Giving Compass' Take:

• Here is a list of sustainable action steps that you can take to make an impact on the environment during the COVID-19 pandemic.

• What ways are you taking action for the environment? 

• Learn how you can fund ocean conservation. 


COVID-19 shocked the world, forcing us inside for months. While cases have declined in many areas, data shows that the virus is still deadly and continues to spread. Economies aren’t built to withstand the repercussions of a pandemic. U.S. government leaders and healthcare advocates have had to balance the need for the country to get back to work, in order to prevent a spiral into a deep economic depression, while instituting new, stringent health and safety measures for businesses. In the past two weeks, thousands have taken to the streets to protest against police brutality and to honor the #BlackLivesMatter movement—an international human rights campaign against violence and systemic racism toward Black people. The cause is so important that people are willing to risk exposure to the virus.

With so much happening in the world, the environment may be the last thing on people’s mind. Yet, a healthy environment is so crucial that it not only provides us with air, food, and water, but it also mitigates the transfer of diseases (like COVID-19) from animals. The spread of the coronavirus has been attributed to human interference including deforestation, climate change, and wildlife destruction.

June 5th was World Environment Day and June 8th is World Oceans Day. With both causes falling in the month of June, we wanted to take a step back from everything happening in the world and introduce easy, sustainable ways to be gentler to our environment (especially in a pandemic).

  • Use less water
  • Walk or bike instead of driving
  • Use eco-friendly cleaning products
  • Switch light bulbs to LED bulbs
  • Safely plan to clean-up your local park
  • Reduce the use of plastic
  • Power off and unplug devices
  • Support an environmental nonprofit
  • Plant trees or flowers in your backyard
  • Use biodegradable products

Read the full article about global pandemic and the environment by Giana Lozano at Charity Navigator.