Happy Earth Day (Thursday, April 22)!

This year is the 51st Anniversary of the first Earth Day. Since the first Earth Day, the U.S. has accomplished so much but much is yet to be done/solved when it comes to the environment, climate change, and how we treat each other. The challenges are many but in the words of Climate Scientist Dr. Katharine Wilkinson “we should be thinking about how powerful we can be together.”

What the City did for Earth & Arbor Days this year?

This year to celebrate Earth and Arbor Days, we tried something different. We had initially planned a big in-person event to take place on March 28, 2020, but it was canceled about a week before due to COVID-19. This year, we took what we could from that planned event and made it virtual and/or no-contact. Watch the video below to see what we did.

If you'd like to watch the Ocean Day webinars, you can find all three here. If you need a transcript of the video below or of the webinars, please contact sustainability@cohb.org.

What can you do to honor Earth Day?

• Attend our webinar at noon on Earth Day (Thursday, April 22) to learn about City Green Initiatives' progress.
• Keep whatever native plants are in your yard if you have a yard. Plant more native plants to create habitat for wildlife like butterflies, bees, and birds. Go above and beyond and certify your yard/garden as a Wildlife Habitat and help the City reach its goal to have 100 more wildlife-supporting habitats. Even condo balconies can support wildlife and every little bit helps.
• Pledge to reduce your use of single-use disposables, not only just single-use plastic. Did you know that the demand for disposable wooden chopsticks destroys massive swaths of critical salamander habitat? Support local and/or AAPI-owned businesses or organizations to purchase your own sets of reusable chopsticks to replace the need for disposables.
• Educate yourself and others about environmental issues. Talking about climate change with others can sometimes feel taboo because the science has been politicized in the US, but only about 10% of Americans are climate deniers. The more we talk about it, the more we and others are urged to take action, make changes, and advocate for a cleaner, greener future. If we don’t talk about it, much less gets done.
• Speak your mind & make demands for the environment to Green Initiatives, Elected Officials, Local Leaders, Businesses, etc. Make a public comment at City Commission meetings, sign petitions, and email Commissioners, Senators, and Representatives. Keep an eye out for documents that request public comment and make those comments based on what you read. Democracy is a participatory practice- get involved!
• Get engaged in our Climate Action planning process! Go to www.haveyoursayhallandale.org and share your ideas, concerns, or feelings about how the city functions and what you want to see as part of our efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
• Get involved with local organizations that advocate for the environment. Some examples include: Miami Waterkeeper, Broward Surfrider, the South Florida Wildlife Center, South Florida Wildlands, Broward Sierra Club, and the South Florida Audubon Society. Do some searching yourself and find the right organization for you.
• Stay informed about what is going on locally, in Florida, in the U.S., and in the world when it comes to environmental issues and climate change. Follow the news and updates from advocacy groups.
• Commit to composting. Email sustainability@cohb.org for recommendations on how to compost indoors or outdoors at your home. If composting at your home is not an option, consider signing up for compost pick-up services from local businesses like Renuable or Fertile Earth Worm Farm. Encourage your favorite restaurants to start composting too!
• Treat resources and products as if recycling didn’t exist. Refuse and Reduce as much as possible. The global recycling system has been struggling for the past few years due to market demand, countries that will/can accept and process recycling, and an ever-rising rate of contamination.
• If you’re in the market for a vehicle, consider a hybrid or electric (used or new) first. We’re installing chargers throughout the City to make this change more accessible to everyone. Even if you have a vehicle, try walking, biking, or taking the minibus for in-city trips.
• Give money (if you are able to) to conservation organizations with missions that resonate with you. It doesn’t matter which one you choose, they all need support and help. Some examples of organizations that our staff support include: Rainforest Foundation US, Friends of our Florida Reefs, the Coral Restoration Foundation,  Pleistocene Park, the South Florida Wildlife Center, and the Orianne Society.
• If you are able, gradually or fully cut animal products out of your diet. Whether its participating in a Meatless Monday once a week or going totally vegetarian or vegan, eating a plant based diet is better for the environment. If you’re choosing the Meatless Monday route, consider purchasing the animal products you consume from regenerative farms.
• Climate change disproportionately impacts low-income communities and people of color. Giving to social organizations that support people who are low-wealth, food insecure, energy-cost burdened, or people who live in communities that have otherwise been disinvested in is an environmental justice action most of us can take. Get involved or give to the Hepburn Center in Hallandale Beach, Catalyst Miami, or countless other organizations in our area.
• And one last one just to honor the weirdness that was 2020: look into toilet paper a bit more. If you’re able, make the switch to recycled or tree-free toilet paper and paper towels.

Take Climate Action from your couch

The www.haveyoursayhallandale.org page will be open for your ideas and input until May. We have spaces for you to answer questions, spaces for you to share your ideas in free form, a map for you to drop pins in areas you think need bike lanes, solar panels, and much more. Get active on the website now until the end of May when we will put a draft Climate Action Plan together which incorporates as many of your ideas as possible.

In June there will be another option to get engaged, virtually, with the draft Climate Action Plan when we host a public meeting to go over the draft with you and get more of your feedback. Please mark your calendars to attend on June 21^st at 5:30 PM.

City Nature Challenge Starts April 30th!

The City is encouraging its residents to participate in a citizen science challenge taking place from April 30 through May 9 called the City Nature Challenge. For this challenge, you simply need to take pictures of wild plants and animals and upload them to a smartphone app called iNaturalist. Scientists all over the world use the data collected through the iNaturalist app. This challenge is a great way to have some socially-distant competition among friends, neighbors, and family members, and all for a great cause!

Sea Turtle Nesting Season

Sea Turtle Nesting Season started on March 1 in Broward County. During Sea Turtle Season there are many things you can to do support these endangered animals:

• Keep the beach dark. Shield or turn off any lights that can be seen onto the beach. This includes interior lights from buildings on the barrier island, as well as outdoor lighting.
• Keep beaches clear of marine debris or trash that a sea turtle could get entangled in or eat.
• Remember that plastic bags, plastic straws, balloons, and Styrofoam of any kind are not allowed on beaches within City limits.
• Fill in any holes and knock over sandcastles when you leave the beach. These can be obstacles for nesting turtles or emerging hatchlings.
• If you see a dead, sick, or injured sea turtle or hatchling(s) in Broward County call 954-328-0580.
• Realize that sea turtles are endangered species and that even touching them without the proper permits could be considered against the Endangered Species Act. When in doubt, call the Broward Sea Turtle Conservation Program at 954-328-0580.
• Be patient with us regarding sargassum seaweed management. Our equipment is not allowed on the beach until the daily sea turtle surveys have been completed during sea turtle nesting season. This may result in delays in us getting the beach tractor on the beach.
• Reduce your personal plastic consumption and waste. We use plastic for seconds, but it takes thousands of years for it to break down. 

Get in touch or involved with Sustainability & Resiliency

If you're interested in learning more about Green Initiatives or if you want to get more involved, please reach out to our Sustainability & Resiliency Officer Alyssa Jones Wood at ajoneswood@cohb.org and visit cohb.org/green.