Earth Day 2013: The Face of Climate Change, What Can You do to Make a Difference? (Video)

Earth Day is just two weeks away, and we have to wonder this time around, how are we going to contribute to making the planet a better place?

This year's global theme for Earth Day 2013 is "The Face of Climate Change," according to the Earth Day Network, a group founded by the organizers of the first Earth Day to coordinate the annual day of action that builds and invigorates environmental practices. This year's theme, according to the group, was chosen to highlight the mounting impact of climate change on individuals around the world.

"Many people think climate change is a remote problem, but the fact is that it's already impacting real people, animals, and beloved places all over the world, and these Faces of Climate Change are multiplying every day," said Kathleen Rogers, president of Earth Day Network. "Fortunately, other Faces of Climate Change are also multiplying every day: those stepping up to do something about it. For Earth Day 2013, we'll bring our generation's biggest environmental challenge down to size - the size of an individual faced with the consequences."

In the face of such huge environmental problems, we may feel overwhelmed and even powerless about to change things. We may find ourselves asking what we can do to make a difference or if one person doing something...anything...really matters in the grand scheme of things. Well, the answer is that it makes a big difference. And here are a few easy tips according to the Environmental Media Association on things you can do to prepare for earth day.

First off, think about your everyday routine and try to conserve energy and be less wasteful. For example, this may mean using less hot water in the shower or always making sure to recycle plastic bottles or containers that you carelessly throw away. It's all part of taking care of the planet and these little things contribute to the big picture no matter how small they may seem.

Make sure to also educate yourself about what's going on environmentally in the world. This will help you to make a difference today and in the future. And lastly, contribute your time to volunteer organizations that help the planet. It may be something as small as planting a tree once a month or helping grow a garden for whatever amount of time you are able to give. Whatever it is, it helps make a difference.

To learn more about Earth Day 2013 and The Face of Climate Change, click here. 

Want to learn more about Earth Day 2013? Check out this video, courtesy of YouTube.