As a member of the OB Community, we already know that everyday is Earth Day for you. The beauty of the Earth is never lost on us, and this year's theme 'Restore Our Earth' recognises that as the world returns to normal, we can't go back to business as usual.
Climate change can often feel so much bigger than us, and at times, it can feel a little overwhelming, being something that can only be beaten by those at the top. But on an individual level, there are so many things we can do that, collectively, make a world of difference. Without letting the powerful off the hook, we’ve carved out an action plan for you guys to refer to, into four key areas: Clean Ocean, Clean Air, Climate and Land. Check them out below!
Clean Ocean
While there needs to be both upstream and downstream changes in order to tackle this issue, requiring government backed interventions on a global scale (you can read more about how companies and Governments can change things here), there are some changes we can make every day to reduce our plastic consumption...
Join the reusable revolution: It seems simple, but if you imagine 7 billion people doing it or not doing it, the effects are massive! If you can, there are loads of amazing reusables out there. From coffee cups, to beeswax wraps, to straws, makeup wipes - the list is endless.
Go bag less: Taking a tote-bag to the supermarket is obvious, but there are loads of great companies working to reduce the everyday plastics we use - from Grind compostable coffee pods, to loose leaf tea. Small changes make a huge difference when we all make them, and put pressure on bigger companies to rethink their product formats.
Clean Air
Delivering clean air solutions at a global scale is essential for the protection of public health and achievement of environmental justice. There are many solutions coming to the surface as we speak. With the first ever electric vehicle charge point where drivers can ‘fill up’ directly with energy from the sea, new artificial intelligence is being trialled across to improve traffic flow and reduce air pollution and green walls within cities that can absorb up to eight tonnes of pollution annually. Here are some ways you can get your area breathing...
Two wheels are better than four: With initiatives from cycle-to-work schemes to low traffic neighbourhoods and over 5000 miles traffic-free miles on the National Cycle network, becoming a cyclist has never been easier! If we increased the popularity of cycling 6 times its current rate, we would reduce 7.7 million tons of CO2 pumped into the atmosphere per year.
Check your energy suppliers credentials: Switching energy suppliers is one of the easiest changes you can make, with little impact on your day to day. Make sure your supplier is using renewable energy sources - companies like Octopus Energy, and Bulb are leading the way here.
Climate Crisis
When it comes to the phrase ‘climate crisis’, it’s hard not to feel the gravity of the situation tugging on your hopefulness, but there are ways we can work to drive faster change in our approach to the climate at an individual level. The road towards reaching the 1.5 degrees goal includes daily decisions within your reach. Check out a few of them below...
Lobby your leaders: We can do everything we can to reduce, but we need changes to happen upstream, check in with your local council and MPs on whether there are any active petitions in your area. There are 62 petitions live on the government website, all aiming to tackle climate change - where can you help amplify these conversations?
Changing your diet: By reducing your consumption of animal protein by half, you can cut your diet's carbon footprint by more than 40%. If cattle were their own nation, they would be the world’s third largest emitter of greenhouse gases, after China and the US.
Restoring our Land
While our hearts are with the ocean, our feet are firmly on the land. Our land environment provides the habitat for many plants and animals, provides food and materials, such as timber, and supports ecosystem services.There are a number of ways we can restore our land to protect our planet...
Regeneration for the nation: Land regeneration has become an increasingly important factor in development, particularly in the UK, as greenfield sites become threatened. Regeneration is a crucial step our Government needs to take in order to ensure sustainable growth - you can learn about this here.
Rewilding: Rewilding looks at how we can return some of our landscape to nature and the biodiversity benefits that come with it, starting at small scale (even a window box can help!) - check it out here.
It might feel like small changes don’t matter, but if we all make them, the effect we can have on restoring our earth will be immeasurable.
