EARTH IN CRISIS | OPINION: 100 Ways To Love Your Planet
Step Up Your Efforts Toward A Smaller Footprint This Earth Day
By Tracey MacDermott | For the GPHN
It has been 56 years since the first celebration of Earth Day. Our planet is still in desperate need for we humans to act.
Organizations and citizens from around the globe will focus this Earth Day — April 22 — on many issues such as reducing plastics, tree plantings, climate education, regenerative agriculture and sustainable fashion.
Hopefully you have already been working on ways to reduce your impact not just for one day but every day. Earthday.org is a great way to get started on what you can do.
Greater Park Hill Community, Inc. is joining forces with a multitude of other organizations to highlight 100 ways to be more environmentally friendly — from cutting back on meat to switching to a green energy supplier.
For inspiration and to join the movement, check out promisefortheplanet.com. Share your own actions on social media with #PromiseForThePlanet — make sure to also tag #GreaterParkHill.
While you are stepping up efforts to lessen your environmental footprint, consider why those efforts are so critical now, as climate change is already taking its toll, including in our own backyards.
Colorado is experiencing one of the worst snowpacks on record. As most of us know, temperatures all winter were above average. Now the state is considering an early activation of its Drought Task Force, which works with other agencies to monitor conditions and make recommendations to the governor for how to respond.
As the Colorado Sun recently detailed, the state measures its water supplies using a calendar that runs from Oct. 1 through Sept. 30. The first four months of the 2026-27 water year are the warmest in 131 years. The forecast for spring does not provide hope for relief from this drought.
Colorado’s agricultural community is facing a concerning growing season. In just one example highlighted in a report on Colorado Public Radio, farmers in southeastern Colorado are concerned that if the current trend continues, thousands of acres of fields will sit idle. To water their crops, these farmers rely on mountain snowmelt, which the Arkansas River carries to their fields. Obviously, that snowmelt is likely to be extremely sparse this year.
The United Nations warns that if little or no action is taken to address climate change, in the next 30 years the food supply and food security will be severely threatened. U.N. officials also note that projections of future global yields of corn and wheat indicate a significant decline. They tie these declines to increasing emissions of greenhouse gases.
Purchasing food from local farmers is a great way to help combat climate change. It supports the local economy, and cuts down on the heavy impacts of transporting fresh food from elsewhere. If the drought continues, less will be available from our local growers.
While the drought is impacting our water and food supply, the risk of extreme fires, fueled by high winds, is becoming a frightening reality in Colorado.
As the state’s temperatures continue to climb (15-20 degrees above normal last month), the forests are becoming drier and increasingly susceptible to mega-fires. Wildfires impact air quality not just where they burn but for a radius of thousands of miles. To reduce wildfire risks, Xcel Energy warned it would shut off power in areas where strong winds were expected. Will this become our new normal?
Increasing concerns over drought, heat, fire and declining water supply do not leave us with a lot of hope during April — when we celebrate Mother Earth. However, I do believe that when we know better, we do better. We can all get involved and work towards turning our planet around.
During April, spend time thinking about what you will give up in order to stop climate change. Figure out a plan to put into action. In addition to your #PromiseForThePlanet actions, get involved in Earth Day events — including Greater Park Hill’s planned street clean-ups (see story below for details).
Commit to making lasting changes, and talk with your family, friends and elected leaders about what must be done.
Tracey MacDermott is an at-large board member of Greater Park Hill Community, Inc. She was trained as a Climate Reality Leader in 2017. She chairs the Sustainability Committee for the Business and Professional Women of Colorado and the National Federation for Business and Professional Women. Email her at traceymacdermott@gmail.com
Power To The Planet
Ways To Celebrate Earth Day All Month In Park Hill
Staff Report | For the GPHN
The global theme for Earth Day this year is “Our Power, Our Planet.”
It’s a call to action for people to use their collective power to push for environmental protection, focusing on actions like grassroots organizing for reforestation, clean water and air.
It’s also a great time to clean up the neighborhood. Greater Park Hill Community, Inc. has designated the entire month of April as Earth Month, providing opportunities to pitch in and help clean up the alleys, streets and public areas across the neighborhood. (Geographic boundaries are set roughly between Colfax Avenue and Smith Road (south to north), and Colorado Boulevard and Quebec Street (west to east).
• Park Hill’s designated ALLEY cleanup day is Saturday, April 4 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
• Park Hill’s designated STREET cleanup day is Saturday, April 25 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
For both dates, meet at the GPHC office at 2823 Fairfax St. at 9:30 a.m. to pick up buckets, trash-grabber tools and vests. (Please bring your own gloves and wear bright colors.) Learn more and sign up at tinyurl.com/PHEarthDay. You are also welcome to text/call JacquiO Shumway at 303-725-7482 with any questions. Note: If you can’t make those exact dates, please plan to set aside time during April to beautify your block or area.
• City Large-Item Pick-Ups days are are April 6 and April 9 (depending on where you live in the neighborhood). Details for what the city will pick up (think large branches, bags of debris) can be found via denvergov.org. Let your neighbors know and help each other beautify your alley.