Ninety percent of deforestation was caused by humans. The Earth is losing one percent of its current forest population each year. With the threat of climate change and rising demands for more advanced technology, the state of the environment is projected to worsen.

According to businesswaste.com, “There are many reasons why people litter, including carelessness and laziness, a lack of dumpsters and trash cans or an existing presence of garbage on the ground. Littering is responsible for 60% of water pollution. Chemicals can enter freshwater sources and pollute them, affecting humans and wildlife.”

The Environment

Littering is a serious problem. It’s projected to kill 100 million marine animals annually. This is problematic for underwater habitats, since the environment is a very delicate system.

“I think people believe their actions don’t have consequences. For example, littering may not seem like a big deal to one person, but on a large scale, it builds up in our oceans and forests,” freshman Adara Nilson said.

However, water pollution isn’t the only factor; land and air pollution are also diminishing. Air pollution can affect breathing and make sensitive groups of people sick. It’s estimated that in 2019, four million people died from air pollution. Land pollution makes it harder for plants to grow by filling the soil with microplastics and harmful chemicals.

“Littering and deforestation. The rate of deforestation each year may seem small, but i adds up over time. Year by year, we lose more forest habitat, and that has serious long-term effects,” Nilson said.

The Problem
According to earthday.org, “from 1940-2025, C02 commitions have risen around 69 percent. More greenhouse gases, such as Carbon dioxide and methane, can raise temperatures.”

Higher temperatures mean more water vapor, which can worsen storms and mess up Earth’s water cycle.

“People are often more focused on what’s happening directly around them instead of the environment as a whole,” freshman Kaitlyn Downing said.

Technology advancements are costly, using lots of energy, coal, and creating e-waste, which can worsen the environment further. With AI consuming more and more water every day and producing e-waste, this problem will only worsen.

“Pollution is an ongoing issue. I also think increased industrial and technological development has created environmental challenges. Technology is valuable, but it comes with environmental costs,” Faye Gearing said.

A Blossom of Hope

Holidays such as Earth Day can be so beneficial to the environment. Epic elementary brings hope into our community they have taken the initiative to have next to each class is a garden that they have tocare for and sustain. They have also recently enquired seven chickens to help with the crops and make a healthier environment. Bringing awareness and getting people to help clean up the
environment. Be mindful of the earth all year round.

This is why holidays such as Earth Day can be so beneficial to the environment. Bringing awareness and getting people to help clean up the environment. Be mindful of the earth all year round. This year, on Apr. 22, celebrate Earth Day, encourage people to Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle and help clean up. More than one billion people yearly choose to celebrate Earth Day.

“Think more critically about the environment. Remember that all actions have consequences, and those consequences build up over time. Consider the kind of world you’re leaving for future generations,” Nilson said.

People help clean up the Earth every year. In 2019 alone, 500,000 people worldwide helped pick up trash, clean the oceans and more. It’s estimated that those people picked up around 22,000 pounds of trash.

“I hope people feel inspired to help and become more aware of environmental issues so they can see things from a different perspective,” Downing said.

Earth Day at our School

There are still tons of non-profit organizations that help keep the Earth clean for animals and humans to live. Students have started clubs to motivate people to clean up. For example, the Environmental Club’s goal is to inform people on how they can make a difference to make our environment cleaner. They want to clean up parks and the KC metro area, start fundraisers and celebrate after successful clean-ups.

“It has made me more conscious of my decisions. I think more carefully about what I buy and whether I actually need it. It’s helped me think more deeply about the impact I’m having on the environment,” Environmental club member Nilson said.

If interested in joining the Environmental club, email or talk to Josh Griffis, [email protected].