World Environment Day has been celebrated on the 5th of June since 1974 in order to acknowledge and address the growing environmental issues. According to the official site, “For too long, we have been exploiting and destroying our planet’s ecosystems. Every three seconds, the world loses enough forest to cover a football pitch and over the last century, we have destroyed half of our wetlands. As much as 50 percent of our coral reefs have already been lost and up to 90 percent of coral reefs could be lost by 2050, even if global warming is limited to an increase of 1.5°C. [2.7°F].”

No matter where you are in the world, there are a number of things you can do to protect the environment, from choosing sustainably made products, to supporting charities, nonprofits, and other organizations that aim to make a significant change.

WorldEnviornmentDay.org lists three general ways to help:

Taking action such as starting or supporting an on-the-ground restoration project.
Making smart choices like buying only sustainable products and changing diets
- The Little Market
  - “With every purchase and donation, you are supporting meaningful income opportunities for artisans and their families, making a difference, and creating a positive, long-lasting impact.”
- EarthHero
  - EarthHero is on a quest to help make sustainable, earth-friendly commerce the new normal. We inspire conscious commerce by offering trusted, high-quality goods that create an authentic positive impact. Together, we aim to learn, share, and celebrate a healthier planet.
- Verishop
  - Verishop is great for browsing and discovering the latest trends. It started as a place to inspire shoppers and allow them to shop for more ethical products online.
Raising your voice in support of ecosystem conservation and restoration
- Raise Your Voice
  - Speak up. Protest lawmakers, companies, or bills that endanger the environment around you.
- Use Your Vote
  - Vote for politicians that support addressing climate change issues.
- Get Creative
  - Do what you can to draw attention to the issue at hand; design shirts, plan concerts, and post on your social media accounts to get the word out.

Kassidy Garland has had a great appreciation for reading and writing since she was young. She graduated from West Chester University in 2017 with a Bachelor’s Degree in English & Women and Gender Studies. With a concentration in creative writing, Kassidy has 5 years of experience writing blogs, articles, and for social media. Kassidy is also pursuing a Master’s degree in IT with a concentration in Web Development. Based out of Philadelphia, Kassidy loves to write about a number of topics and looks forward to sharing her passion with those at FunTimes Magazine.