Today is Earth Day.
This past weekend, OC Parks and the Newport Bay Conservancy partnered to celebrate Earth Day with their annual event, Earth Day at the Bay.
It inspired many attendees to reflect on what the planet means to them and how they can care for it, especially amid the ongoing threat of climate change and the impacts on OC.
Editors’ Note: This dispatch is part of the Voice of OC Collegiate News Service, working with student journalists to cover public policy issues across Orange County. If you would like to submit your own student media project related to Orange County civics or if you have any response to this work, contact admin@voiceofoc.org.
Just this year, Orange County adopted a climate action plan that outlines potential voluntary measures to reduce emissions but does not include any binding laws. It instead offers climate-conscious ideas for residents and businesses and encourages electrification.
[Read: Orange County Greenlights Voluntary Climate Action Plan]
“I think there are lots of little things that you can do… just making nature a part of your daily life,” said Barry Grossman, who attended the event with his two sons.
“Some of it is just around simple things like cleaning up trash or not adding to other problems that are out there.”
Earth Day, which was started in 1970 following a major oil spill off the coast of Santa Barbara, focuses on pushing environmental issues into the public eye.
The holiday offers an opportunity to learn about sustainable practices, says Michael Jiang, a conservancy naturalist who has been volunteering at OC Parks and the Newport Bay Conservancy for four years. He shared his thoughts on how individuals can make an impact.
“I wish people would save more water. Every little bit helps… there are simple things that you could do, just make it a habit of paying a little bit more attention,” Jiang said from behind his booth on naturalism.
The event featured a variety of family-friendly entertainment, including hands-on activities designed to get kids excited about learning. Live music and food trucks lined a building at the conservancy, the Peter and Mary Muth Interpretive Center.
A scavenger hunt encouraged attendees to explore trails around the bay. Many volunteers brought out live animals, including native snakes, owls, turtles, and ferrets.
Earth Day can serve as a point of reflection for some OC residents.
“The thing I always go back to is how we lost 95% of our coastal sagebrush habitat, which is pretty unique. Some California and parts of Baja, that’s all the coastal sagebrush we have. And we lost 95% of that, of course, because of people having to build. Thankfully, there are places like this that preserve,” Jiang said.
When asked what type of world he wants to leave for his children, Grossman put it simply. “I think the goal is always to leave something better than the way you found it.”
