April 22, 2021 marked the 51st anniversary of Earth Day! This year’s theme, “Restore Our Earth,” rejects the idea that the only solution to save the planet is to adapt to the changing climate and instead focuses on natural system processes and emerging green technologies to replenish the world’s ecosystems and forests, revitalize soils, enhance farming practices, and diminish waste from the world’s oceans.
In previous years, the Office of Sustainability has hosted an annual Earth Day Fair among other events and activities. Although the pandemic prevents us from gathering at a fair for a second year in a row, numerous virtual events and campaigns will be hosted by the Office of Sustainability and other campus partners throughout April to celebrate Earth Month.
Earth Month Highlights:
The Invisible Vegan Film Screening & Community Discussion: Exclusively offered to the Lehigh community, the Office of Multicultural Affairs and the Office of Sustainability hosted a virtual screening of The Invisible Vegan on Wednesday, April 21. This independent documentary explores the problem of unhealthy dietary patterns in the African-American community, foregrounding the health and wellness possibilities enabled by plant-based vegan diets and lifestyle choices. The film was followed by a community discussion.
Earth Day Speaker: Professor of Urban and Environmental Policy and Planning at Tufts University Dr. Julian Agyeman, PhD, FRSA, FRGS spoke to the Lehigh community about just sustainabilities as a response to the ‘equity deficit’ of much sustainability practices using examples from urban planning and design, urban agriculture and the ‘Minneapolis Paradox.’
Arbor Day Tree Planting: Lehigh is pursuing the Arbor Day Foundation’s Tree Campus USA certification. Tree Campus USA is national recognition that colleges and universities can earn by meeting five core standards developed to promote healthy trees and student involvement. The Office of Sustainability invited members of the Lehigh community to learn about the history of Arbor Day and Lehigh's own roots in tree stewardship. The tree was planted at the West Entrance of Chandler Ullhmann on Friday, April 30.
For a full list of events, please view the Earth Month Calendar. Please contact sustainability@lehigh.edu with any questions.