Pet ownership is a staple in many families worldwide, and estimates suggest that over half of the global population have a pet at home. However, owning a dog, cat, or any other pet might not be as sustainable as many think. We take a look at the environmental impact of pets and explore solutions to make pet ownership a more sustainable practice.

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Climate change affects everything and everyone, including companion animals. Heatwaves and rising infectious diseases from pathogens caused by climate change harm the pets we love so dearly – albeit in a much less significant way than most human activities and industries, the pet industry also partly contributes to increasing heatwaves and pathogens. 

An average-sized cat can produce 310 kilograms (CO2e) annually. An average-sized dog generates 770 kg of CO2e, and an even bigger dog can emit upwards of 2,500 kilograms of CO2e, which is twice as much as the emissions deriving from an average family car per year. 

Fortunately, raising a pet does not have to be environmentally harrowing for the planet, nor do we need to abandon societal’s fondness for owning a companion animal altogether. If we are already taking steps to become more sustainable in other industries like business and fashion, the pet industry (and ownership) can indeed follow suit.

Promote Sustainable Pet Food Consumption

The modern food system is responsible for 26% of global greenhouse gas emissions, with meat consumption alone accounting for about 60% of the total.  

As mentioned before, pets account for a significant carbon footprint. According to Gregory Okin, a professor from the University of California Los Angeles, our pets’ meat consumption generates about 64 million tons of carbon dioxide annually in the US, the equivalent of driving 13.6 million cars. 

In the US alone, our pets’ diet contributes to 25-30% of the environmental impact of meat consumption. Here, the amount of meat that only dogs and cats consume ranks just behind the total meat consumption of Russia, Brazil, the United States, and China.

“If Americans’ 163 million Fidos and Felixes comprised a separate country, their fluffy nation would rank fifth in global meat consumption,” Okin noted.

Meat accounts for nearly 60% of all greenhouse gases from food production.

So, what does all this mean? It is clear that the meat we feed our cats and dogs has a significant environmental impact. For this reason and in a climate change-ridden world, it is important to inform owners (and consumers) about the footprint of their pets and promote sustainable food consumption in the pet industry. 

Sustainable Pet Food Alternatives

While there has yet to be a bigger boost of alternative pet food, sustainable options are on the rise. 

Pet owners can choose pet food brands certified by the Aquaculture Stewardship Council or the Marine Stewardship Council. Food products with these certifications indicate that the protein in this food is caught legally and produced responsibly. 

In the last five years, pet food products with sustainable seafood, verified by the Marine Stewardship Council, increased by 57% in the United Kingdom. In the United States, they increased by 614%. 

While using fish as a protein source does have its environmental issues, a study from the Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies at the University of Tasmania revealed that the carbon emitted from capturing most types of fish is much less than the carbon emitted from the production of red meat. Specifically, catching a kilogram of fish generates one to five kilograms of carbon, depending on the location, whereas producing a kilogram of red meat like beef and lamb generates between 50 to 750 kilograms of carbon – a substantial difference. 

Insect-based pet food is another way to promote sustainability as the overall carbon footprint is much smaller than that of livestock. Indeed, insect-based pet food requires fewer resources, such as land, water, and transportation fuel.

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Another way to alleviate the environmental impact of the pet food industry as an owner is to simply feed your dog or cat less.

In 2022, the Association for Pet Obesity Prevention reported that 61% of cats and 59% of dogs were obese or overweight. This means that many owners feed their pets much more than necessary, inadvertently wasting resources and adding to the environmental impact of pet food. As an eco-conscious pet owner or wanting to become one, feeding your pet the right amount of food helps keep the planet healthy (and your pet, too).

Manage Pet Waste Properly

Rather not talked about, our dog’s and cat’s waste can, in fact, impact the environment. 

With the 163 million dogs and cats owners in the US alone, the amount of faeces produced is not far off the amount of garbage produced by the population of the state of Massachusetts. To put things into perspective, 163 million dogs and cats generate a total of approximately 5.1 million tons of faeces annually, about the total waste generated by 6.63 million people.

Unfortunately, much of our dog’s waste is left on the ground. Specifically, 40% of pet owners do not clean up after their dogs. This is problematic. Dog waste comprises various viruses, bacteria, and parasites that are transmittable and can thus harm humans and other animals. 

Street sign inviting dog owners to clean up their waste to avoid the spread of diseases.

Our dog’s waste can also harm the environment by contaminating soil and water bodies. According to the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), pet faeces contain bacteria, viruses, and nutrients categorised as “pollutants from urban runoff”. Pathogens from canine waste can remain in the soil for years and affect wildlife and vegetation. Nitrogen is also found in faeces, and, if washed into lakes or rivers, it can result in the growth of invasive algae that damage aquatic life. 

As for cat waste, clay-based cat litter is not exactly sustainable, unable to break down in landfills. Simply put, it is not biodegradable. This type of litter is also not sourced in the greenest manner as it uses strip mining, a form of mining that entails removing vegetation, trees, rocks, and topsoil, to obtain clay. Removing the planet’s surface materials in such a manner leads to unrepairable damage to the mining site and environmental disruption such as erosion.

Silica-gel-based litter (or crystal litter) is not sustainable either. This form of litter is made from quartz, which is a non-renewable resource found through mining practices. Manufacturing silica-gel-based cat litter has a high carbon dioxide emission, as a single ton of silica gel needs about five tons of coal. Silica-gel-based cat litter has around ten times the carbon dioxide pressure than other litters.

Silica-gel-based litter is not biodegradable.

As someone who owns a companion animal, whether a dog or a cat, it is paramount to learn how to manage their waste properly to minimise the environmental impacts associated with it.

Owning a dog means picking up after them. This small act can lead to a huge milestone in becoming a more sustainable pet owner. Instead of plastic bags, use bags that are good for the planet, such as compostable ones. It is also important to keep in mind that bags that companies often label bags as “biodegradable” for marketing purposes to entice consumers to purchase, a practice infamously known as greenwashing.

Cat owners can also take more environmentally-friendly actions when managing cat waste, such as opting for litter boxes that are produced with sustainable materials. For instance, recycled paper, grass seed, and renewable wheat are all greener alternatives to clay-based and silica-gel-based litter, as these materials can easily break down in the environment. 

Flushing cat litter down the toilet also causes more bad than good because it can damage septic systems and sewer lines. At times, cat waste can carry a parasite, toxoplasma gondii, which can spread into streams, lakes, and water supplies, subsequently affecting wildlife and even humans. So, make sure to dispose of your cat’s litter box properly. 

Choose Eco-Conscious Pet Supplies

Having a pet necessitates purchasing supplies such as toys, bedding, food, and grooming products. Ever thought about the sustainability level of these supplies? How eco-conscious are these companies? 

Pet products generate approximately 300 million pounds of plastic waste in North America alone, crowding landfills with these environmentally damaging components. Landfills are filled with dog and cat toys as many are non-recyclable, as they are entirely made up of or contain some sort of plastic material. 

The plastic used for pet food packaging is just as bad as the plastic used for pet toys. According to the Pet Sustainability Coalition, “99% of all pet food & treat packaging goes to the landfill each year.” Shocking, yet this is reality. 

As society is working profusely to lessen the use of plastic and establish more sustainable businesses, companies producing pet products must do the same and pet owners must be more eco-conscious. 

The Pet Sustainability Coalition, committed to building a more sustainable pet industry, launched a campaign called The Packaging Pledge, which supports companies in the pet industry to gradually transition to “100% recyclable, reusable, or compostable packaging by 2025.” Some companies that have already signed this pledge are Open Farm, Primal Pet Foods, and Stella and Chewy’s. 

Besides the Pet Sustainability Coalition, rePurpose Global is another organisation that strives to create a greener world as it focuses on reducing plastic waste. So far, a total of 20 pet companies, such as Earth Animal, Four Leaf Rover, and Nature’s Logic, have partnered with rePurpose Global. The partnership has already proven successful and helped recover 2,000 tons of plastic waste, the equivalent of about 111 million plastic bottles.

As a pet owner, opting for environmentally-friendly pet products is an effortless way to become a more sustainable owner. Buying toys for your cat or dog means choosing ones assembled from “natural, sustainable and biodegradable materials,” as the David Suzuki Foundation puts it. Along with purchasing clean and green toys, pet owners can also build toys using household items – ensuring these homemade toys are safe for them. 

Final Thoughts

With companion pet ownership being so widespread, owners should take into account the environmental impact of their pets, especially when the climate crisis keeps worsening by the day. Although it may appear so, it is not as difficult to direct how you care for your dog or cat in a more planet-friendly manner. Choosing sustainable pet products from genuinely eco-friendly brands can make a world of difference in reducing the pet industry’s carbon footprint. 

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The post The Environmental Impact of Pets: Working Towards Sustainable Pet Ownership appeared first on Earth.Org.

Methane is estimated to be responsible for 30% of global warming and today’s concentration of this potent greenhouse gas in the atmosphere is the highest in the last 800,000 years. While countries around the world are thinking of ways to mitigate the impacts of this gas, methane can actually be used in a more beneficial way by turning it into renewable energy through a process called anaerobic digestion.

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What is Anaerobic Digestion?

Anaerobic digestion is the process where microorganisms break down organic materials – such as food waste, organic waste, sewage sludge, and animal manure – in an enclosed, oxygen-free container, which is also known as reactors or anaerobic digesters. The broken-down matter results in two products: Biogas, a renewable source of methane gas, and digestate, the remaining organic material. Anaerobic digesters come in various designs, sizes, and types, depending on location, cost, operation temperature, and what material is being processed. Still, all digesters have the same basic purpose: optimising waste.

Anaerobic digestion system. Graph: US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)

Biogas, which contains roughly 45% to 75% of methane, can be directly used as a renewable energy source to provide industries and homes with electricity and heat, as well as generate fuel for transportation. Biogas can also be purified into renewable natural gas, or, in other words, biomethane, which is carbon neutral and interchangeable with natural gas and can be used for natural gas pipelines and transportation. 

Digestate contains solid and liquid materials possessing beneficial nutrients, minerals, and water which can be utilised in various manners, such as nutrients for soil amendment, livestock bedding, fertiliser, and a basis when creating bioplastics.

Putting Methane Into Use

One way methane is produced is from decaying organic matter in environments without oxygen, such as wetlands and landfills. However, an anaerobic digester can capture and optimise methane released from the breakdown of these matters and transform it into biogas, while the excess product from the processed waste becomes digestate. 

Livestock manure largely contributes to human-made methane emissions, especially when discarded and stored in piles and lagoons. Including enteric fermentation (when microbes break down food present in an animal’s digestive tract), livestock manure represents 32% of overall methane emissions. Instead of disposing manure off to the side, livestock farms can recycle it with an anaerobic digester, creating useful solid and liquid nutrient-rich end-products for the farm, animal bedding, and fertiliser, along with generating renewable methane energy.

Using biogas produced from manure-based anaerobic digesters. Graph: US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)

Food and organic waste that make up many of today’s landfills also contribute to methane production, emitting this potent greenhouse gas in the same manner as livestock manure. Food waste alone is responsible for 8% to 10% of global emissions, including methane and other greenhouse gases; however, anaerobic digestion can take food and organic waste and convert these environmentally detrimental materials into beneficial products. 

Specifically, an anaerobic digester can produce a year-worth of renewable methane energy to supply 800 to 1,400 homes if 100 tons of food waste are processed daily. Putting that into example, about 103 million tons of food are wasted in a year in the US. This means that in one day, there are roughly 280,000 tons of food waste, which if processed through an anaerobic digester, can power approximately 2,800 homes.

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What Is in Store for Today’s World?

Anaerobic digestion is currently implemented in both urban and rural sites across the world to lower the amount of methane and other greenhouse gases released into the atmosphere, with countries like China, India, and Bangladesh creating plans to implement micro-scale anaerobic digestion systems in rural areas. Other countries like Germany have renewable energy policies in place, like putting a special tariff for energy generated from manure-based anaerobic digesters. 

At a global scale, there are approximately 50 million micro-scale anaerobic digesters and 132,000 small, medium, and large-scale digesters. 

The United States alone has about 2,300 anaerobic digesters. Around 331 of these digesters are manure-based and are mainly found in dairy, pig, poultry, and beef farms. In 2015, Europe had 17,400 anaerobic digesters, generating 18 billion cubic metres of renewable methane gas, or, to put it differently, 18 trillion litres of biogas. Today, Germany has almost 10,000 anaerobic digesters, generating enough fuel for some communities in the country to basically become fossil fuel free.

The Fremont Regional Digester found in Michigan, the US processes food and organic waste. Photo: Fremont Regional Digester

The outlook of using anaerobic digesters looks promising. 

According to a 2019 report published by the World Biogas Association, anaerobic digestion is able to reduce the current atmospheric greenhouse gas emissions, including methane, by 10% to 13%. Despite this favourable statistic, countries worldwide are only tapping into 1.6% to 2.2% of the potential that anaerobic digestion systems have for mitigating greenhouse gas emissions. The report concluded that “the potential for the growth of the biogas industry is therefore extraordinary and involves every country.” 

In order to effectively mitigate global warming, it is critical to use more sustainable and greener practices worldwide. Anaerobic digestion does not just reduce global greenhouse gas emissions but also efficiently uses waste and methane production and converts these harmful products into valuable, renewable energy. 

Featured image by Matti Blume/Wikimedia Commons

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The post How Anaerobic Digestion Puts Methane Into Use appeared first on Earth.Org.

Fireworks are used to please crowds, celebrate big holidays, and end festivals with a bang – literally. But at what environmental cost? Especially when climate change has made its way to the forefront of the planet, it is important to consider the environmental impact of fireworks.

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Society has a growing (and strange) desire to set off and watch explosives for the sake of entertainment and celebratory purposes. 

According to the American Pyrotechnics Association, consumer fireworks, which are low-hazard and used for recreational purposes, reached a consumption of 416.3 million pounds in the United States in 2021, while display fireworks, high-hazard and used professionally, amounted to 12.5 million pounds. This totalled an overall American consumption of 428.8 million pounds in 2021, 24.3 million pounds more than in 2020, and 155.8 million more than in 2019. 

On the business side, fireworks are a profitable industry where the average retail price for consumers to buy fireworks is about three times the wholesale price. In other words, a consumer buying one case of fireworks for $100 can result in a profit of $300 for the business owner. 

Fireworks, as spectacular when displayed and profitable when sold, are a real-life horror show for the environment. Put aside the thought of entertainment and moneymaking for a few minutes because the planet we live on is hurting from fireworks. 

What Are Fireworks?

In order to understand the damaging effects a firework has on the environment, it is necessary to first understand what fireworks really are.

The most basic component that all fireworks have is black powder, also known as gunpowder. When black powder – which is made from a mixture of 75% potassium nitrate, 15% charcoal, and 10% sulphur – is placed inside a shell and ignited with a fuse, a loud, gaseous, and hot chemical reaction is created, essentially an explosion. 

Exploding black powder does not seem very entertaining to watch, at least not to some. Mineral elements are mixed with black powder, providing colour to these explosions. Some colours simply require one element to produce the targeted colour. For example, only strontium is needed to make red, sodium for yellow, and barium for green. Other colours, such as orange, require a combination of mineral elements which are strontium and sodium, or purple necessitates a mix of strontium and copper. Additional chemicals, such as carbon, sulphur, aluminium, and manganese, are added to the fireworks, functioning as stabilisers, oxidisers, and extra colours. 

Trained experts designing and handling fireworks, known as pyrotechnicians, measure the correct amount of black powder, mineral elements, and other chemicals, and arrange these compounds under a specific order to provide the firework with a particular shape and colour. Pyrotechnicians also calculate the altitude of each firework so that explosions happen at the right time and location. After everything is neatly calculated and wrapped together in a shell, a fuse is attached to the shell, and when lit, the chemical mixture reacts with the fuse’s heat, and exploding fireworks ensue. 

So now what? Fireworks explode, but where do all these chemicals go? One thing is for sure: what goes up must come down. 

Still Up in the Air: The Environmental Impact of Fireworks

Chemicals from fireworks do not just disappear into thin air. When burned and exposed to oxygen, substances undergo a chemical reaction called combustion. This chemical reaction produces two results: Short-lived entertainment and toxic atmospheric pollutants. 

The temporary enjoyment of fireworks releases a host of contaminants that affect air quality and can contribute to climate change, including carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, nitrogen, sulphur dioxide, and particulate matter. 

During the five-day celebration of Diwali in India – the world-famous festival of lights – about 50,000 tons, or 100 million pounds, of fireworks explode, causing a toxic haze to cover cities. 

Toxic hazes, also known as particle pollution, are created by particulate matter (PM), a combination of minuscule solid and liquid substances found in the air and considered the most hazardous air pollutant due to its ability to affect people’s lungs and heart, along with causing environmental damage. In the case of India, PM found in the country’s air increased up to 35 times on celebration days when fireworks were present compared to normal days. 

Specifically, the city of Delhi had the highest amount of particulate matter back in 2017 when fireworks were used during Diwali, with an hourly PM2.5 concentration of 900 μg/m3. 

PM2.5 are inhalable fine particles with a diameter of 2.5 micrometers or smaller. The measure (μg/m3) means one microgram of pollutant per cubic metre and micrograms are smaller than milligrams but larger than nanograms. As a comparison, the average strand of human hair is 70 micrometers in diameter, approximately 30 times larger than a fine particle with two-point-five micrometers in diameter. 

In the case of Delhi, there were 900 micrograms of fine particles in one cubic metre of air in an hour during the firework-filled festival – a lot considering the World Health Organization air quality guidelines state that the average concentration of PM2.5 should not exceed 5 micrograms per cubic metre of air in a year. 

Similar situations occurred in other parts of the world. In central London, for example, a study shows increased particle pollutant concentration during nights with fireworks – all thanks to the toxic elements and metals emitted from firework combustion. 

Aside from larger concentrations of particulate matter, firework activity also increases harmful gaseous concentrations, carbon monoxide (toxic by hindering a living organism’s ability to transport oxygen throughout its body), and nitric oxide (toxic by inhalation and skin absorption). The festival of Diwali in India is one example where there was a large spread of these two gases. 

Another occasion where there were increases in carbon monoxide, nitric oxide as well as carbon dioxide (CO2) was a firework event organised in celebration of Independence Day on July 4th in the United States. Researchers discovered that, when fireworks took place in downtown Minneapolis, Minnesota, the atmospheric concentration of carbon monoxide increased by 32%, carbon dioxide grew by 17%, and nitric oxide fluctuated a bit before “doubling overnight.”

All these atmospheric pollutants produced by firework activity end up affecting the planet, resulting in changes in air temperature, humidity, air visibility, and other factors. During firework displays, it was found that atmospheric heat content becomes greater, surface air temperature is elevated, and air visibility can decrease as much as 92%.

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A Horror Show for Animals

Imagine being an animal, comfortably sleeping in your habitat, and suddenly being awakened by hearing a sequence of booming noises and witnessing unexpected bright flashes out of nowhere, yet unable to escape – a horrifying experience. Unfortunately, this is the reality for many animals.

According to the Humane Society of the United States, animals “become … frightened by the noise and commotion of fireworks,” resulting in them becoming lost, abandoning their habitats, and suffering from health consequences, whether it be stress or getting hit by a vehicle.

A study using GPS trackers conducted in three European countries – Germany, Denmark, and the Netherlands – shows fireworks’ effects on Arctic migratory geese during the New Year’s Eve celebration. The research revealed that the geese flew away from their sleeping sites in response to the fireworks. They never returned. 

Likewise, the University of Amsterdam’s Institute for Biodiversity and Ecosystem Dynamics used weather radars to detect how birds, mainly waterfowls, react to New Year’s Eve fireworks. The radars showed that thousands of birds flew up to altitudes of 500 metres in the air after the explosions.

Compared to humans, animals are more sensitive to high-frequency noise, driving them to leave their young and disrupting their breeding and feeding behaviours. The Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty (RSPCA) notes that the loud noises emitted from fireworks “are unpredictable and out of an animal’s control.”

“Being unpredictable, as well as intermittent and relatively infrequent, also makes it unlikely that animals will acclimatise to fireworks noise.” 

In an extreme case, hundreds of birds, primarily starlings, were found dead on the streets of Rome, Italy, after the 2021 New Year’s Eve firework event. What was the cause of these deaths? The International Organisation for the Protection of Animals (OIPA) believes it to be “related to a particularly loud display of firecrackers and fireworks.”

Aside from deafening noises and disruptive lights, the aftermath of a firework display consists of debris, such as shells and heavy metals, littered across the ground, providing opportunities for animals to accidentally ingest these hazardous materials and potentially leading to illnesses. And it doesn’t stop there.

Fireworks also pose a threat of starting fires – hence the word “fire” in fireworks. In areas already susceptible to wildfires or when conditions are hotter and drier, embers and sparks produced from ignited fireworks have a higher chance of creating a flame that can lead to a destructive wildfire, consequently harming wildlife and their habitats. And while climate change has already increased the risk of longer and more frequent wildfires, fireworks only add to the potential threats. During the 2021 Fourth of July celebration in the US state of Utah, a wildfire started following a firework show in the city of Centerville – an area already prone to wildfires – leading to the evacuation of almost 100 households.

While spectators are left with feelings of amazement and satisfaction, firework displays leave wild animals feelings of trauma and oftentimes injuries. Wildlife rehabilitation centres have increased patients and calls of reported wildlife sightings on roads following firework-filled celebrations. 

Bad for Soil, Worse for Waterbodies, Worst for the Ecosystem

It is already established that fireworks pollute the air and traumatise wildlife. What’s next? Ever think about how fireworks harm the planet’s surface and its abundant ecosystems? 

Perchlorate, a chemical compound, is often added to fireworks, working as an oxidiser to facilitate their upward propulsion. Though, this chemical can affect the function of the thyroid gland in large amounts. When fireworks burst into their colourful lights, chemical debris is left scattered across the ground. Perchlorate is one of them and it is often associated with contaminating soil and water. This chemical remains in the environment for long periods, easily absorbed by neighbouring flora. When it ends up in waterbodies, it can also affect fish development.

Scientists with the United States Geological Survey (USGS) and the National Park Service studied perchlorate levels associated with fireworks found in soil, surface water, and groundwater at Mount Rushmore National Memorial in the US. They discovered that perchlorate was found in soil where fireworks occurred and where debris settled. There were also increased levels of this chemical in surface water and groundwater because of past fireworks activities nearby. 

Similar research took place in Kerala, India, where investigators collected water and soil samples after fireworks were launched. It revealed that both samples had concentrations of perchlorate. It seems that wherever fireworks occur, perchlorate follows. 

Chemicals found in soil and water are one problem, but fireworks can also contribute to microplastic pollution in water – plastic particles 5mm in diameter and less. The River of Thames in England had an enormous (and rather shocking) increase in microplastic content following the New Year’s Eve firework show.

“Whilst we expected an increase in microplastics’ presence, we did not expect over a 1000% increase from the sample taken on the 30th December 2019 to the one taken 6 hours after the firework display on the 1st January 2020 roughly 24 hours later,” describes Ria Devereux, one of the researchers of this investigation which took samples of water from the river to examine the concentration of microplastics.

As explained earlier, fireworks release a number of emissions into the atmosphere, including particulate matter, sulphur dioxide, and nitric oxide, to name a few. PM and nitric oxide can stay in the atmosphere for a longer duration, causing these contaminants to be carried over to different regions. When PM, nitric oxide, along with sulphur dioxide, are transported by wind and then mixed with oxygen, water, and other chemicals, acid rain arises. This harms ecosystems, especially ones in aquatic and forested conditions. 

Particulate matter from fireworks can land on soil and water as well, altering nutrients in the soil and resulting in surface water becoming more acidic, with severe consequences on ecosystems. Similarly, atmospheric sulphur components, such as sulphur dioxide, are able to damage leaves and disrupt the growth of trees and plants.

A Greener Alternative?

There is no hiding that fireworks are not the best for the environment. The short spectacle that happens worldwide at countless holidays and festivals leaves potent and long-lasting footprints on the planet. Thus, there needs to be a call for change to minimise these effects, especially when climate change is in the limelight. 

Some countries have decided to take political routes, implementing policies to reduce the environmental impacts of fireworks. 

The city of Zhengzhou in China enforced a policy prohibiting fireworks in 2016 so that air pollution could improve. In 2018, the firework prohibition policy was reinforced, expanding into other regions, which in turn, had considerable improvements in the Air Quality Index, progressing from the category of Unhealthy for Sensitive People to the Moderate one. Besides Zhengzhou, Beijing decided to ban the use of fireworks before the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics took place. This ban “helped China’s capital record its cleanest air for a Lunar New Year,” as reported by the National Post.

For those who desire firework-related entertainment, greener alternatives are on the rise. 

Canadian cities located in the province of Alberta, like Banff and Canmore, replaced fireworks with special effects pyrotechnic displays, which are quieter and have a lower altitude, in order to protect wildlife. The town of Collecchio in Italy also switched from standard fireworks to silent fireworks to help reduce stress on local wild animals. Although these fireworks do not have the traditional loud bang, they still have their colourful and illuminated displays, making them a great and more environmentally friendly alternative. 

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Another better option is a drone display, similar to the one presented at the Opening Ceremony of the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. Laser spectacles can replace fireworks, too, as they reduce the risk of wildfires and do not increase air pollution. Salt Lake City in Utah, the United States, has been substituting some of the city’s fireworks with lasers during the Fourth of July holiday to reduce environmental damage, and these lasers still have the same level of spectacle as fireworks. 

The government administers many of these policies and greener alternatives. As an everyday person, it may seem challenging to voice just how harmful fireworks are. There is really no need to fret. Even the smallest actions like writing to local government and politicians, spreading information through word-of-mouth or on social media, and signing petitions are all steps towards creating awareness of the impacts that fireworks pose on the planet.

With the slew of problems that climate change bring existing at the front line of this world, it is vital to take all necessary actions to strive for a greener and healthier planet, including taking action on the dazzling but damaging fireworks.

The post Crowd-Pleasing Fireworks Are Not So Pleasing to the Planet appeared first on Earth.Org.