With less than 11 years left before the damage done to the Earth is irreversible, it is of the utmost importance that we all do our part in saving our planet. Baltimore City College’s Environmental Club aims to give students opportunities to do their part through activities that can be done both safely and locally. The club also hopes to reapply for the green school certification, which has a list of requirements that must be completed by the club and its participants in order to earn the certificate. But in an age of disposable wipes, gloves, and masks, the situation seems more grave than it did pre COVID-19. So how can we as students help without putting ourselves at risk, and without having to shell out any extra money?
At home you can simply turn off lights in rooms you’re not using to conserve energy, and you can make sure you turn the tap off when it’s not actively being used. Students can also start a compost with their families; this reduces greenhouse gas emissions and is very important to the nitrogen cycle. When grocery shopping, taking reusable bags can make a huge difference in the pollution of the oceans, and buying in bulk instead of food with excessive packing can reduce an individual’s carbon footprint by 30-50%.
Ms. Frye, Mr. Barnett and the rest of the Environmental club are also hoping to host socially distanced creek cleanups here in Baltimore City, and there are also plans to expand their social media presence and provide more online resources for students. In these strange times it can be easy to overlook some issues, but the environment impacts issues of race, economics, and public health tremendously. Furthermore, these issues of pollution and global warming aren’t on pause because of the pandemic. Thus, it is our job as global citizens to save our planet before it’s too late.
For questions or for more information, please contact either Ms. Frye erin.frye@baltimorecitycollege.us or Mr. Barnett kevin.barnett@baltimorecitycollege.us
The environmental club is a Knight Time session on Tuesdays and Fridays.
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