March is Climate Awareness Month for the #GreenerYearChallenge
There is a lot of politicized buzz about our climate and climate change. Regardless of your politics, the fact remains: thousands of studies conducted by scientists across the globe have documented notable shifts in climate patterns affecting our land and marine ecosystems. These studies have identified human activities such as emissions of heat-trapping greenhouse gasses from fossil fuel combustion, deforestation, and land-use change as drivers of these temperature changes after the industrial era.
This month, as part of our #greeneryearchallenge, we want you to consider participating in these five activities to increase your awareness of what’s happening in our climate and how you impact your environment.
1. Read Up on Climate Change:
If you haven’t (or haven’t in a while), consider reading the resources on climate change that are available online. This is a great resource that explains the impact of climate change on various regions of the U.S.
2. Observe World Wildlife Day:
In 2013, the United Nations proclaimed March 3 World Wildlife Day. This year, the focus is on marine wildlife. This is particularly important in our region since the Great Lakes ecosystems are being significantly affected by pollution, loss of coastal habitats, exploitation of marine species and climate changeThe purpose of this day is to celebrate and raise awareness of the world’s wild animals and plants. Here are some tips on how you can get involved.
3. Celebrate MeatOut: Since 1985,
The MeatOut event has taken place on March 20 to inspire people to explore the many benefits of plant-based eating for our health, environment, and animals. Even if you’re not a vegetarian or vegan, you can participate by eating a plant-based diet for one day. Since the inception of the event, this event has saved an estimated 10 million gallons of water and 397,528 square feet of rainforest that would have contributed to the production of the meat.
4. Observe International Day of Forests:
In 2012, the United Nations proclaimed March 21 the International Day of Forests. The purpose of this day is to raise awareness of the importance of all types of forests. Check out ways to celebrate here.
5. Participate in Earth Hour:
Encourage your workplace (or just your household!) to turn off your lights for one hour from 8:30pm to 9:30 pm local time on March 30. Earth Hour is the world’s largest grassroots movement for the environment. Its purpose is to spark conversations about the urgent need to protect our environment. Learn more, here.
