Imagine you are offered the chance to travel to the moon this Earth Day. After the shock of the offer subsides, you realize you now have the privilege of enjoying a very exclusive experience shared only by 24 others in human history. If you’re a woman or person of color, you would be in the club’s VIP section, unique among your fellow white male club members. How could you possibly say no? Then the question comes to you: why does NASA want to send you to the moon on Earth Day? 

The purpose of the trip is not to conduct more scientific research on the moon, but to study you. NASA wants to understand how the overview effect –  a cognitive shift in awareness reported by some astronauts – can lead to transformational changes in humans that inspire more prosocial and pro-environmental behaviors and lifestyles. Viewing Earth from space has been reported to produce an awareness of the interdependence of all life on Earth, the fragility and vulnerability of our only home in the vastness of the Universe, and a deeper recognition of our role as stewards of the Earth. Put another way, the overview effect can dissolve our feeling of separateness, and grow an intuitive sense of oneness. As the late astrophysicist and astronomer, Carl Sagan put it, “The cosmos is within us. We are made of star-stuff. We are a way for the universe to know itself.” NASA, it turns out, agrees and is running this experiment to study how this big picture perspective inspires and motivates humans. 

The next question comes to you: is it really necessary to go to the moon to make this shift? Earth Day, after all, is about contemplating our place in the natural ecosystems that miraculously give us everything we need to survive, thrive, and live a life full of meaning. It is also a day to act according to this understanding. NASA must be desperate, you realize. And understandably so. The scientific community has been increasingly vocal for more than 50 years, warning us that we’re recklessly heading towards a climate that is fundamentally different – and increasingly hazardous to humans and all life – than the climate that shepherded human civilization with favorable and stable conditions necessary to thrive over the last 11,700 years.  Maybe, you think, it’s not necessary to take such extreme measures to make this shift in my life.

This is the question we all should contemplate today, in honor of our extraordinary and only home. What will it take for each of us to shift our awareness to live differently, to make every day of the year Earth Day? Do you need to go to the moon, or can you take steps small or large to learn about, experience, and build a deeper and more meaningful relationship with nature and our fellow humans? Today is the day to think about and act in ways that cultivate the feeling of interdependence and gratitude, orients us towards an ethic of stewardship of nature, and inspires prosocial, justice-oriented relationships with our fellow humans. 

We hope you’ll join us today, and every day, in strapping on your metaphorical moon boots. And remember, this journey is best shared with good company. We’d love to meet you and celebrate your decision to participate in this movement! If you’re game, let’s get to know each other by taking these steps together:

  1. Calculate your carbon footprint in five minutes
  2. Reduce your footprint with climate pledges
  3. Say ‘hi’ to us on your preferred social channel, and let us know what you learned you can do to reduce your footprint, and one immediate step you’re going to take to sub in against climate change.

Here’s where to find us:

Looking for more? Here are two more steps you can take to make a bigger impact:

  1. Offset your remaining footprint through the Climate Hero platform once you’ve calculated your carbon footprint. We aren’t making any claims that their portfolio of offsets are perfectly aligned with climate justice criteria, but they have indeed made the effort to source projects that provide social benefits to local communities, which is definitely a step in the right direction. Read more about their carbon offset projects. 
  2. Call out your favorite club, league, sports broadcasting platform, or other important stakeholder in the sports industry and ask if they have information on their greenhouse gas emissions and what they’re doing to reduce them. Because this is a team effort, after all, tag us so we can join you! For example, “Hey (favorite club), do you know what your climate impact is? What are you doing to reduce your emissions?” Please feel free to add your personal touch, that you support their efforts, small and large, and make it clear this issue is important to you! 

We appreciate you and hope to meet you online and in person soon!

Happy Earth Day!