Celebrate Earth Month

4/3/24

Over 20 million people participated in the first Earth Day in 1970—the day enjoyed wide bipartisan support across the U.S. and in Washington, helping to spur the creation of new policies and agencies to protect the health of humans and our planet. 

By the end of 1970, the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) was formed. Passage of our country's first environmental laws followed, including the Occupational Safety and Health Act, the Clean Air Act, and the Clean Water Act. Many of these laws were supported by and continue to be defended by the League of Women Voters.

Today, Earth Day is celebrated around the globe in over 190 countries, engaging more than one billion people in raising awareness and calling for policy changes designed to give us clean air to breathe, clean water to drink, and beautiful places to explore outdoors. 

This Earth Month, we encourage you to learn more about environmental threats facing our communities. Check out these four easy ways to engage with League resources and take action for the planet all month long:

1. Learn Something New

Visit LWV Chicago’s Environmental Action webpage and check out their ‘Waste Not Want Not’ Blog and ‘Tips & Tricks for Sustainable Living’ developed by their Environmental Action Committee. Read a few entries, try out a few tips, then bookmark this page to come back again and again!

You can also visit LWVUS’ Environmental Advocacy page and learn about the work LWVUS is doing to support reduced carbon emissions, environmental justice, and more.

2. Join a League Event

Sign up for one of these local League events during Earth Month:

3. Choose an Earth Month Resolution

Resolve to try one new environmentally friendly habit this month! Some examples: bring your own bags to the store, invest in a reusable water bottle, walk/bike/carpool.

4. Contact Your Elected Officials

Write, call, or meet with your state representatives and state senators to show your support for these environmental bills that are supported by LWVIL:

Zero Waste

  • Polystyrene Foam Foodware Ban (HB2376): Bans foam foodware for retailers and restaurants in the state.

  • Plastic Bag Ban (SB2211/HB4448): Bans all plastic carryout bags, replicating a successful New Jersey law.

  • Single Use Hotel Toiletries (HB4639/HB4831): Reduces plastic waste by requiring hotels to use refillable toiletry bottles instead of providing new, mini toiletry bottles every day to guests.

  • Food Waste Disposal (HB5592): Redefines “municipal waste” to not include food and landscape waste from commercial activities to reduce organics from landfills. Requires units of local government to prepare plans for diverting food waste and landscape waste from the landfill stream.

  • Large Event Facility Recycling (SB2876): Requires facilities with a capacity over 3,500 people to participate in recycling and composting to raise awareness of the waste created outside the home and how sustainable practices are feasible even when waste is created rapidly.

Clean Air & Water

  • Transition to Electric School Buses (HB2287): Provides that all school buses that are newly purchased, leased, or contracted after January 1, 2028, shall be an electric vehicle. 

  • Clean Car Standards (HB1634): Requires the the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency to adopt the Advanced Clean Truck and Clean Car standards. 

  • PFAS Monitoring (HB4702): Requires monitoring for PFAS at various water systems. Understanding where PFAS originates from is an important first step to remediation when that technology becomes available.

  • PFAS Registry (HB4627): Creates a registry so the public can have access to what products contain PFAS and make informed purchasing decisions.

Conservation

  • Illinois Wetlands (SB3669/HB5386): Protects Illinois wetlands left vulnerable by the US Supreme Court.

  • Safety Moratorium on Carbon Dioxide Pipelines (HB4385): Establishes a temporary statewide moratorium on construction of carbon dioxide pipelines until additional safety standards can be implemented.

  • Rain & Compost Systems (HB4619): Prohibits HOAs from banning the installation of a rainwater collection or composting systems.

  • Monarch Act (HB5296): Authorizes financial and technical assistance for the planting of native and pollinator-friendly plants. Prevents HOAs from prohibiting the planting of pollinator habitat.

  • Prairie Lawns (HB5433): Establishes the Prairie Lawns Program. Allows homeowner reimbursement up to $400. Prevents HOAs from prohibiting the planting of pollinator habitats. Establishes demonstration neighborhood grants as part of the program.

  • Transit to Trails Program (HB5277): Establishes a grant program for projects that facilitate travel by public transportation to public outdoor recreation sites for outdoor activities, including hiking, biking, boating, picnicking, fishing, or other nature-based activities.

  • Climate Education (HB4895): Requires that every Illinois public high school include a unit of instruction addressing climate change in either a required science class or a required social studies class.

  • Climate Education (HB4319): Stops misinformation about climate change from being taught in schools.

Questions? Ideas? Want to get more involved? Email issues@lwvil.org.

And we’d love to see what you get up to this month, so please share any photos or events with us via email or on social by tagging LWVIL and using the hashtag #EarthMonth2024.

Guest UserClean Water, Waste, Clean Air, Clean Energy, Agriculture, Land Stewardship