Earth Month
D3 celebrates Earth Month
"Invest in our planet"
Our planet needs our care now more than ever - especially after the IRCC's recent climate report. As media outlets have been reporting, we're running out of time in the fight against climate change. And worse, 1 in 4 Americans do not have access to clean water. Find more information. This year, the District 3 Team is highlighting local efforts to care of our planet and stepping up our efforts to do more - including the creation of the County Sustainability Commission. Please see the included information and resources to help us celebrate Earth Day, and investing in our future by investing in our planet - Earth Day is Every Day.
The first Earth Day took place in 1970 after organizers from San Francisco proposed the idea at the UNESCO Conference in 1969. Earth Day was built around environmental protection to alert people about the need for preserving and renewing the threatened ecological balance upon which all life on Earth depends. Earth Day started as a way to engage youth and our schools to ensure we care for the health of our planet.
However, because of our continued disruption and pollution of Earth's fragile ecosystem, climate change has spiraled out of control. To curb the negative impacts of climate change, Earth Day has grown to Earth Month. We must take big bold steps through collective action to address climate change, continue to care for our environment, and ensure an inhabitable planet for future generations.
"...our responsibility to deal more kindly with one another and to preserve and cherish the pale blue dot, the only home we've ever known." - Carl Sagan, 1994
County of Santa Clara Office of Sustainability
The Office of Sustainability seeks to build and maintain a healthy and safe County by reducing climate pollution, adapting to a changing global climate, enhancing natural resources and the environment, fostering a prosperous and just regional economy, and improving community health to ensure all people have equitable opportunities to reach their full potential. They are committed to building a livable, equitable, and resilient community by meeting the needs of current and future generations. Office of Sustainability Earth Month Page
Click HERE to visit the Office of Sustainability ⇨
Earth Month and Earth Day events 2023
April 15 - Sunnyvale Library Earth Day Fair - Sunnyvale
Show your love for the planet by attending Sunnyvale's Earth Day Fair at the Library from 12 - 3 pm! The fair will feature many family-friendly, sustainability-focused activity and resource booths from local organizations. More information
April 15 - Clean-Up at Don Edwards San Francisco Bay Wildlife Refuge - Fremont
The unique shoreline and historical ecology near Newark is a regional priority for action - and this shoreline connects right to Alviso in District 3. Sea level rise and flooding are serious threats to local residents and industries, but we can take local action to prevent a disaster! More details and to RSVP
April 22 - Milpitas Earth Day at Selwyn Park - Milpitas
Join neighbors and D3 families for an exciting Earth Day event at Selwyn Park from 10 am - 12 pm. The Resource Fair will include activities and information that can help you make simple changes at home so you can save money and protect the environment.
Other Earth Month/Day Events:
April 21 - March & Rally for Climate Justice - King Plaza/Palo Alto City Hall - Event info
April 22 - SNAIL Earth Day Community Cleanup - Sunnyvale - Event info
April 22 - Guadalupe River Conservancy Trail Cleanup - Arena Green Park - Event info
April 22 - Mountain View Earth Day Celebration - Community Center
April 22 - Cupertino Earth Day & Arbor Day Festival - Library Park Field - Event info
April 22 - AAUW Earth Day in Morgan Hill - CCC Amphitheater - Event info
April 23 - Spring into Green in Los Gatos - Town Plaza Park - Event info
April 29 - Blossom Festival Saratoga - Heritage Orchard/Civic Center - Event info
April 29 - Our City Forest Arbor Day Celebration Tree Planting - Cataldi Park, San José - Event info
PLUS - Silicon Valley Youth Climate Action Earth Day 2023 Events - Event info
AND - More Earth Day Events from the Santa Clara County Library District - Event infoMay 20 - National River Cleanup Day 2023 - Various Locations
Pollution prevention starts at our front doors. Trash can travel through storm drains, creeks, and rivers to become Bay pollution - in 2022 in Santa Clara County we removed 28,130 lbs of litter and cleaned 53 miles of waterways and natural areas. More information and to volunteer
May 2023 - Bike Month & Bike to Wherever Days! - Countywide
Climate action is getting around without carbon emissions - plus riding a bicycle is one of the most enjoyable activities! May 2023 is Bike Month and May 18-20 is Silicon Valley Bike Coalition’s Bike to Wherever Days Challenge.
Whether you bike every day or every few months - you’re invited to join thousands in celebration of the humble bicycle for Bike Month in May. Learn more about how you can participate with SVBC - and receive free items or win prizes!
County of Santa Clara County Annual Sustainability Report and data dashboards
Check out the 2022 Annual Sustainability Report and our data dashboard to see how the County is working towards a livable, equitable, and resilient community. Guided by the Sustainability Master Plan, County departments shared their sustainability successes for the year. Read the 2022 report.
Plus - You can track the County’s sustainability targets in the online Data Dashboard. The Data Dashboard includes key performance indicators, interactive charts, and historical progress over the years for nearly 60 of the County’s sustainability targets. - View the Dashboard -
Sustainability Tips for Your Home
Sustainability in action - knowledge is power
Waste Reduction - Where does my garbage go?
By learning about what happens to our discarded item after you place it in one of the County garbage bins, we gain power to make better choices.
County Facilities within the Cities of San Jose and Milpitas are serviced by Republic Services using their Wet/Dry system. This means that “wet” waste such as food waste, wet paper and compostable materials are processed on a separate line and turned into compost or mulch. “Dry” waste such as recyclables are processed together and turned into new materials or sent to the landfill. The processing center can divert 80% of materials from the commercial line from landfills. Check out these two short videos to learn more - Video Link 1, Video Link 2
The County has worked with Republic Services since 2009 to collect and process County generated waste and help us achieve our Zero Waste goal.
Water Conservation - Drought Conditions In Santa Clara County
Winter storms and atmospheric rivers in late 2022 and early 2023 lifted the County of Santa Clara, and the State of California, out of a drought emergency…for now.
Despite the replenished water supply, we must still conserve water, especially as our summers get warmer and water demand increases. Historically, drought in the County of Santa Clara has occurred every few years, but in recent years, the drought has lasted longer and become more extreme. Now is the time to plan ahead for future droughts and examine our water usage! SaveOurWater.com has a great list of tips to learn about water conservation. Learn more
Water Conservation - A Way of Life
If we’re going to make a difference, we have to make water conservation a way of life. A great way to start is by determining how your household water usage ranks and to discover your Water Footprint, use the water calculator at WaterCalculator.org.
The more we know, the better choices we make. Another way to expand our knowledge is with WaterSmart reports. These reports can show us how to save water in your home. Thanks to Valley Water, you can sign up for leak alerts and compare your water usage to neighbors. WaterSmart Reports & Understanding Your Water Use
