Today, June 5, marks World Environment Day 2015, the theme of which is: “Seven Billion Dreams. One Planet. Consume With Care.” Every person on the earth influences the environment each day through consumption of resources including water, food, and energy. With the current world population over 7 billion, there are over 7 billion individual influences on the environment every day. As you, just one in over 7 billion, consume with care today, consider the following statistics:

• On average, an American generates 4.4 pounds of garbage daily, whereas the average U.K. citizen produces 3 pounds of waste daily, and the average resident of Nepal generates less than 1 pound.
• Despite representing less than 5% of the world’s population, Americans are responsible for almost 20% of the world’s energy consumption.
• If the world population consumed resources at the rate Americans do, we would need the resources of 4 earths to sustain everyone.
• The average life span of a cell phone is about 24 months. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) reported that in 2009, 141 million cell phones were thrown away, only 12 million of which were recycled.
• Each American used, on average, 167 disposable water bottles in 2014 and only recycled 38 of them. Producing bottled water for Americans every year uses over 17 million barrels of oil, which could fuel 1.3 million cars for a year.
• Approximately 1,000 gallons of water per person per day is required to produce an average American’s diet. The global average per person water footprint for diet, household use, energy, consumption of material goods, and transportation combined is 900 gallons per day. Eating less animal products is a way to reduce your water consumption.

Keep these statistics in mind today, and every day, as you consume earth’s resources. Your global family thanks you.