Why does this day matter?
World Environment Day is run by the United Nations to raise awareness to protect our nature and look at various environmental issues that are growing day by day. This year, the theme is “Celebrate Biodiversity.”
Biodiversity is vital to the survival of all life on Earth and is the cornerstone for the goods and service that allow human societies to thrive. Biodiversity provides us with food, water, and provides services such as climate control, pollination, flood mitigation, and cycling of nutrients. Drivers of biodiversity loss include habitat destruction, climate change, overexploitation of resources, and pollution.
How to act for the environment:
Learn about the environment
- · Learn about plastic pollution and how it affects marine species: https://www.cleanseas.org/
- · Look into the Anatomy of Action, which maps out actions individuals can take to reduce their carbon footprint: https://anatomyofaction.org/
- · Sign-up to iNaturalist, an online community of naturalists, where you can record your observations of plants and animals and explore the natural world.
Share the message that it is World Environment Day
- · Share with the world why action for nature is so critical. Be sure hashtag #ForNature, #WorldEnvironmentDay, #YouthToSea #LeadersToday #CanadaServiceCorps.
- · Tag a couple of people/organizations/companies in your reply and ask them to join the conversation.
- · Host a webinar or a live Q&A to discuss biodiversity and nature based-solutions.
- · Use art to spread the message. Produce a podcast, video, virtual painting competition or a music challenge.
Here is how you can act for nature
- · Change your diet to more environmentally friendly foods, especially your main protein sources.
- · Avoid buying single-use plastics
- · Plant an urban garden on your balcony or backyard
- · Create a compost in your garden or windowsill and grow some of your own produce.