April was Earth Month!
As Earth Month comes to an end, it is important to remember and carry forward what we learned. The environment needs our help to reduce climate change effects for all, from animals to plants to sea life to people. Together we can bring about real change and make every month Earth Month!
Here’s a look back at all of the Sustainability Blogs we did this month:
What does Sustainability Really Look Like?
“The Sustainable Fox offers workshops and consultations for both individuals and businesses that want to assess, improve, and implement more sustainable plans and habits. In preparation for Earth Month, we talked to Sadie at The Sustainable Fox and asked her some questions about sustainability. Here is what we found out.”
Buy Less New
“When we buy secondhand, recycled, or upcycled things, we are contributing to the use of pre-existing resources and can save still viable and usable items from ending up in the landfill. Just because an item is used, doesn’t mean that it can’t be used again or that it has no more value.”
View this post on Instagram
Buy Less Packaging
“Plastic is a major polluter of our environments, ending up in rivers, lakes, and oceans, harming wildlife, and generating microplastic in the water we use and drink. Each year, Canadians throw away 3 million tonnes of plastic waste, only 9% of which is recycled. That means that the majority of plastics end up in landfills and about 29,000 tonnes end up in our natural environment.”
View this post on Instagram
Buy Less Meat
“The environmental effects of the meat industry are vast, considering how much land, food, energy, and water are required to raise animals for food. To give you a concrete example of the climate change effects, the global animal agriculture sector produces more greenhouse gases than all of the world’s transportation systems combined.”
View this post on Instagram
Green Beauty
“There are benefits for you and the planet when you use sustainable and green options for beauty and self-care products. Whether it’s shampoo, deodorant, lip balm, or something else, using natural eco-friendly products will make you feel good for yourself and for your care for the earth.”
View this post on Instagram
Supporting Local Businesses
“The term, “local business,” can be defined differently depending on what degree of local you use. Let’s use the definition that a local business is one that has private ownership and is headquartered in town, with most of the owners living in the community. This definition can be molded as you wish. For example, if you want a BC-Local business, you would expand the location of the business headquarters to all of BC.”
View this post on Instagram
Eco-Conscious Shops
“Climate change and sustainability are important issues, but it’s not always clear how we can help. One simple step is to consider the environmental impact of our purchases. We have a responsibility to help keep our city and the world clean and safe. Stores in the downtown core believe in this responsibility too. So many downtown stores and restaurants have implemented sustainability efforts and green initiatives.”
View this post on Instagram
Alternative Transportation
“The effects of cars, trucks, SUVs, and more on the environment are great. When we burn fossil fuels, like gasoline and diesel, we release harmful chemicals and other greenhouse gases (GHG), which cause the atmosphere and the planet to warm. These GHG include carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), nitrous oxide (N2O), and hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs).”
View this post on Instagram
Appreciating Natural Spaces
“Getting outside into nature is not only a great way to stay healthy and active, but it also reminds us how important the environment and our planet are! When we are out in the sunshine, or at the beach, or in the park, the beauty and majesty of the natural world are fully apparent.”
View this post on Instagram
City of Victoria Green Plans
“When we think about implementing and developing a more sustainable future, we look to our leaders for guidance, help, and resources. In 2018, the City of Victoria developed a Climate Leadership Plan, outlining sustainability goals, targets, and actions for Victoria.”
Good luck with your sustainability efforts and remember that we can do this if we all work together!
