Wildfires are raging out West. Hurricanes continue to destroy East Coast communities on an annual basis. Both flooding and droughts are major concerns for countless regions across the nation. And climate change is prolonging the seasons that cause the most damage.
Climate week is an opportunity to educate ourselves on our environmental impact and consider ways we can inspire change in our workplace and in our communities.
The Climate Group is hosting a virtual climate summit to explore how businesses and individuals can build a better future and preserve our planet. The week-long virtual summit is happening September 21-27 and will incorporate interactive sessions, networking calls and encourage online educational dialogue.
Eager to participate in climate action? Here are 4 ways you can spread climate awareness during Climate Week 2020.
1. Climate Week (Virtual) Opening Ceremony, Webinars & Roundtables
Business and government leaders will join forces virtually to expand the realm of climate awareness and find ways to improve for a better future. Kick off Climate Week 2020 with this virtual celebration. You can watch this event live, or on demand, via Climate Group’s Facebook Watch page.
The Climate Group will also host Hub Live - a series of webinars, roundtables, and workshops where participants can collaborate and inspire each other to build a better planet! Participate in real time or through an open, on-demand platform. There are dozens of events to choose from, but here are a few that caught our eye:
Have the events of 2020 shifted what governments and businesses can get done? Does the world now have a greater chance of halving global emissions, in this, the Climate Decade? Political and business leaders will explore how leaders can impact change. Watch this event on Climate Group’s Facebook Watch page.
2. Get Involved With Coastal Cleanup 2020
The way we celebrate our beaches and clean up our coasts is looking a lot different this year, thanks to COVID-19. Alabama, for example, usually hosts a state-wide volunteer event on a single day, but with social distancing taking place, the Alabama Coastal Cleanup is being spread out across an entire week and volunteers will help remove coastal debris from September 19-27.
California took a similar approach. Wildfires magnified by climate change are wreaking havoc across the state, and creating a sense of urgency to take action among residents. California has turned its annual Coastal Cleanup Day into a month-long effort to clean beaches, rivers and waterways that aren’t being impacted by wildfires. Residents are getting outside more than ever during the pandemic, but California’s beaches have paid the price with excess trash and plastic pollution. Organizers are hoping people use this month-long celebration to help clean up the beaches and rivers they love most.
GIVEAWAY
Boxed Water is giving away 25 prize packs from our earth-friendly partners at the conclusion of Coastal Cleanup Month. Enter by September 30 for the chance to win more than $400 worth of eco-friendly products.
Interested in hosting your own cleanup? Ocean Blue works with small and large groups across the country to create community cleanups. Click here to learn more about cleaning up your local community beach or river.
3. Heading Outdoors? Pack In & Pack Out!
With indoor entertainment options continuing to remain scarce, more and more people are flocking to beaches and national parks when they need entertainment. Unfortunately, this has resulted in overflowing trash bins and excess litter. When waste decomposes, carbon dioxide and methane gas are created, both of which contribute to climate change.
Lake Tahoe residents are encouraging people who visit to “pack it in, pack it out” in an effort to preserve the popular tourist destination. Local residents have noticed an influx in trash, many saying it’s the most they’ve seen in their lifetime.
No matter where you’re located, if you’re heading outdoors in the coming weeks and packing snacks, lunches or other single-use disposables for your outdoor excursions, challenge yourself to leave no trace and take your trash with you!
4. You Post, We Plant
You don’t have to travel far from home to bond with nature. You don’t even actually need to leave your home.
Name your favorite houseplant or neighborhood tree and tell us why you chose the name! We’ll plant a tree in your honor in a U.S. National Forest! Post a photo on social media with the hashtag #BetterPlanet and we’ll plant two trees. By naming trees, we develop a deeper connection with nature. Boxed Water™ has already planted over 1,000,000 trees in conjunction with the National Forest Foundation; and wants to plant 1,000,000 more.
Did you know that September 26th is National Public Lands Day? NPLD is the nation’s largest single-day event and brings out thousands of volunteers to help restore and improve public lands around the country. Admission to all national parks is free on September 26th, 2020! Learn how you can get involved.
