Rotary members are tackling environmental issues the way they always do: coming up with projects, using their connections to change policy, and planning for the future.

Area of Focus – Protecting The Environment

Caring for our environment is now The Rotary Foundation’s 7th Area of Focus, and presents a very exciting challenge for clubs to tackle on a local, regional, national and international level.

The Rotary Foundation will enable our members and their community allies to take action in:

• Protecting and restoring land, coastal, marine, and freshwater resources
• Enhancing the capacity of communities to support natural resource management and conservation
• Supporting sustainable agriculture, fishing, and aquaculture practices
• Addressing the cause of climate change by reducing the emission of greenhouse gases
• Strengthening ecosystems and communities affected by climate change
• Supporting education initiatives that promote behavior that protects the environment
• Advocating for sustainable consumption to build an economy that uses resources more efficiently
• Addressing environmental justice issues and public health concerns

As of 1st July 2021, global grants will be available for environmental projects.

 

Club Environment Lead

Many active Rotary Clubs have already appointed a Club Environmental Lead or champion;  someone who is interested in the environment and is willing to organize environmental projects within the local community and be a local advocate for all things Protecting The Environment.

 

Club Environment Team

Forming a Club Committee for Protecting the Environment is a great opportunity to support Rotary’s New Area of Focus. Environment team members will assist the Club Environment Lead in developing a club environmental sustainability policy, and setting environmental goals achieved through a range of environmental activities working with schools and other community groups.

 

Club Environmental Sustainability Policy

The environmental lead will help a club to develop an environmental sustainability policy. This will lead to setting annual club environmental goals and the development of environmental projects – working with club members and other clubs wherever possible as well as working in partnership with other community groups.

Environmental club goals along with volunteering hours spent on environmental projects should, like other club goals, be recorded in Rotary Club Central.

 

Reduce Plastic Waste

Avoid single-use plastics (bags, straws, bottles, cups & lids). Instead of buying individually packaged drinks, consider buying a bulk container of the beverage you want and buying a reusable water bottle.

Plastic grocery-type bags that get thrown out and end up in landfills or in other parts of the environment. These can suffocate animals. Also, it takes a while for the bags to decompose.  Learn More at Plastic Soup Foundation

REDUCE PLASTIC TIPS AND RESOURCES

Use Less Paper

Most of us print something at least once a week and then print on just one side of the paper. It might seem like a little thing, but if you devote some effort to saving paper, you could conserve a lot of paper products every year.

Send out club minutes and club newsletters electronically. All Rotarians can elect within the Database Management System (DMS) to receive the Rotary magazine electronically.

 

Working With Other Groups

Do what Rotary does best – try to work with schools and other local groups on environmental projects.

Try to get schools to become a Plastics Clever School using resources for the curriculum from Kids Against plastics.

Schools may also like to participate in the Rotary Young Environmentalist Competition.

Your club could organize a beach clean between 17th and 26th September 2021.

 

Environmental Sustainability Advocacy

Take to social media with messages on how your club is reducing its carbon footprint, helping to reduce climate change, tackling single-use plastics, and helping to support biodiversity.

Consider producing a monthly environmental newsletter for Rotarians, friends, and others within the local community.

Join in with others around the world on social media in raising awareness for Environmental Sustainability on Earth Day, World Bee Day, and World Environment Day.

 

Earth Day

Growing out of the first Earth Day in 1970, Earth Day is now the world’s largest recruiter to the environmental movement, working with more than 75,000 partners in over 190 countries to drive positive action for our planet.  Earth Day is held on 22nd April each year.

 

World Bee Day

World Bee Day is on the 20th May each year, and is an ideal opportunity to raise awareness of the importance of wild flower meadows and our pollinators.

 

World Environment Day

World Environment Day is celebrated on 5 June every year and is the principal vehicle of the United Nations for encouraging awareness and action for the protection of the environment. Help to raise awareness about environmental sustainability on World Environment Day

ESRAG has produced a Rotary Handbook with a toolkit for World Environment Day.

 

Environmental Speakers

Consider having a speaker at one of your club’s meetings to help raise awareness of environmental issues.

 

Resources

Environmental Sustainability Rotary Action Group (ESRAG)

Speak Up For Our Planet – Youtube talks

Project Drawdown Leading resource for climate solutions

I Fix The Planet Nobody can do everything, but everyone can do something to fix the planet

Foundation for Climate Protection We can restore the climate

Rotary magazine – the fight against plastic pollution (June/July 2019)

Rotary EndPlasticSoup

Terracycle – Eliminating the idea of waste

Notes from a presentation by Pat Armstrong (ESRAG) – Jan 2021

Pawprint – carbon footprint calculator & suggestions for reducing energy emissions

39 Ways To Save The Planet – BBC Four podcasts

23 Environmental Service Project Ideas – Lions Clubs

Save The Planet – Rotary Club of Manchester

 

Support

For more information or help getting an environmental project underway please email the District Environment Lead