Earth Day Expo 2025: Celebrating all things healthy and green
MONROE COUNTY — Monroe County Earth Day Expo is slated from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, April 12 at Monroe County Community College's Gerald Welch Health Education Building, 1555 S. Raisinville Road in Monroe.
'Getting the opportunity for our community to unite, learn, connect and find pathways for meaningful action on issues vital to our shared future,' Dan Rock, recycling and green community program coordinator for Monroe County, said in an email. "We encourage everyone to join us. Let's remember the proverb: 'We do not inherit the Earth from our ancestors; we borrow it from our children.' Let's work together to be good stewards for those future generations.
Before the event, Rock agreed to talk with the Monroe News about Earth Day Expo 2025, what's being planned and some of the major environmental challenges facing our planet.
Q: When is Earth Day Expo 2025?A: Saturday, April 12, 2025
Q: What's being planned for the event?A: This free, family-friendly event has something for everyone with live music, food trucks, and engaging exhibitors promoting sustainability, personal health and living green. Explore educational exhibits that showcase how you can make a positive impact on the environment, including youth environmental education through the Michigan Green Schools Program and learning the facts about environmental science through the Climate Literacy Project.
Q: Why is it important to host Earth Day events?A: Earth Day is a crucial annual reminder of our shared responsibility to protect the planet, especially at a time when environmental safeguards face significant threats. Hosting local events like our expo provides an opportunity for our community to come together, learn about environmental issues that directly affect them and discover practical solutions everyone can implement. It's about fostering collective action and empowering individuals to become environmental stewards.
Q: What are some of the major environmental challenges facing our planet?A: The increasing concentration of greenhouse gases in our atmosphere primarily from burning fossil fuels is a significant concern because this leads to rising global temperatures, more extreme weather events, and changes impacting natural systems. We are also grappling with pollution of our air, water, and soil from various sources, including industrial activities and different types of waste. The loss of biodiversity and habitat destruction threaten the beauty and variety of life and, ultimately, the stability of ecosystems, including those here in Michigan. Additionally, the depletion of natural resources, such as freshwater and forests, puts pressure on our planet's ability to support us.
Q: What is the greenhouse effect and how does it relate to climate change?A: The greenhouse effect is a natural process where atmospheric gases trap heat, keeping Earth livable. However, burning fossil fuels has loaded the atmosphere with extra gases like carbon dioxide and methane. This traps too much heat, intensifying the natural effect and causing the global warming trend known as climate change. Top scientific bodies like the IPCC, and over 99% of climate scientists, agree that human activity is the primary cause, backed by clear evidence like rising temperatures and melting ice.
Q: What are some ways we can reduce our carbon footprint?A: Individuals can lower their carbon footprint by conserving home energy (efficiency, thermostats), choosing greener transport (transit, bike, walk), eating more plants and wasting less food, and supporting sustainable local businesses. While these steps matter, driving fundamental change requires political will. Therefore, actively participating in our democracy to support climate-aware leaders and strong environmental policies — like those promoting clean energy, regulating pollution, and ensuring accountability — is one of the most critical actions we can take.
Q: What are some examples of renewable energy sources?A: Renewable energy sources naturally replenish themselves, offering cleaner alternatives to fossil fuels critical for our future. Examples include solar energy (from sunlight), wind energy (using turbines), hydropower (from water flow), geothermal energy (from Earth's heat), and biomass energy (from organic matter). Transitioning rapidly to these sources is essential to reducing greenhouse gas emissions and combating climate change.
Q: What are some ways to reduce plastic waste?A: Start with reusable bags, water bottles, and coffee cups to avoid single-use plastics whenever possible. Actively avoid products with excessive plastic packaging, choose alternatives, and properly recycle the limited plastics that can actually be processed locally. Supporting businesses actively reducing their plastic footprint also sends a powerful message.
Q: What is the importance of recycling?A: Recycling materials like aluminum, cardboard, and paper is genuinely important for conserving resources. However, the situation with plastic recycling is fundamentally different and often presented misleadingly. Globally, less than 10% of plastic waste has ever been recycled due to high costs, contamination and technical hurdles. Focusing heavily on recycling the small fraction of plastics that might be processed (like some #1 and #2 bottles) can unfortunately distract from the real issue – the sheer volume of plastic produced. The truly impactful solutions are: 1. Drastically reduce our reliance on single-use plastics and prioritize reusable alternatives. 2. Implement Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) policies, making producers responsible for the entire lifecycle of their plastic products.
Q: What are some actions we can take to celebrate Earth Day?A: Celebrate Earth Day with meaningful action! Participate in local cleanups, plant native species, start a garden, or join us at the Monroe County Earth Day Expo to connect and get involved. Educate yourself and others about environmental issues and solutions – knowledge fuels action. Make sustainable swaps in your daily life. Crucially, engage with your elected officials at all levels. Let them know that environmental protection is a priority for their constituents and encourage support for strong environmental policies and safeguards.
Q: What is the role of individuals in protecting the environment?A: Individuals are fundamental drivers of environmental protection. While large-scale policy change is essential, it rarely happens without a shift in public awareness and demand. That's where individual actions come in. Our daily choices – what we buy, how we travel, what we eat – collectively shape markets and norms. When we adopt sustainable habits, we not only reduce our personal impact but also contribute to a necessary cultural shift.
Q: What are some ways we can educate others about environmental issues?A: Education sparks action, and it starts with connection. Talk to people you know – friends, family, neighbors – not just about the problems, but why these environmental issues matter personally and locally. Share stories, not just statistics. Get involved with environmental groups; support their outreach or volunteer your time. Advocate for better environmental education in our schools, ensuring students get comprehensive, science-based information.
— Contact reporter Lisa Vidaurri-Bowling at lvidaurribowling@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on The Monroe News: Earth Day Expo 2025 is April 12. Find out what's planned.
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