Earth Day is an important day for us where we appreciate the earth, assess its changes and see how best we, the mature, can protect it. It is disappointingly true that man’s activities have greatly affected our global home’s health.

Here are some quick facts you ought to know:

1. The planet is around 5 billion years old.
2. Global warming came after each of a few of the famous ice ages that started more than 600 million years ago in the Precambrian time.
3. Europe and most of North America was well covered with ice 1.75 million years ago.
4. About 18,000 years ago, Ice Age Florida was similar to Quebec with winter temperatures approximately 27 to 36 degrees cooler.
5. There are more than 11 million species and humans have successfully named 1.7 million.
6. 70% of the planet is covered by oceans while 80% of the earth’s biodiversity is occupied by forests.
7. Global temperatures have shot highest on record during the last decade and are expected to reach 10.4 degrees by 2100.
8. Severe weather conditions may lead to 150 million to 200 million people relocating by 2050.
9. 11,000 square miles of forest cover has been done away with over the last 8,000 years.
10. Since 1970, temperatures in the oceans have risen by 1.4 degrees with one-thirds of oceans rising due to high ocean temperatures.
11. About 46,000 pieces of trashy plastic can be found in each square mile of ocean.
12. 8% of U.S. energy is from renewable energy, with 37% from petroleum, 25% from natural gas, coal contributes 21% and nuclear energy gives about 9%.
13. Greenhouse gases come from: 35% electric power, 27% transportation systems, 20% from industry, 7% agriculture, 6% commercial and 5% residential.
14. World automobile production has shot by 370% since 1960.
15. Global oil consumption increased by 401%, to 85.8 million barrels per day from 21.3.

We should, however, point out great achievements by the aged, who have taken steps in the right direction. The following instances are worth celebrating;

Due to reduce usage of chlorofluorocarbon, the ozone hole is predicted to disappear by 2050 since it has been at its smallest from 2004. The earth’s polar ice cap can be preserved by soot reduction, since this easy and cheap process halts warming in a great way. Since 2001, more than ten wildlife species, including the bald eagle, have ceased being endangered. Investment in solar power and offshore wind farms has lowered the cost of renewable and clean energy in the U.S.

Jets could soon be using bio-fuel, a lower-carbon source of energy.

Question is, how can we, the mature generation, do to contribute to a better world? As it is, people in their sunset years are always looked up to. Our actions, as we age, would go a long way in dictating what future generations would call home. Here are some best practices to achieve this:

• Buy meat from sustainably raised animals but less often. Low meat consumption eases environmental stress.
• Fix your water heater at about 120 degrees. Setting it to 140 degrees, as most do, is not only wasteful but also hazardous.
• Save 25 gallons of bath water a day by reducing your shower time by 5 minutes.
• Load your dishwasher with dirty dishes without rinsing. This saves around 20 gallons of water per loaded dishwasher.
• Save your fireplace or wood-burning stove for use on special events. Smoke pollutes the air from inside and outside.
• Plant native plants in your garden; they require less water and fertilizer.
• Try not to water or fertilize gardens when rain is coming. Water goes to waste and fertilizer pollutes waterways.
• Practice online banking. It saves paper and your time.
• The Department of Energy also gives tips on optimizing energy efficiency and saving money while at it. Check http://www.energysavers.gov/.