Frequently asked questions
What’s the connection to Earth Day?
Earth Day (April 22) is the perfect opportunity to renew your commitment to living in harmony with the environment. Each Earth Day and Earth Month, hundreds of thousands of Canadians take part in environmental activities at home and in their schools, workplaces and communities. Make Earth Day your launching pad for taking environmental action every day!
Why should I give anything up?
In Canada and around the world, our demand for energy (especially for fossil fuels) exceeds what the planet can sustainably provide. Every new thing that is made has an environmental footprint. By making better decisions about what food, clothing and household necessities we purchase, each of us can save thousands of gallons of water and oil, and meaningfully reduce our personal and collective impact on the environment.
Can I give something up other than the four suggested actions?
By all means! Maybe this campaign got you thinking about another habit you would like to change—like getting away from buying bottled water or coffee in paper cups. There are a million possible green alternatives to what we do on a daily basis, so please use this campaign to challenge yourself to conserve in whatever way you choose.
We will be coordinating more action campaigns in the coming year and we want your input. Tell us which actions you would like to see next time!
Do my personal actions really matter?
Yes! Choosing healthier alternatives even for the short term, can lead to thinking about the impact of our decisions over a lifetime. An eco-mindset can be cultivated. All it takes is a willingness to change our relationship with the planet!
Who can participate?
You! Young people, parents, students, farmers, seniors, artists, business people, and any one who wants to support a healthier environment.
We’ll track the pledges live on the campaign impact page to show you how simple environmental actions quickly add up. Earth Day Canada staff and supporters will take on their own individual action commitments, tracking their progress on the campaign blog. Follow along and use the blog to give us updates on how you’re doing!
Why am I prompted to make my name public on the registration form?
Studies show that when we put something in writing, or tell others we are going to do something, we tend to follow-through. Make a public commitment, and with your permission, your name will be recognized on our campaign participants page.
How will you measure the impact?
Every pledge will be measured and converted into numbers that show our actions do make a difference. We’ll tally the commitments throughout April and into May and translate them into the number of hours of TV not watched, dollars not spent on non-essential items, electricity saved, and greenhouse gas emissions avoided by cutting out meat, and toxic chemicals diverted from our homes and waste streams.
Visit our impact page to see how the commitments are piling up!
For example, if the average person in Canada watches 21 hours a week of television, we will multiply that by the number of week-long pledges received to get the total hours that Give it up for Earth Day! got people off the couch and moving.
Can I change my commitments once I submit them the first time?
No problem. If you decide to extend your commitment by another week or two, fill out the registration form again, pick your new commitments and use the same email address to overwrite your first selections. You will still only be eligible to win prizes once.
When does the campaign end?
Participants can register their commitments anytime in April and adopt the challenge all the way into May or later.
In May, our bloggers and action-takers will be finishing up their commitments and reflecting on their experiences taking the challenge. Visit the campaign page then to see the cumulative results of people en masse taking action!
Will you do more campaigns?
Yes, we plan to have an Earth Day campaign next April, as well as focused campaigns throughout the year on specific environmental issues like sustainable food, active living and healthy homes. Contact us if you would like to work with us on a future campaign or have any suggestions.
Who is Earth Day Canada?
Earth Day Canada, a national environmental charity founded in 1990, provides Canadians with the practical knowledge and tools they need to support a healthier environment. We educate, empower and inspire Canadians of all ages and backgrounds to achieve local solutions to improve the state of the environment through our suite of year-round and award-winning programs.
