakeCareOfThePlanet every day because it’s our responsibility to do so. 

Earth Day Canada’s #TakeCareOfThePlanet 2021 Campaign // Source: EarthDay.ca

Stay tuned for next week’s article for more about what Earth Day means for us this year, and how we can and should be celebrating the planet in the present day.

This article is part of a 3-part editorial series, in collaboration with Earth Day Canada, titled ‘The Past, Present, and Future of Earth Day’. Check out the full series here!

The post Earth Day: Origins   appeared first on A\J.

Like many things, the truth usually lies somewhere down the middle. Yes, we have made progress this year, but we still have a long way to go. We must take the time to celebrate our wins but remain aware of the hills and mountains left to climb. 

As many of you know, the team at A\J have been writing a weekly column called WTF (the Week this Friday) where we take the time to reflect and report on the environmental stories from the week passed. As one of the most pivotal years of this century comes to a close, we think it is only fitting to highlight the environmental wins and losses of the year…WTF 2020!

1. Air pollution levels lowered from the coronavirus

Source: Pixabay

One silver lining from lockdowns this year was the eco benefit it seemed to have on the natural world. Less people moving around translated to less greenhouse gas emissions. According to the Guardian, back in March, at the height of China’s lockdown “NO2 levels were down by 38% from 2019 and levels of PM 2.5 were down by 34%”.

Unfortunately, as lockdowns eased up, people began moving around again and the highest polluting industries wasted no time in recovering. According to scientists from the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air, once lockdowns eased up again in spring/summer, NO2 levels in China quickly recovered.

According to scientists from the Scripps Institution of Oceanography, emissions would have to drop by approximately 20-30% for 6 to 12 months to actually make a difference. However, global emissions this year likely only dropped by about 7% compared to 2019. 

One of the few good things that came out of the coronavirus pandemic was the realization that we could live in a much less mobile world. During lockdown, we witnessed massive reductions of global CO2 and other GHG emissions which contribute to climate change (even if this was just temporarily). Experts and citizens alike encouraged decisions makers that this is the time to rebuild in a more sustainable way. Unfortunately, unless governments get serious about rebuilding into a more green recovery, it looks like we are just going to go back to our old ways.

2. New Delhi drops down to second place in the most polluted city in the world

Source: Pixabay 

This year, Lahore, Pakistan was named the most polluted city in the world with a particulate matter (PM) rating of 423with an AQI (air quality index) of 301. In previous years, New Delhi was ranked the most polluted city. This year, they dropped down to second place with a PM rating of 229.

For reference, the US Environmental Protection Agency has previously stated air that is “satisfactory” falls under an AQI of 50. 

Years of smog, dust from construction, and crop burning have all likely contributed to such high PM and AQI levels. Air quality in Lahore worsens from October to February when farmers are most likely to burn their crops, which contributes to the overall smog problem. To protect themselves from the pollution, Lahore’s residents are advised to wear a mask, run air purifiers and close windows in their homes, and avoid outdoor exercise. 

3. The Amazon forest fires

Source: Pixabay 

Back in August, 2020 was on course to be the worst year in over a decade for deforestation in the Amazon. Illegal tree loss was accelerating. In May, after facing immense global pressure, Brazil’s President, Jair Bolsonaro, had sent in the army to fight illegal logging – this plan was dubbed ‘Operation Green Brazil 2’. Although this was likely all just for show (deforestation has accelerated ever since Bolsonaro took office in 2019, growing by 209%). 

One area of the forest that had fared worse than the others in tree loss was Rondônia, an area that has seen growing deforestation since the mid-80’s. Rondônia is almost the same size as the UK has been burned and cut down to make way for crops and logging businesses. In the summer, NBC Forensics focused on Rondônia as the military was sent in – meant to track the ‘successes’ and accomplishments of Bolsonaro’s mission.

Bolsonaro falsely claimed the mission a success. However, the figures supplied by the government’s own space research agency demonstrated deforestation rates in May of 2020 and higher than in May 2019. In fact, the government’s own data showed that deforestation is increasing every single month since the previous year for 13 months in a row. 

What is happening in Rondônia is a reflection of what is happening throughout the Amazon. Eventually, the Amazon will reach a tipping point, where the tree loss will result in a rainforest that cannot produce enough rain to sustain itself. 

4. Trump withdrew from the Paris Agreement 

Source: Pixabay

This year, the United States officially withdrew from the Paris climate agreement. 

It was first announced back in 2017 that Donald Trump would back out of the Paris agreement. However, the Paris agreement requires nations to wait a minimum of three years before giving notice to leave (partly to prevent future presidents from withdrawing from the deal in the name of short term interests). This is why the US did not formally leave until the end of 2020. 

The Paris agreement was established in 2015 in order to collectively battle the threat of climate change and keep the global temperature rise below 2C above pre-industrial measures. 

The United States is ranked the second top polluting country, accounting for over 15% of global emissions. Pulling out of the agreement poorly reflects the values of American in regards to climate change.

However, this news isn’t all bad. Joe Biden, new president elect recently announced that his administration will rejoin the Paris agreement once he takes office. Phew! 

5. Canada’s proposal to ban single use plastics and a new Net zero plan 

Source: Pixabay 

My favorite story of the year! 

This year, Ottawa announced single-use plastic straws and plastic shopping bans are among the six items that the federal government plans to ban in 2021. The six items include: stir sticks, six-pack rings, plastic cutlery and plastic food take-out containers. This decision is part of a broader initiative to divert plastics from landfills and classify them as a “toxic substance”. 

This ban is one of elements of a broader plan on their list to reach zero plastic waste by 2030. The government will consult on it’s plans this December because they are sure to experience pushback from industry groups and the Albertan government which have already voiced concerns – especially about the toxic classification on plastics. Alberta is worried that this federal plan will undermine the provinces’ petrochemical sector and its goal of becoming a plastics-recycling hub. Instead, Alberta states that Ottawa should focus on creating a circular economy whereby plastics from manufacturing go through recycling. 

Environment and Climate Change Minister, Jonathan Wilkinson, pressed on that the ban is necessary because of the significant harm plastics are causing to Canada’s wildlife and coastlines. A daunting statistic was mentioned: In Canada, only 9% of the plastic that is thrown out is recycled. The government also plans to set recycled-content requirements on products and packaging and will further consult with all provinces and territories to set up these targets. Additionally, earlier this year the federal government released a draft state-of-the-science assessment on plastic pollution – effectively arming Ottawa with the scientific basis to regulate plastics. Basically, the assessment discussed the dangers of macro and microplastics causing harm to the environment and on wildlife. 

Members of Greenpeace have criticized the ban, saying that this is simply not enough of a response for the severity of the global plastics problem. I would have to disagree; I think this is a great first step.

Moreover, other governments have tried to implement a ban on single use plastics in some form or another in the past (read about Laredo’s plastic bag ban), and have lost because big oil won’t go down without a fight and is eager send their reps into the courtroom or lean on old legislation to prevent a plastic ban from going through. With these past failures in mind, I would rather take small victories over a huge loss. 

6. Coral reefs: The Great Barrier Reef moved to critical conservation outlook  

Source: Pixabay

According to the International Union for Conservation for Nature (IUCN), the health of Australia’s Great Barrier Reef, the world’s most extensive and once spectacular coral reef ecosystem, is in a critical state and deteriorating as climate change warms up the waters in which it lies. The Reef has lost more than half its coral in the past three decades. Coral-bleaching in 2016, 2017 and now 2020 has further damaged its health and affected its animal, bird and marine population.  

Coral bleaching occurs when hotter water temperatures destroy the algae which corals feed on, causing them to turn completely stark white. Because of mass bleaching events, the IUCN moved the reef’s status to critical and deteriorating on its watchlist. Some activities which threaten it, like fishing and coastal development, can be tackled by the management authorities. 

“Other pressures cannot be addressed at the site level, such as climate change, which is recognized as the greatest threat,” the IUCN explained. Although efforts to safeguard the reef are rising, the process has been slow under a long-term sustainability plan through 2050. HSBC and the Queensland government said back in October that they would buy “Reef Credits”, a tradable unit that quantifies and values the work undertaken to improve water quality flowing onto the reef. 

According to Optimist Daily, “Buying one credit is the equivalent of removing one kilogram of nitrogen from the water, or preventing 538 kilograms of sediment from entering the ocean.”

Cool!

7. The rise of jobs in the sustainability sector (Netflix, Microsoft… did big hirings this year) 

Source: Pixabay

As a sustainability grad, one of the most promising changes (stories) of the year was witnessing the rise of jobs in the sustainability sector. Companies that would have never before considered hiring a team “to make them more green” now have huge departments all focussed on reducing company emissions and leaving behind a better legacy. To name just a few examples, this year Netflix, Microsoft and Tesla have all been making major hiring moves in sustainability. 

According to ECO Canada, “In the next 3 – 5 years, 84% of sustainability consulting firms expect to hire, creating about 400 new positions. A further 3,800 new jobs will be added to this number as 46% of other sustainability employers increase their staff…The top employers of sustainability professionals are governments (employing 27% of sustainability professionals), research institutions and not-for-profits (24%), large companies in manufacturing, oil & gas, mining, forestry and utilities (10%) and businesses in retail, finance and insurance (10%).”

Good news for sustainability! 

8. The Earthshot Prize 

Source: Flood Control Asia 

Move over Nobel Peace Prize, the Nobel Prize for environmentalism is coming through!

Back in October, Sir David Attenborough joined forces with Prince William to launch “The Earthshot Prize”. According to BBC, this is the biggest environmental prize to date. They are searching for 50 solutions to the world’s biggest environmental problems, allocating five one million-pound prizes (valuing at $1,704,300 CAD each) to be awarded over the next decade. 

Prince William believes this prize could be the positivity that the environmentalism movement is missing, “The Earthshot prize is really about harnessing that optimism and that urgency to find some of the world’s solutions to some of the greatest environmental problems,” he told the BBC.

According to the Earthshot website, the prize was inspired by President John F. Kennedy’s Moonshot, “which united millions of people around an organising goal to put man on the moon and catalysed the development of new technology in the 1960s.” Attenborough believes it’s this same spirit that can guide the next generation of thinkers and dreamers to solve some of earth’s problems.

The announcement came just after Sir David Attenborough released his latest documentary, “A Life on Our Planet”. 

I am looking forward to seeing where this goes.

9. Tree’s ability to socialize and “speak” to each other. 

Source: Unsplash

This December, the New York Times shared that forests are social and communicate with one another through dense fungi networks in the soil below the canopy.

More specifically, “trees and fungi form partnerships known as mycorrhizas: Threadlike fungi envelop and fuse with tree roots, helping them extract water and nutrients like phosphorus and nitrogen in exchange for some of the carbon-rich sugars the trees make through photosynthesis.”

Suzanne Simard, a professor of forest ecology at the University of British Columbia, has been studying these relationships in the wild, coastal forests of North America. Through her research, Sinard discovered that these fungal threads link EVERY tree together in the forest- even ones of different species!

These linkages allow vital molecules including carbon, water, and other nutrients to pass through the network circuits. Wait, it gets better. Simard also stated that chemical signals are also passed through this network, allowing trees to signal to others nearby when there is danger.

“If a tree is on the brink of death, it sometimes bequeaths a substantial share of its carbon to its neighbors.”

Is anyone cutting onions in here?

10. Doug Ford’s conservation authority changes

Source: NationalPost

In December, the Ontario government passed its new budget bill. One major change to this bill was the new constraints on the conservation authorities in the province to regulate development and “introduced new channels through which developers can obtain permits.”

According to the Globe and Mail, there are 36 conservation authorities in Ontario (with most of them in the southern end) all tasked with protecting the various watersheds that make up the province. This might include operating dams, defending against flooding or erosion, regulating development on wetlands, protecting water sources, and managing natural parks. Ultimately, conservation authorities are nature’s defender against poor land use policies. 

Unfortunately, their ability to defend will be threatened with the upcoming changes as a result of the new bill. And this isn’t the first time the government has tried to sidestep these authorities. Past budget cuts and using ministerial zoning orders (MZO) has allowed the government to circumvent the rules and bypass conservation authorities. 

Schedule 6 of the new bill will only add to this momentum. Changes include:

• The conservation authorities must now issue a permit once an MZO has been issued
• Developers can more easily appeal a conservation authorities decision

The decisions ultimately allow developers to take the path of least resistance if they want to build on a naturally significant area, while making it harder for conservation authorities to fight back and stand up for what they are meant to do.

11. Buzzworthy – Honeybee venom shown to kill cancer cells

Source: Unsplash

Now here is some news to buzz about, scientists in Australia have found that Honeybee venom has been linked to killing some aggressive breast cancer cells. This exciting news shows signs of hope for treatment of breast cancer – which is the leading cancer in women across the globe, representing 25% of all cancers in women.

Melittin – the compound within the venom were used to destroy two cancer types: triple-negative and HER2-enriched. Bee venom has been discussed to have anti-cancer properties before but there is still a long way to go from watching cancer cells be destroyed in petri dishes to being applied in medicinal practice.

It does provide us with hope and has proven to be yet another prime example of how nature is really the best doctor we have. Dr. Ciara Duffy a 25-year-old PhD researcher led the study and found the venom killed the cancer cells within an hour! We hope to see more development with this great news, and hopefully it increases acceptance towards incorporating more holistic approaches to cancer and medicinal treatments. Now that is buzzworthy.

12. Stay away poachers: rare white giraffe is now being tracked 

Source: Unsplash

Being the only white giraffe left is causing a stir up around the world to protect the remarkable creature, the extremely rare giraffe now has a tracker attached to it in order to trace its whereabouts hourly – this allows rangers in Kenya to monitor the giraffe and keep it out of danger from poachers. The device was planted on one of the horns on the animal on November 8th.. 

The white colour of the giraffe is from the absence of pigmentation in its skin – also called leucism, which is a rare genetic condition that can affect a variety of animals. Due to its rarity – the  animal is in a critical position to stay alive as the rest of its family has been killed off by poachers and making this one especially lucrative in the poaching and wildlife trafficking underground market.

The conservation status of the species as a whole is vulnerable, with over 68,000 giraffes in the world. Two white giraffes of the same family were killed in march and there was discussion that there was one found in Tanzania in 2015. With the tracking device, this hopes to protect the vulnerable giraffe and keep it out of harm’s way.

13. Shell Canada going carbon neutral

Source: Unsplash

Shell will become the first gas retailer in Canada to offer a program that offsets emissions from customer fuel purchases with an optional buy-in at the pump. The Drive Carbon Neutral program will be available to 1,400 stations Canada wide. The program allows customers to offset their carbon emissions from fossil fuels for two cents a litre. Shell states that many of their carbon conscious customers were demanding them to do more. They also stated that many individuals cannot afford to buy an electric car but still want to offset their carbon footprint – this will allow this to happen. This is a model that was taken from a program in Europe, which saw positive feedback and adoption levels with nearly 20 percent of people in the Netherlands using it.

Shell also announced their plan to reforest British Columbia in a partnership with Central Chilcotin Rehabilitation. They aim to plant 840,000 native trees in effort to resort much of what was lost in the 2017 wildfires. They plan to do this over a two-year planting period, with the cost being unreleased. Meanwhile Environmental Defence is arguing that this is “pure greenwashing”, as it directs the cost onto the consumer rather than the giant who is profiting from the world using fossil fuels.

14. A galaxy of microfibers in California – literally

Source: Unsplash 

Invisible but plentiful is a good way to describe the unfortunate situation of the plastic microfiber problem. A whooping 13.3 quadrillion (yes, quadrillion) plastic fibers are found in California alone – that is more than 130,000 times more fibers as there are stars in the Milky Way galaxy. In 2019, an estimated 4,000 metric tons were released into California’s natural environment. With these fibers ending up in our water systems, a study found that 73% of fish caught at mid-ocean depth in the Atlantic had microplastics in their stomachs. 

The fibers are under 5mm in length and most often come from washing materials in our laundry. Mostly from synthetic fibers that make up our clothing, they go from our washing machines all the way to our water streams. Just one load alone can pass out more than 700,000 fibers alone. The amount of microfibers shed also depends on the material, wash temperature, detergent, etc. 

15. Hottest Temperatures EVER recorded 

Source: Unsplash

We hit a record again! There is no surprise of temperatures reaching soaring highs with the rising records of fossil fuels emissions, every year seems to hit a new heat record. But Death Valley held the flaming torch of the highest temperature ever recorded on Earth, sitting at 54.4C (130F).

Death Valley is a desert valley in the Mojave Desert that lies 86 meters below sea level. It is one of the hottest places on Earth but these soaring temperatures this high have never been accurately recorded before. There were extreme heat advisories, urging people to not walk in the desert past 10AM. 

It serves as the hottest air temperature ever recorded, this begs the question of what is to come in the future. It is so hot, that the sweat evaporates so fast off your skin that you actually don’t feel wet. Talk about a hot – n – not sweaty?

16. Zero carbon flights by 2035? 

Source: Unsplash

By 2020, we may have already expected flying cars – while our expectations may have been sold short, we do have something as exciting in the talks. Transportation giant Airbus has revealed their plans for the first commercial emission-free flight by 2035. Airbus has three ZEROe concepts in store, all to use hydrogen to power the planes.

In order to truly make this a feasible carbon-free option, it relies on finding large quantities of renewable or low-emitting sources of hydrogen. As this process currently relies mostly on methane and fossil fuels – it is not exactly a low-carbon option but more innovative solutions to hopefully come in future announcements.

One of the concept designs could carry up to 200 passengers for more than 2,000 miles. This is a milestone waiting to happen in the aviation industry and would mark a remarkable moment in history – with hopes that all travel and transportation can one day be emission free.

17. Google now has a carbon footprint of zero.

Source: Shutterstock

The tech giant has set the bar again. Although already being carbon neutral since 2007, Google now has offset their entire carbon footprint to ever exist. While many in the technology industry are right behind Google – such as Microsoft and Apple. Microsoft has released a statement to become “carbon negative” by 2030, and Apple is announcing to be carbon neutral for their business and the supply chain for their products by 2030. 

Google is also moving into using carbon-free energy by 2030 by using renewable energy such as solar and wind to power their operations. They also plan to increase their use of battery storage. Artificial intelligence will also come into play by allowing AI to forecast the demand of electricity. This shift would create over 12,000 jobs in the span of five years. Not only will it be good for the environment to turn away from oil and gas but it will also contribute to the economy, as they vowed to no longer create AI for oil and gas exploration. Nice one Google!

18. Thailand will shut national parks regularly to protect nature 

Source: Unsplash 

Footsteps are not the only things left on the beach. Many tourists flock to Thailand to enjoy their sandy beaches, crystal clear water, and a beautiful culture. Being a travel and tourism hotspot for many years, this has left a lasting impact on the natural environment. 

However, thanks to COVID-19, the closure of parks has allowed nature to recover by seeing the return of whales and turtles. This is a lesson that speaks volumes as the Natural Resources & Environment authorities now want to close the national parks yearly for two to four months to ensure the ecosystem and wildlife health remains stable and is not overexerted. 

Thailand has more than a 100 national parks and attracts between 10 – 20 million visitors, with this year expecting to drop below 7 million visitors. While tourism is one of the main economic pillars for Thailand’s economy, amounting to one-fifth to their gross domestic product, it could not keep up with the unsustainable degradation the heavy tourism brought. In order to sustain future tourism and a healthy ecosystem, Thailand conservation authorities saw first hand through the pandemic how with time, nature can begin to restore itself.

19. We can see penguin colonies from space

Source: Unsplash

Want the good news or the bad news first? We’ll start with the good. Emperor penguins are very difficult to study due to their extremely remote nature, making them often inaccessible with Arctic temperature conditions dropping below -50 degrees celsius. But good news, a new study using satellite mapping tech reveals that there are 20% more emperor penguin colonies in Antarctica than was previously thought. The scientists from British Arctic Survey (BAS) explain that they used images from European Commission’s Copernicus Sentinel-2 satellite mission to locate birds. They were able to find 11 new emperor penguin colonies, three of which were previously identified, but not confirmed. These findings take the global census to 61 colonies around the continent. 

BAS scientists have been searching for new colonies for the past 10 years using land-based research methods. Dr. Peter Fretwell, a BAS geographer, says that satellite images have enabled scientists to discover colonies that would have been extremely difficult to find otherwise.  

Now here comes the bad news as promised, the colonies are so few and far between that this discovery takes the overall population count up by 5-10% to just over half a million penguins in total. Emperor penguins are known to be vulnerable to loss of sea ice (their breeding habitat). Given current climate change projections, this habitat is likely to further decline. Most of the new colonies are on the edge of the breeding ground meaning that they are likely to be lost as the climate warms. 

20. Water is now trading on wall street

Source: Unsplash

Water, a necessity to all life on our planet, is now being traded on Wall street. We should have seen this one coming, another natural resource commodified and brought onto Wall street. CME Group – the company in charge of managing the contracts states that water will be traded on Wall Street due to the fear of rising scarcity in the future. As with other traded commodities like oil and gold, the price will fluctuate due to supply and demand.

According to the Nasdaq Velez California Water Index, the price of water has doubled in the last year, and the market price of it is at 1.1 billion dollars. On December 7th the trading price started at $486.53 per acre-foot equating to 1,233 cubic meters.

Water contracts are a first of their kind, incubated by the heat and wildfires in California, this change hopes to protect the resource for California’s consumers to indicate the scarcity and the value it holds. Over 2 billion people live amongst water scarcity around the world…This foreshadows the grim future of millions of people getting displaced by this factor. Not only will water limit industries, but it will trickle down to limited supply for human consumption too.

—

Well 2020 being crazy and turbulent are just a few words we can agree on describing this year in a nutshell (basically this year was one big WTF, right?) With the ever so dynamic natural world and constantly shifting state of politics, it can often make it hard to keep up with what is going on in the ‘green’ world. That is why our team has had the pleasure of picking our top six weekly environmental stories in our weekly column, The WTF (The Weekly This Friday). 

We hope to have even more environmental wins for 2021 for us to document every Friday – yes we are extending the series into the next year (woo!) We are hoping to hear less about the pandemic and leave it in the rearview mirror of 2020, and make more strides and reach even more environmental triumphs. We hope you had the pleasure coming along this ride with us of reading these stories as much as we had writing them.

The post WTF 2020 appeared first on A\J.

Every year around the holidays, we go into this “EVERYTHING IN EXCESS” mode where our brain wants to consume, consume, and consume. And with all that consumption comes a whole lot of trash and waste. In fact, we produce 25–30% more waste around Christmas time than we do the rest of the year.

However, there are many ways we can still celebrate the holidays without the environmental guilt….

1. Purchase eco-friendly gifts

“Studies have shown that a single wash of polyester clothing can release as many as 700,000 microplastics into the water supply…Consider plastic-free gifts like tote bags, sponge cloths, produce bags and plastic-free toiletry kits, as well as clothing made of merino wool and cotton over polyester and nylon clothing over the holidays,” says Dmytriy Pereklita, the founder of OnePieceADay.  Pereklita says that many brands like Patagonia are still stylish yet sourced from more sustainable materials.

OnePieceADay has recently launched an e-commerce marketplace where you can find environmentally-conscious gifts for your friends and family (I like the reusable produce and bulk food bags- pictured above).

Pereklita also emphasized consumers should be thinking about where their gifts are coming from. “Are they from local shops which you can pick up and deliver with minimal carbon footprint?” he asked, “Or are they being flown in from overseas, driven by a truck across the country? Try to support local businesses as much as possible especially during the pandemic.”

2. Switch to reusable gift wrapping

In Canada, we send 540,000 tonnes of gift wrapping and gift bangs to the landfill every holiday season.

“Avoid the usual fancy paper gift wrapping since most of it cannot be recycled. Consider using burlap, old newspapers, dish cloths etc.… For deliveries, you can ask vendors how they package their products prior to making a decision to purchase” says Pereklita. “Reuse as much as you can…or go naked – i.e. no wrapping! Try hiding unwrapped gifts in the house for a fun gift hunt!”

My Green Closet has a useful YouTube video which shows you how you can make your own reusable gift bags here (pictured above).

I would also suggest that if you do decide to go down the gift bag route, skip on the tissue paper and keep the bags you get this year to reuse for someone else’s gift next year.

3. Avoid plastic and single-use housing decorations

Christmas decorations tend to be a plastic heavy, glitter ball mess that usually ends up in a landfill after a few years. Instead of going this route, why not try making your own holiday decorations using sustainable materials? It could be a fun activity for your friends and family.

I like the recycled card wreath from Good Housekeeping (pictured above).

4. Buy a real tree

I know what you are thinking – cutting down a tree? No way! But hear me out. When you look at the lifecycle or the plastic tree alternative, it is actually much worse for the environment. According to Environmental Defense, most plastic trees are not recyclable. After a few seasons, they sit in landfills for the next THOUSAND years! So Instead of purchasing a plastic tree, opt for a real one. If you are still feeling bad about it, plant a new tree in its place afterwards!

When the holidays are over, there are many eco friendly ways to dispose of your real-live tree and bring it back to compost. Cities all over Canada, like Calgary, run Christmas tree composting programs after the holidays so you can be sure your tree is going back to the earth.

5. Go plastic free during holiday gatherings

SOURCE: HUFFPOST

While it may be nice to not have to do the dishes, Environmental Defense says plastic waste from (COVID-19 friendly) holiday gatherings like cups, plates and cutlery often do not end up recycled and go straight to the garbage. So, if you can, use reusable plates, cutlery, and cups.

Single use cups often get thrown out more as people mix up their cups at gatherings, stay with reusable glassware and to avoid the mix up, you can use a wine glass writer to mark your cup!

After the gathering, you can label different bins for recycling, compost, and trash so your guests can also properly dispose of their waste.

6. Avoid wasting food

SOURCE: Fork in the Road

The best part about Christmas, the food! Unfortunately, food waste accounts for a massive portion of holiday waste. If there is leftover food after dinner, send your guest home with food goodie bags! Another option is to save leftovers and scraps for soup stocks instead of throwing them out.

Find a good recipe on how to make vegetable broth from food scraps here.

7. DIY gifts

A DIY gift is a gift from the heart! I am on the east coast for the holidays this year and our beaches are often littered with broken bottles and sea glass. So instead of buying gifts, I am going to gift my family sea glass art pieces (link here). But shhhh… don’t tell them!

8. Offer vegetarian/low meat meals  

According to Random Acts of Green, “At Christmas in 2019, 2.7 million whole turkeys were purchased in Canada!” And yes, the Christmas ham and turkey are holiday staples, I know. But are they really needed? If you answer yes, opt for purchasing ham and turkey (and any other ingredients that end up on the table) from more ethically sourced options. Try buying local or organic instead this year!

Or even better, go meatless this Christmas! Make a new family tradition to use Christmas as the one time a year the entire family goes meatless. Also, you can cut down on the size of the turkeys and or switch to a smaller chicken instead to ensure less food is leftover.

9. Use LED lights

I love going for late night walks around the holidays and looking at all the Christmas lights in my neighbourhood. Christmas lights just put people in a good mood. This year, inside or outside, try and use LED lights instead of regular incandescent ones (LED lights actually use up to 80% less energy).

10. Gift an experience

Instead of buying something that will be donated or tossed in a landfill a few years down the road, why not gift someone a fun experience and happy memories? Environmental Defense has a ton of great gift ideas like Spanish lessons, paint night, salsa dancing, going to the theatre… There are tons of options. I am just saying but if someone gifted a young version of myself hip hop dance lessons for Christmas, I wouldn’t have been mad.

11. Donate to a worthy cause/ upcycle

“Instead of gifts, consider giving the gift of giving,” says Dmytriy Pereklita. “There are groups around the world in need of financial support for eco-friendly causes. Honour someone special by donating on their behalf to one of the following groups committed to helping the planet.”

A few worthy ones Pereklita mentioned:

Save the Whales https://savethewhales.org/donate/

Plastic Pollution Coalition https://connect.plasticpollutioncoalition.org/donate

WWF https://shop.wwf.ca/collections/virtual-gifts

OnePieceADay https://ca.gofundme.com/f/td4eg-one-piece-a-day

12. Create a new sustainable family tradition

Random Acts of Green says starting a new sustainable family tradition can give you much needed time to reflect on how we can help the earth, while still spending time with your loved ones. A few ideas they suggested included, bird watching, going on a nature walk, collecting garbage, or planting a tree to symbolize the value of nature.

The post 12 Eco Tips for Christmas appeared first on A\J.

SOURCE: crystalcandymakeup

New research indicates that glitter is causing ecological damage to freshwater habitats. Yes, I am talking about the glitter in your $70-dollar Urban Decay eyeshadow palette.

According to a new study led by Dr. Dannielle Green of Anglia Ruskin University (ARU), glitter is effecting the root length of common duckweed, and lowering the levels of chlorophyl in the surrounding water.

“Our study is the first to look at the effects of glitter in a freshwater environment and we found that both conventional and alternative glitters can have a serious ecological impact on aquatic ecosystems within a short period of time,” Green said, “All types, including so-called biodegradable glitter, have a negative effect on important primary producers which are the base of the food web.”

Green said she believes the harmful effects might be a result of the plastic coating surrounding the glitter leaching into the water. Her team is planning on examining these effects further. Moreover, this kind of research opens to the door to looking more closely at the harmful effects the cosmetic industry has on the natural environment.

In the meantime, this is just one more reason to buy the matte shadows next time you’re at Sephora, I never liked the glitters anyway.

Zoom Towns

SOURCE: Pexels

A side effect of the Covid-19 virus that I actually enjoy is my new ability to work remotely. Because of this, I have been able to “ride out the pandemic” in much nicer places. Apparently, I am not the only one who sees this appeal. According to Phys.Org, getaway communities all around north west US, which host ski reports, national parks etc… have seen an influx of visitors since the pandemic- all wanting to also “ride it out”.

This influx, also known as amenity migration, has created the rise of “zoom towns”.

Danya Rumore, from the Department of City & Metropolitan Planning at the University of Utah has been studying these development changes in these getaway communities. “This trend was already happening,” Rumore said, “but amenity migration into these communities has been expedited and it can have destructive consequences if not planned for and managed. Many of these places are, as some people say, at risk of being loved to death.”

Rumores team found a variety of problems associated with the influx of visitors in these communities including changes in housing affordability, environmental degradation, and transportation issues. To try and relieve some of these pressures from the rapid migration to these towns, her team launched the Gateway and Natural Amenity Region (GNAR) Initiative.

Rumore stated, “The main takeaway from our study and work with gateway communities is that these towns and cities need to plan ahead to manage change and the things that come with it….The goal of the GNAR Initiative is to help these places thrive and preserve the things that make them so special.”

As many microfibers in California as stars in the Milky Way.

Source: Unsplash

A new study has found a shocking new way to scale pollution from plastic microfibers found in synthetic clothing. It has created one of the most prevalent type of plastic waste. It is often overlooked as it is mostly invisible.

They found in 2019 that an approximate of 4,000 metric tons – or 13.3 quadrillion fibers were released to California. To put 13.3 quadrillion into scale, the authors of the study have compared it to as many stars found in the Milky Way galaxy.

These fibers are made up of microplastics that are smaller than 5mm and shed mostly in the wash cycle. Around 700,000 fibers are released per every wash, but it also depends on the materials, temperature, detergent. It mostly comes from clothing made up of any type of synthetic materials, with the biggest culprit of shedding being acrylic and polyester. The fibers then make their way into the water systems and airways at the end of the cycle.

Currently, no washing machines have any filters to capture the fibers but studies have found that certain conditions of the wash cycle contribute more to the shedding of the microplastics. Thick fabrics shed more than thin ones, new garments shed more than older ones, hot wash produces more than colder temperatures, and top loading washers cause more shed than front load washers.

Swinging for Hope

Source:Pixabay

With landslides tearing forests apart, it segregates many species of primates and other wildlife from vital and necessary conditions to find food and mates. Scientists have created an innovative, yet temporary solution: a rope connecting tree to tree – allowing the apes to roam further to find essentials for survival.

The most rare primate in the world – a gibbon was seen swinging across the artificial rope bridges. They only reside in China’s Hainan island. Many other primates have learnt to use the artificial bridge but it was the first sign of the gibbons using it for their needs.

Conservation scientists state that the structure is an essential lifeline for these species – while the forests are being restored after the landslides. There are now five groups of gibbons making up the population of around 30 of the species. With deforestation and habitat destruction deeply affecting their vitality. The numbers from 2003 – 13 gibbons to now 2020 – 30 gibbons have shown that there is hope to bring these rare species back into a stable status through conservation efforts – the bridge is a swing of hope to keep this momentum going.

Ancient Colony of Penguin Mummies found in Antarctica 

Cape Irizar – near the coast line
Source: CTV News 

We knew that global warming reached one of the coldest regions on Earth – Antarctica, but what we didn’t know was what the snow melt would reveal.  In 2016, U.S. researchers discovered a remarkably preserved ancient penguin colony on a rocky and remote Cape Irizar which overlooks the Ross Sea. Lead author of the study, Steven Emslie, was puzzled, explaining that it was strange because there hadn’t been any record of breeding penguins in that area since its discovery in 1901. When Emslie and his research team reached the cape’s coast, they discovered pebble mounds that penguins used to nests in addition to plenty of penguin excrement. Initially, Emslie thought this was just an active colony that they may have missed, however, it soon dawned on him that he may have stumbled upon an ancient colony that had been buried by snow and was only now being exposed due to rising global temperatures. In order to confirm that this was in fact an ancient colony, the research team excavated three of the pebble mounds and brought back samples of the bones, feathers, eggshells, and skin to the lab. Using radiocarbon dating, it was confirmed that the penguins likely last occupied the area during ““medieval warm period,” which began about 1,200 years ago and ended at the start of the “Little Ice Age,” approximately 800 years ago”. So that’s the story of the ancient penguins – the colony was fresh, covered and frozen until it recently re-emerged. Thawing glaciers have been revealing archeological artifacts in the North for some time now. However, in the Southern hemisphere this has not been the case. Emslie predicts that “we’ll see more of it in the future with the melting trend.” These findings prove that climate change is real and it’s happening in one of the coldest parts of the world. To read more about these findings click here. 

The World is Losing its Coral Reefs – Coral Bleaching 

Coral Bleaching at Heron Island, Queensland during thee 2016-2017 mass bleaching event
Source: The Guardian 

Australia’s Great Barrier Reef had lost more than half of its coral since 1995. Scientists have found that all types of corals suffered a decline across the world’s largest reef system. This catastrophe is due to warmer seas driven by climate change. The steepest falls came after mass coral bleaching events in 2016 and 2017. More mass bleaching occurred this year. The study was conducted by researchers at the ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies in Queensland, Australia. Scientists assessed the health and size of coral colonies across the reef from 1995 to 2017. Their findings indicate that populations had dropped by more than 50% in all coral sizes and species, but significantly in branding and table-shaped coral reefs which are the large structures that provide habitats for fish and marine life. Professor Terry Hughes, co-author of the study, explained that these coral types have been worst affected by continuous mass bleaching events. Bleaching occurs when water is too warm, causing the corals to expel the algae (zooxanthellae) living in their tissues ultimately leading the coral to turn completely white. If normal temperate conditions return, the coral can recover, however, this process can take decades. Lead author of the study, Dr. Andy Dietzel, explains that the recovery of the Great Barrier Reef is compromised compared to the past because there are fewer baby corals and fewer large breeding adults. This is not good news. In March of this year, scientists reported the reef had suffered its third mass bleaching event in 5 years. The full scale of the insurmountable damage is still being assessed.  Human driven warming remains the biggest threat to long-term reef survival. We must take urgent action by sharply decreasing GHG emissions and curb global warming or there won’t be any corals left. “The UN has warned that if global temperate rise reaches 1.5C, 90% of the world’s corals will be wiped out completely”. To read an interview conducted with Terry Hughes click here.

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 Here is Matt’s Eco-Hero Story – Covid Cleanup Project

My name is Matt McCoy and I am a graduating student from the University of Guelph and an Oakville resident. I have always been a big fan of hiking on the trails in Oakville, my favourite spot being the 16 Mile Creek trail system. On my hikes, I couldn’t help to notice the constant eyesores of garbage scattered all through the trails that I grew up wandering through. When COVID-19 hit, I found myself motivated to use this moment as the perfect opportunity to get families and other students out to do something for the greater good of our neighborhood. We organized a garbage cleanup, giving us a chance to reconnect with nature during the times of human isolation AND to give back something to nature in the process: a local movement of good.

On April 24th, I decided to take action and launched an initiative called “Covid Cleanup Project” with the goal of using this time to clean up our trails and environment. I created a website with a scheduling tool to ensure that people could get out at different times and keep a distance from others, and used social media to get the word out to my friends. I even reached out to Rob Burton, who serves as the Mayor of Oakville, and he graciously gave his full support for this movement. 

The project officially wrapped up on July 8^th. The results? Almost 200 bags of garbage collected in 7 cities across the GTA with over 40 volunteers helping out. As part of the initiative, we were also able to raise $2,440 for Second Harvest Canada, Canada’s largest food rescue and food bank, who have been doing incredible work by helping those that have been most affected by COVID-19 the hardest. 

This project combines my passion for entrepreneurship and environmental activism. In my first year of university, I started a barbecue cleaning and repairs company right here in Oakville which I grew to over 30 employees across Ontario, eventually landing a deal on CBC’s Dragons’ Den. After spending much of my university life focused on growing this business, I recently sold the business and used the skills I learned to launch a new startup called Start Smart Inc., with the goal of helping other students get their start in entrepreneurship while still in their studies. 

When the Covid-19 pandemic hit, I decided to put the time to purpose and use the skills I had learned to launch the Covid Cleanup Project. This project aims to get students and families out on the trails, clean up some litter and gain an appreciation for our local environment. 

Starting this project, my one motto which plays over and over in my head: “Think global, act local” that kept this movement alive. This motto can be traced back to my first grade teacher, Mme Linton. Mme Linton was a passionate environmental advocate who started a project that became ingrained in our identity of our school. This project was called “Dream Acres” and was launched with the goal of beautifying our school grounds and teaching students the importance of environmental stewardship. Showing us that when environmental appreciation is integrated during the childhood experience, it will often be carried into our adulthood,

I’ve been lucky enough to have many positive influences in my life and I am excited to find ways to inspire others to take on similar projects and initiatives. If we’re going to save the planet, it’s going to take the effort of many individuals to come together and create the change, one baby step to one giant leap at a time. Let’s get started! 

Matt McCoy 

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Microplastics have been found in the ocean, in the soil and in our food and drinks but they are also found in the air. They are formed from plastics being broken down into smaller pieces and according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association, they are about the size of a grain of rice (approximately 5mm). Indoor microplastics exist in the form of fibres. This originates from items such as clothing fabrics, furniture textiles, toys and microbeads in cosmetics.

Source of microplastics in the air

Source: Daily Mail

A study published in the Scientific Reports journal showed that the main identifiable sources of microplastics indoors are from synthetic and non-synthetic items with the predominant sources being from polyester (81%) and cellulose (4%- e.g. cotton), for each source, respectively. The study used a Breathing Thermal Mannequin which simulated human breathing in real-home case studies and it’s the first evidence of indoor air microplastic exposure to humans. It also showed that we could possibly be breathing in 11 microplastic pieces per hour, as this was the highest exposure concentration in the study. The study also stated that at this rate, for over a 24 hour period, an average male (as the mannequin used mimicked male breathing rate and surface temperature) doing light activity can inhale over 272 microplastics.

“We created something that won’t go away…It’s now circulating around the globe.” Janice Brahney, Biogeochemist at Utah State University and Lead Author of Study

Microplastics also exist outdoors. A study by Janice Brahney, Biogeochemist at Utah State University, showed that national parks in the United States have been getting about 1000 tonnes or more per year of microplastic dust. The dust travels from different geographic locations as it is carried by storms (via raindrops) and the source of microplastics can range from clothing, carpets, other textiles and even spray paint.

​

Microbeads like this shown on the tip of tweezers are found in spray paint

Source: Janice Brahney, Utah State University- photo via Science Magazine

Brahney found that 30% of the particles she found were microbeads (microplastic beads). Chelsea Rochman, ecologist and microplastic researcher at the University of Toronto remarked that this was an astonishing find as this microplastic source wasn’t discussed before. Of the remaining 70% of particles in Brahney’s study that were difficult to classify, 4% were plastic. Brahney’s research team confirmed that each day 132 pieces of microplastics in the air settle on every square meter of the wilderness. With 1000 tonnes of microplastic dust yearly, that equates to 300 million plastic water bottles, as reported in Science. Brahney’s research suggested that the larger the storm, the more microplastics and heavier pieces of it were carried. However, 75% of the microplastics were deposited in dry weather rather than with regional rainstorms as high-altitude winds help move the microplastics from distant locations. It’s the small things we take for granted in our actions and purchases that have a big impact on the environment thousands of kilometres away- even if we can’t see it. Microplastics have been circulating in the air for decades and have become part of the global “plastic cycle”, Brahney said.

We know that microplastics are found in seafood and vegetables but a study shows that from eating microplastics in mussels, we can get around 123 pieces of microplastics per year/capita (in the UK) and that value can go up to 4620 particles/ year/ capita in higher shellfish consumption countries. The study compared this mussel-related value to their suggested 13,731- 68,415 particles/year/ capita from household dust (airborne fibres) that could be inhaled indoors. This shows that our indoor environment plays a larger role in our consumption of microplastics via the air than via food.

Microplastics being inhaled in indoor air outweigh microplastics obtained in seafood

Source: Science Direct

While more research needs to be done on the impacts of microplastics from food, breathing in microplastics from indoor and outdoor air can have negative impacts on human health. According to Dr. Kevin Luo, Senior Air Filtration Specialist for Blueair (a global indoor air purification brand), said that breathing microplastics in can potentially cause the formation of lesions in the respiratory system. A study on 114 human lung cancer patients who were undergoing lung resection (where a section of/ entire lung removed) for the abstraction of a tumour showed that 99 (87%) patients had microplastics in their lungs from cellulosic (e.g. cotton) and plastic (polyester) fibres.

Another negative impact is that the size of microplastics makes them easy carriers of pollutants (e.g. from viruses, bacteria and car exhaust) and can introduce them into the bloodstream through our lungs. Luo also said that these microplastics can induce cancer or result in cerebrovascular and cardiovascular diseases and impact the nervous and immune systems. Luo noted that children are at a higher risk as they breathe more rapidly compared to adults and often play on the floor where dust containing microplastics settle.

Now that we have this information, what can we do to reduce the number of indoor microplastics in the air? Blueair suggests the following:

1. Vacuum floors frequently to remove dust containing microplastics
2. Remove carpets as they trap plastic particles and fibres while microplastics can be released into the air from linoleum and vinyl flooring
3. Avoid synthetic clothing fabrics which usually shed their plastics fibres and for home furnishings use more natural or organic textiles and fabrics.
4. Reduce the purchase of products containing microbeads (cosmetics, facial scrubs, toothpastes, etc.)

It appears that microplastics are all around us: in the ocean, land and air and they’re getting into our bodies. To reduce the amount of microplastics in our global environment we can dispose of plastics properly by recycling and reducing our plastic purchases by considering the 10R’s to discontinue the plastic cycle in our lives.

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“We did not inherit the Earth from our ancestors – we borrow it from our children”

– First Nations of Turtle Island proverb

The above reminds us there is cause-and-effect at play here. Sometimes that can be a negative reminder. In this case, I like that the reminder is positive and future-focused, nudging us to remember that living sustainably can help to ensure a better future for generations to come. Our actions can plant the seeds of ideas and energy that can help overcome our issues.

Think about it. Why would you make something that you’re going to use for a few minutes out of a material that’s basically going to last forever, and you’re just going to throw it away. What’s up with that? –Jeb Berrier, BagIt Movie Source: Plastic Free July

Plastics have been causing many issues to the land we occupy, the water bodies teeming with undiscovered species and the air that our life depends on. Plastic Free July has come to an end but the lessons learnt in all 5 Volumes of this series (see links at end) can be taken with us on this journey to eliminate our addiction to plastic from our lives. The #PlasticFreeJuly campaign originally started as an attempt to raise environmental awareness on the plastic issue we help drive in our daily lives and to educate the public on how to combat it.

In the four previous Volumes of this series, we discussed the issue at hand, solutions people can implement in their daily lives and the need for policy and legal framework to ban plastics. It was seen that the amount of plastic waste will only continue to increase and be broken down into smaller pieces (microplastics) causing even further irreversible impacts on the environment. While individuals can do their part by switching to environmentally friendly alternatives and recycling properly, change will not happen unless manufacturers are legally mandated to create products that are easier to recycle and take care of their own waste.

Source: Change.org

Going plastic-free is not going to happen overnight but small steps can help individuals make a difference in reducing the amount of plastics that end up in the landfill. Plastic Free July can be seen as your start to limiting the use of plastic in your daily lives, if you don’t already do so. If you are past this step, explore options to incorporate environmentally friendly plastic alternatives. Similarly pushing for the government to ban single-use plastics and make plastics more recyclable can be big steps for Canada.  

As the official month of the Plastic Free July Series comes to an end, may the environmentally-friendly practices that drive this campaign continue as the plastic problem doesn’t end here. Let’s make a difference to create a better planet for future generations.

***

For more on the Plastic Free July Series see:

1. Volume 1: Strong and Plastic-Free
2. Volume 2: Breaking Up With Plastics
3. Volume 3: Volume 3: A Guide to a Plastic Free Beach Day
4. Volume 4: Revolve, Reduce, Reuse

To learn more about the impacts of plastics see the:

Impact of plastics on the ocean: Two Million Too Many

Presence of Plastics in the soil and food we eat: Plastic Food

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Plastic Free July Series (Volume 4 of 5)

Environmental policy and social activism go hand in hand with ending the plastic problem. While people have been doing their part to reduce the amount of plastics they use and dispose of them properly by recycling, it does not just end there. The issue of plastics lies at the source- the manufacturers. A major part of the solution is in the hands of the government to implement policies and legal framework to control plastic production, the materials used in their production to make all products easily recyclable and also recovery of plastics.

Source: bne IntelliNews

While the onus is, in my opinion, unfairly placed on consumers to sort and dispose of plastic waste, numerous plastics are not recyclable and in many cases, the public recycles incorrectly (e.g. recycling soiled food containers without rinsing). While each municipality has different recycling guidelines a list of items that can and cannot be disposed of exists. Thankfully, over the past few years, some companies have made their packaging more sustainable. However, assuming companies will make this executive decision is insufficient but policies banning the production of plastics is what will ensure that environmental pollution is curbed in the future.

We, my friends, have learned how to play our part in reducing our use of plastic in Volume 2 and 3 of this series but what about if more can be done in the greater scheme of this plastic battle. The Government of Canada originally aimed to ban single-use plastics (plastic straws, bags, stir sticks, cutlery, plates) by 2021 but it is unclear as to how the effect of COVID-19 has impacted this timeline. They also plan on introducing targets and standards for plastic manufacturers and those who sell plastic packaged items to be held responsible for their waste. The government sees that creating innovative solutions to manage plastic waste can result in the reduction of carbon pollution by 1.8 million tonnes, create over 42,000 jobs and produce billions in profits. Their goal and timeline (2021) are similar to that of the European Union but the EU also has a 90% collection and recycling target for beverage containers by 2029.

Ashley Wallis, Plastics Program Manager at Environmental Defence emphasized that the organization is pushing for a more holistic policy framework to reduce the overall use of plastic including the ban on single-use plastics. Wallis suggested that a policy framework should include packaging or products with a circular economy, meaning that at the end of a lifecycle of one product, the materials used can be broken down to create other valuable products to minimize waste. This will help shift the plastic disposal problem away from the consumer and rightfully over to manufacturers who are the source of the poor plastics disposal issue.

Canada will implement the Strategy on Zero Plastic Waste which has a circular economy approach and will be done in two phases. The first phase focuses on areas such as product design, single-use plastics, collection systems, market and recycling capacity. The second phase that will be developed will consist of consumer awareness, aquatic activities, research and monitoring, clean-up activities and global action.

Circular economy approach for plastic bottles

Source: Suntory

Wallis believes that there is a need to see more extended producer responsibility systems across the country which is a part of Phase 1 of the Zero Plastic Waste Plan. According to her, this means that the companies will be “financially and operationally responsible for managing their waste and end-of-life and that’s particularly important because as of right now products and packaging are designed by companies”. However, she stated that recycling collection and infrastructure are operated through municipalities who then have to deal with complex materials that constantly change and that the recycling systems weren’t designed for. Wallis suggests that if the producers are responsible for the recycling infrastructure, then there would be a built-in incentive for them to create materials and other packing that can be easily transformed into high-valuable goods.

Canada is also responsible for the launch of the Oceans Plastics Charter at the G7 Summit in 2018 which has targets to reduce 100% recyclable, recoverable and reusable plastics by 2030, according to Environment and Climate Change Canada. This along with reducing microbead usage by 2020, making products more recyclable by 50% by 2030 and recovering 100% of all plastics by 2040, are a part of the Ocean Plastics Charter’s targets. 

The larger picture of the Zero Plastics Waste Strategy and the Oceans Plastics Charter

Source: Government of Canada

While this Strategy and Charter may help, Environmental Defence also believes that policies should involve systems with reusable systems that transition to reusable alternatives instead of single-use plastics. Wallis mentions that for the production of new plastic goods, there is a need for high targets for plastic collection, recycling and recycled content.

What can you do?

Environmental Defence says that if people really want to help make the change with reducing plastic production, people can reach out to elected officials, their MP’s, to inform them that they are still concerned about plastic and would appreciate the government moving ahead with their ban on single-use plastics. As shown in Volume 1 of the Plastics Free July Series since the onset of COVID-19 resulted in a 250-300% increase in single-use plastics usage, according to the International Solid Waste Association (ISWA). This value would only increase if nothing is done about it. Thus far, Oceana showed that in 2020 86% of Canadians would like to see single-use plastics banned by 2021. May this be the value that’s increasing, rather than the former. Wallis believes that public pressure would prevent the delay of this ban.

While some companies have set their personal goals and commitments for making their packaging more recyclable-friendly, Wallis believes that they are not legally mandated to do so and due to this she sees the need for federal or provincial leadership to ensure that reducing the use of plastics and making them more recyclable is adhered to.

Wallis suggests that implementing fees can be an effective way to reduce plastic and promote alternatives. She stated that Loblaws charging $0.05 for plastic bags at checkout was more effective than when they tested out offering discounts to customers who brought their own reusable bags. Using a fee for purchasing plastic bags helped reduce distribution by 55% and in 2009 helped divert 1.3 million plastic bags from the landfill.

Stop single-use plastic production

Source: Unsplash

Environmental Defence is keen on seeing businesses such as beverage companies in Ontario support a deposit return program for containers as they are the most effective way in achieving high collection rates. According to Wallis, the recycling targets are higher and the material is already sorted and cleaner, making it easier to turn into new bottles. Environmental Defence would also like to see businesses adopt the reusable delivery models. Wallis provided an example of  an existing program in Quebec with to-go coffee cups having a $5 deposit which can then be returned to that same shop or other participating cafes to obtain your deposit refund and help reduce the use of disposable cups. She highlighted that this will help make that switch to reusables easier without depending on consumers to bring their own cup.

While this plastic ban by the Canadian government is solely for single-use plastics the need for plastics with less complex materials are needed. Findings show that non-single-use plastics such as thermoset plastics (e.g. in tyres, car parts, construction equipment) can now be broken down easily and made more recyclable. More on this in the article “Tough Plastics Can Be Made More Recyclable”.

Overall, it can be seen that change is needed more at the policy level and not just at the individual level to ensure that manufacturers are held responsible for the impact they have on the environment. While ensuring policies banning the use of plastic can help in the Canadian context, ensuring that it is done globally can have a large impact on the future and decrease the amount of plastics in terrestrial and aquatic environments that will outlive us.

***

For more on the Plastic Free July Series see:

• Volume 1: Strong and Plastic-Free
• Volume 2: Breaking Up With Plastics
• Volume 3: A Guide to a Plastic Free Beach Day
• Volume 4: Revolve, Reduce, Reuse
• Volume 5: We ACT Upon It For Our Children

Impact of plastics on the ocean: Two Million Too Many

Presence of Plastics in the soil moving into the food we eat: Plastic Food

The post Revolve, Reduce, Reuse appeared first on A\J.

Enjoy a plastic free beach day during these scorching hot summers, with the #plasticfreejuly initiative started in 2011 in Australia, we can use every July to move forward to a more sustainable and plastic free way of life. Through skipping plastic for a month it serves as a good reminder of how much plastic we use in our everyday life. 

For more on the Plastic Free July Series see:

Plastic Free July Series (Volume 3 of 5)

Enjoy a plastic free beach day during these scorching hot summers, with the #plasticfreejuly initiative started in 2011 in Australia, we can use every July to move forward to a more sustainable and plastic free way of life. Through skipping plastic for a month it serves as a good reminder of how much plastic we use in our everyday life. 

For more on the Plastic Free July Series see:

Volume 1: Strong and Plastic-Free

Volume 2: Breaking Up With Plastics

Volume 3: A Guide to a Plastic Free Beach Day

Volume 4: Revolve, Reduce, Reuse

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Plastics should be a food group all on its own since most of the food we eat contain micro- and nanoplastics. Whether we like it to or not, plastics have become a hidden part of our diet. Fruits, vegetables, meat, seafood or bottled water are becoming laced with tiny pieces of plastics. While microplastics dominate the oceans, they along with nanoplastics dominate the soil. Microplastics have made waves in environmental awareness of their impact on the oceans and the aquatic life that consume them. However, they’ve been affecting us right on our plates in the terrestrial environment and in the air. Only recently have studies shown that they are indeed in our fruits and vegetables due to plastic contamination of soil and water used for crop irrigation.

Plastics have now been proven to be found inside fruits and vegetables

Source: Unsplash

According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), microplastics are plastics 5 mm long. Whereas, nanoplastics are smaller than a micron, according to the Nature Research Journal. That’s the size of a grain of rice compared to that smaller than a human red blood cell (5 microns), respectively. The latter is smaller than the diameter of a human hair strand (75 microns)- that’s microscopically small. Nanoplastics can, therefore, have a greater negative impact in the environments that they exist as they cannot be seen with the naked eye like microplastics.

How did plastics get into the soil? The terrestrial environment is littered with macroplastics such as bottles, plastic bags, single-use straws and cutlery. The aging process of plastics including their degradation and disintegration rates differ based on the item. This process breaks down macroplastics into micro- and nanoplastics. According to the World Wildlife Fund, coffee pods can take up to 500 years to decompose, plastic bottles, 450 years and plastic straws 200 years. As with any object, the larger the surface area the easier it is to cleanup. However, once macroplastics are broken down into microplastics, anything of that size and beyond has irreversible impacts.

The lifespan of plastics after they are disposed of

Source: World Wildlife Fund

Therefore, downsizing the (plastic waste) problem is upsizing the negative environmental and human health impact. Globally, approximately 32% of plastic waste find their way into the soil and aquatic ecosystems. Terrestrial microplastics are more dominant than ocean plastics and depending on the environment can be 4 to 23 times higher according to a study by German researchers. While more research needs to be done on the impacts of microplastics in terrestrial ecosystems we can certainly expect that over time the outcome would not be healthy. When would society realize that the plastics we use and dispose of improperly are affecting our health?

Nanoplastics are formed from degraded litter that is poorly disposed of

Source: Plant Experts

According to National Geographic, microplastics have been found in other food including seafood, salt, honey, sugar, honey, alcohol and beer. A study done by the University of Newcastle, Australia and commissioned by the World Wildlife Fund found that on a weekly basis, we can be consuming 5g of microplastics- that’s equivalent to the weight of a credit card.

Source: Kancil Awards

A study published in June 2020 by Nature Nanotechnology Journal showed that nanoplastics can accumulate in plants which can affect food safety and crop yield. The higher the nanoplastic concentration in the soil, the shorter the plant roots and lower the weight (41.7%- 51.5%). The electrical charge of the nanoplastics whether positive (found in root tips) or negative (found in apoplast and xylem), determined their location within the plant. The charge also influenced how much damage was done and whether the nanoplastics were absorbed by the plant. The location of the positively charged particles affected the plant’s health despite being in lower concentrations compared to negatively charged nanoplastics which were found in areas that transported fluids like water and essential nutrients within the plant.

Differently charged nanoplastics being uptaken by plant roots and the plant’s response

Source: Nature Nanotechnology

We’ve known for years that plastics are in our air, ocean and soil. And now finally we have the proof plastics are in the fruit and vegetables we feed to our children.” Sian Sutherland          Co-Founder of Environmental Campaign Group A Plastic Planet

Plants have been uptaking nanoplastics with water through their roots from the soil and contaminating our fruits and vegetables. Another recently published study in 2020 in the Environmental Research Journal on this topic by Dr. Conti and research team, showed that micro- and nanoplastics, depending on their size, are capable of penetrating plant cells in their roots, stems, leaves, seeds and fruits. Carrots appeared to be the most plastic-contaminated vegetable (with very small plastics 1.51 μm), while apples were the most plastic-tainted fruit. However, the study also found them existing in pears, broccoli and lettuce which are ranked in order of most to least contaminated amongst apples and carrots at both ends of the spectrum, respectively. Lettuce was found to have the largest pieces of microplastics at 2.52 μm. Compared to vegetables, fruits had a higher concentration of microplastics due to their age of trees (e.g. years vs. 60-75 days for vegetables like carrots), their greater complexity and size of their root system. Accumulation of nanoplastics of appropriate size can delay flowering and growth as they affect the uptake of essential plant nutrients.  

We are aware of the culprit and their entry point into plants, but how are they moving into the food we eat? A study on the uptake of microplastics in crop plants such as wheat and lettuce published in July 2020 in the Nature Sustainability Journal confirmed that movement is promoted through the act of transpirational pull. The higher the pull, the greater the force allowing nano- and microplastics to move from the roots to the edible above-ground parts of the crops easily. The study found that these plastic particles had some degree of flexibility which made it easier for them to squeeze into root cells. This study also highlighted that wastewater which is usually used to irrigate crops globally are also contaminated with microplastics and are another source apart from those in the soil. Crops grown in fields contaminated with sewage sludges or wastewater treatment discharges are prone to having more micro- and nanoplastics.

Potential sources, transport pathways and ecological risks of plastics in the soil

Adapted from Source: Environmental Pollution Journal

If it is getting into vegetables, it is getting into everything that eats vegetables as well, which means it is in our meat and dairy too”.  Maria Westerbos                  Founder of environmental group Plastic Soup Foundation

While fruits and vegetables are potentially the most commonly consumed food source globally compared to meat and seafood, it’s not something that can be eliminated from our diet. At present, the impacts of nanoplastics on human health are unknown but can imaginably be negative.

With the nutritional value of fruits and vegetables being compromised, I’m curious to see what solutions, rules and regulations will be established in the future and concerned about the resultant health impacts.

Once again humans have managed to allow their pollution to come back to bite them in the food that they bite. Since fruits and vegetables cannot be removed from our diet anthropogenic induced pollution can only be stopped if industries reduce the production of plastics, governments impose bans on single-use plastics, consumers do not litter but recycle when possible or attempt to be Strong and Plastic-Free. Similarly, switching to environmentally friendly alternatives and looking into the 10 R’s for discontinuing the plastic cycle may help reduce the quantity of plastics we use in our daily lives.

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To learn about the existence of 1.9 million pieces of microplastics in 1m² on the seafloor, see the article Two Million Too Many.

Akin to measuring your carbon footprint, the World Wildlife Fund and Your Plastic Diet have created a short Plastic Test to help you determine how much plastic you’re consuming and what you can do about it.

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