Don't mow (yet)!
So it seems like spring has finally sprung and there is some light at the end of the tunnel. This time of year seems like a great opportunity to change things up a bit. We know if you’re reading this that you are already eco-friendly, so we want to help you take action in your workplace too.
So now our monthly update will focus on what you can do at work as well as what you can do at home to be more sustainable. We'll also highlight the UN SDGs your company can be working on.
March is packed with events to inspire and engage colleagues and friends on a variety of different topics and most will celebrate #SDG15, Life on Land.
- Don't mow for the bees! Whilst a green lawn looks neat and tidy it is like a desert for pollinators. By mowing less often or leaving areas completely untouched, it allows wildflowers to grow and provide important food for our insects, especially pollinators. Try to limit mowing before mid-April, this allows Dandelions to flower but not set seed. Leaving areas until the end of May will encourage the growth of native and pretty flowers like Clover, Selfheal, Cuckooflower and Bird’s-foot-trefoil.
- National Tree Week (Ireland). Visit a local forest or park, or take a nature walk and enjoy observing and being in the company of trees. Learn about Shrinrin-Yoku Forest Therapy, the medicine of simply being in the forest. Can your workplace sponsor a community tree project like easy treesie?
- Earth Hour is on Saturday 27th March at 8.30pm. Earth Hour is now one of the world's largest grassroots movements for the environment. It engages millions of people in more than 180 countries and territories, switching off their lights for 1 hour to show support for our planet.
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Earth Hour and Earth Day
Check out Earth Hour (27th March) or Earth Day (22nd April) and book a talk with us! Both of these events are great opportunities to get staff involved in more eco-friendly activities. Our interactive style means individuals will come away feeling energised and empowered to make changes that will have a real impact both at home and at work.
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Things to Check Out
1. Global Recycling Day on the 18th March is a great day to get outside and do a socially distanced clean up. Recycling is a key part of the circular economy, helping to protect our natural resources. Each year the ‘Seventh Resource’ (recyclables) saves over 700 million tonnes in CO2 emissions and this is projected to increase to 1 billion tons by 2030. There is no doubt recycling is on the front line in the war to save the future of our planet and humanity.
2. World Water Day is on the 22nd March and this year you can join the #worldwaterrun to raise awareness. This day ties in with #sdg6 which is 'Clean Water and Sanitation for all'. Remember that 'Tiny droplets create a wave of action'.
3. World Meteorological Day 2021 on the 23rd March, celebrates the ocean, our climate and weather. When it comes to the weather and climate, most of us think only about what is happening in the atmosphere. If we ignore the ocean, however, we miss a big piece of the picture.
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Free Online Events in March
1. 8th March 1-2 pm. International Women's Day. Join the #Choosetochallenge discussion with Dr. Ebun Joseph, founder and module coordinator of the first Black Studies module in Ireland at University College Dublin and Professor Alma McCarthy, Head of the J.E. Cairnes School of Business & Economics to mark IWD 2021. Tickets here. The SDGs covered are #sdg5 Gender Equality and #sdg10 Reduced Inequalities.
2. Thursday 3rd March Stopping the Plastic tide. EnTRESS and WASUP (World Against Single-Use Plastic) are excited to welcome a wide range of sustainability professionals to present their thoughts on the plastic problem and potential solutions. This event will look at the different types of plastics, recycling of plastics, bioplastics and more.
3. 16th March. Target Gender Equality Live. Business and Government leaders across the globe agree that gender equality is a key priority for business and the future of work. It is not only a catalyst for sustainable and inclusive development but also a proven driver of enhanced business performance. Yet, at the current pace of change, it will take multiple generations to close the economic gender gap. Tickets here.
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If you would like to learn more about how you or your work place can become more sustainable, we would be delighted to help you on your green journey. Contact us via email at sarah@earthology.ie, or phone on +353 (0)1 6877151.
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