To mark the 53rd annual celebration of Earth Day, Youth Engaged 4 Change is doing a deep dive into sustainability. Through this deep dive, we’ll take a closer look at a few concepts related to this buzzword.

What Is Sustainability?

“Everything that we need for our survival and well-being depends, either directly or indirectly, on our natural environment,” says the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Therefore, sustainability includes creating and maintaining a world where humans and nature can coexist.

Why Does Sustainability Matter?

Sustainability is a growing concern, as the world population will reach 9.8 billion by 2050. That’s a lot of people to feed and house, and a lot of trash to take care of! So, experts are looking at sustainability as a solution to our growing world that includes people and nature.

Through a more sustainable way of life, we may be able to better provide sufficient food, water, and maintain our natural environments. This also involves balancing economic growth as well as environmental and social well-being. But as youth, it may be hard to know how to get involved.

How Can I Get Involved in Sustainability?

Some call sustainability a three-legged stool because it has three parts: environmental, economic, and social. The environmental pillar includes protecting the planet’s natural habitats and reducing negative impacts on the environment. The area of economic sustainability focuses on affordability and economic growth. Finally, social sustainability aims to promote human rights and equality. There are many ways that youth can get involved. Here are some things you can do:

Ways to Get Involved in Environmental Sustainability

1. Buy a reusable water bottle instead of using disposable plastic ones.
2. Try to bike, ride share, or use public transportation. Why? To reduce your carbon “footprint.”
3. Learn how to safely dispose of chemicals and household cleaners that can't go down your drain.
4. Compost your dinner scraps by keeping them in a designated bin mixed in with cardboard, woody material, and yard waste.
5. Do a science fair project on the best fertilizers to use in your garden for native wildlife.
6. Grow herbs or vegetables at home to release your reliance on wasteful packaging.

Ways to Get Involved in Economic Sustainability

1. Take note of how much trash you produce in a week and take steps to reduce it.
2. Know where your clothing is from and stay away from “Fast Fashion.”
3. Turn lights and appliances off at home when not in use to save energy and lower your energy bill.
4. Write a letter to your local government regarding the cost of recycling.
5. Ask your workplace to learn about green technologies to promote innovation.  
6. Urge your family and neighbors to invest in solar energy.

Ways to get Involved in Social Sustainability

1. Host a stream cleanup in your community to help get rid of pollutants in your waterways.
2. Ask your school or city to share on social media how they practice sustainability.
3. Turn part of your backyard into a butterfly garden or garden with native plants.
4. Give a talk about trash cleanup and how it can help your community.
5. Plan an event to raise awareness about radon and give out radon testing kits. Some states offer these kits for free or at a discounted price. Contact the radon testing program in your state to learn more.
6. Use a water testing kit to test the water in your neighborhood. You may want to start with a well or a lake.

Where can I learn more?

To learn more about how you can get involved in sustainability, check out Youth Engaged 4 Change on social media! You can also visit the websites below:

• sustainability.gov
• epa.gov
• gsa.gov
• usda.gov
• nps.gov