World Environment Day is here, and while we can’t turn back time, we can make change for a better future now and encourage our children to do the same. Here’s how...
June 5th is World Environment Day and a great time to rethink the rules and acknowledge our impact on the natural environment. We can’t turn back time, but we can make changes now and encourage our children to do the same.
“Every three seconds, the world loses enough forest to cover a football pitch, and over the last century, we have destroyed half of our wetlands. As much as 50% of our coral reefs have already been lost and up to 90% of coral reefs could be lost by 2050, even if global warming is limited to an increase of 1.5°C.”
- worldenvironmentday.global
It’s not a rosy picture.
But there are many practical ways we can have a positive impact and restore the planet. World Environment Day recommends three pathways for us to join the movement. We’ve gathered a few ideas that the whole family can get involved with.
#1 Take Action
- Start or support an on-the-ground restoration project. Kids love getting involved in planting trees. From planting in your own backyard to a community garden, nothing beats getting your hands in the dirt and connecting to our earth first-hand.
- Donate to organisations making an impact. From the forests to the seas, let your kids get involved and pick the charity they want to donate to on World Environment Day. This year, EcoNaps are giving back to Rainforest Rescue. See how to support us at the end of this blog.
- Clean up your local area. Head to the beach, lake or park or any other natural areas and get your kids to help collect rubbish. All you need is a pair of gardening gloves, a bag and off you go. They’ll love foraging for trash and maybe even find a few treasures along the way
#2 Make smarter choices
- Read the labels and get to know the brands you buy. Once you are educated on their practices and ethics, only choose to support sustainable brands making a positive difference. Check out the list of all ecolabels in Australia here (but also do your research into which labels you trust). Ask your kids to seek out specific labels in the grocery store and pick products that don't use unnecessary plastic packaging.
- Embrace a more plant based diet based on seasonal, sustainable and plant-rich foods. There are plenty of incredible recipes to be explored; we’ll be trying these Sweet Potato Tots and Peanut Butter & Jelly bar recipes at home with our kids.
#3 Raise your voice
- Write a letter to your local council or newspaper.Involve your children and let them share their ideas on protecting, greening, and preserving your neighbourhood.
- Share a post on social media. You could even get your kids to paint a picture you can proudly share for them so their voice is heard. Drawing attention to climate change, nature loss and what can be done to reverse these trends encourages others to speak up and do the same. Visit our Instagram stories to swipe our nature-inspired designs to share yourself.
- Keep discussions going. At school, in your home, in your community, talk about the value of ecosystems and the threat they face if we stay silent and do nothing.
Giving Back to Protect our Rainforests
50% of all profits from EcoNaps Tropical Palms Cloth Nappies sold on World Environment Day will be donated to Rainforest Rescue, a not-for-profit organisation that has been protecting and restoring rainforests in Australia and internationally since March 1999.
Ecosystem restoration means preventing, halting and reversing this damage – to go from exploiting nature to healing it. Learn more about World Environment Day #GenerationRestoration
EcoNaps acknowledges and pays respect to the Arakwal people from Bundjalung Nation as the traditional owners and ongoing custodians of the land on which we live and work here in Byron Bay, Australia.
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