This Earth Hour, we’re calling on Australians to reflect on the incredible benefits nature provides us. Sadly, our environment continues to degrade at a startling place. If we want to secure a healthy future for people and nature, we need to take action now. Here are five simple, yet powerful ways that you can help save our precious environment today.
1. Sign up to take #TimeOutForNature this Earth Hour
Earth Hour is a global movement that turns individuals, schools, businesses and communities into a millions-strong movement. And it’s never been more critical to come together to protect our world than at this moment.
Climate change and nature loss are the two biggest threats to our environment. The continued degradation of our planet is causing biodiversity loss at a frightening scale, and we need to act now to reverse what we’ve lost.
Sign up, switch off and spread the word - together, let’s take #TimeOutForNature this Earth Hour and reflect on the incredible benefits nature provides us.
Sign up now
2. Plant native trees
Tree planting is one of the most important ways to help recover our environment at both the local and global scale. Deforestation is a major contributor to climate change. In Australia alone, almost 500,000 football fields of native forests are lost every year.
Trees are the lungs of our planet. They provide vital ecosystem services like regulating climate, weather and rainfall patterns, along with pumping out fresh oxygen and absorbing carbon dioxide. If we want to secure a healthy future for people and planet, we need to do all we can to protect our forests.
You can help by planting native trees in your garden or by getting involved in your local bush regeneration group. You can also be part of an ambitious project to protect and plant two billion trees across Australia by 2030 by adopting a tree in WWF’s Towards Two Billion Trees program today.
Yes, I'll adopt a tree
3. Change your energy provider
What does electricity have to do with wildlife? Making the switch to a different energy provider is one of the quickest and easiest ways to help curb climate change and its impacts on native wildlife. More than one-third of Australia’s emissions come from electricity consumption, so this is one area where you can have a real impact by making conscious choices at home.
Change to a renewable-friendly energy retailer and sign up for their green power plan today.
I can make the switch
4. Use less plastic
Australia produces almost 3 million tonnes of plastic every year, but less than 9% of plastics are recycled, which means that the rest ends up in landfill – a big contributor to greenhouse gas emissions. On top of that, plastic pollution is a major problem for our marine wildlife and birdlife, with 130,000 tonnes of plastic ending up in our oceans annually. Unfortunately, this means that animals like sea turtles and threatened seabirds can become tangled in plastic. Or they mistake it for food and ingest it. Plastics are having a disastrous impact on our wildlife.
You can reduce your plastic use, recycle and help take action in your local community. Choose three ideas from the link below to help reduce your use.
I'll reduce my plastic use
5. Reduce food waste
Did you know that reducing food waste is another way to help tackle climate change? 30% of the food we buy ends up in landfill and emits methane, which is a potent greenhouse gas. Every time we throw out food, we are also wasting the amount of energy and water used to grow, make, transport and sell it. Click on the link below for simple ideas to reduce your food footprint.
Yes, I can reduce food waste
Together, our actions are powerful. And, there’s one more thing you can do. Please share this blog with your friends, family and anyone who cares about the future of our environment. Let’s take a stand and share it far and wide!