We all love our homes, furnished the way we like with all the most beautiful decorations available. But just as we care for our homes by cleaning, organising and taking care of the things that reflect our characters, we should do exactly the same with our environment – outside our homes is the real home we all live in…

World Environment Day

5 June marks World Environment Day, but we have the whole month to develop the habit of taking our actions’ effect on the environment into consideration. Yes, June is World Environment Month! Quick fact – did you know that an estimated 7 million people die each year from causes related to air pollution, with a majority occurring in the Asia-Pacific region? Shocking.

This is our moment to start protecting our natural surroundings from foods we eat, the air we breathe, the water we drink as well as the climate that makes our planet habitable. Issues such as pollution, climate change, deforestation, and human overpopulation have drastically changed how the world works. Unfortunately, we can’t turn back time, but we can choose to take action by growing trees, greening our cities, rewilding our gardens, changing our diets and cleaning up rivers and coasts.

Join #GenerationRestoration – the generation that can make peace with nature and preserve it for future generations. Participate in the global celebration and reach out to others to do the same. How? Well, we’re glad that you asked…

Let’s get involved!

Don’t let Covid-19 be an excuse; all you basically need is a connection to the internet, a book, or even just your imagination. Each of us plays a role in ending biodiversity loss and preserving nature for human wellbeing. As individuals, we must rethink what we buy, use and become conscious consumers.

• Recycle, recycle, recycle – Are you taking every possibility to recycle? This might seem like a basic tip, but think twice next time you’re about to throw a piece of paper in the trash because a recycling bin isn’t accessible… Don’t forget about the recycling stations at Sandton City. Everyone’s responsible for reducing greenhouse gas emissions, you too, so if you’re too lazy to see if the bottle you’re about to purchase is biodegradable, open up your smartphone and look it up!
• Plant a tree – We don’t care if you already have 50 trees around your house; plant another one! We need them because they absorb odours and pollutant gases and filter particulates out of the air by trapping them on their leaves and bark. They can cut summer air conditioning needs by up to 50% if they’re strategically placed around homes. This way, we can reduce carbon dioxide and other pollution emissions from power plants.
• Be a volunteer – Register for a local event and learn about how our activities have affected the world we live in. Invite family and friends to help in a clean-up crew, recycling station or picking up garbage in your local area. Here’s a 21-page playbook you could use as a guide in restoring the ecosystem – it’s super detailed but worth reading!

Why World Environment Day is Important

• 90 billion tons – the number of resources extracted from Earth every year.
• 8 billion – the number of people populating Earth.
• 1 billion – the number of consumers in the world.
• 6 billion – the number of consumers expected by 2030.
• 70% – the percentage of the world’s resources currently being overused.
• 12 billion tons – the number of waste dumped every year.
• 50 million tons – the number of e-waste produced every year.
• $7.8 trillion – the value of the global production of synthetic chemicals.
• 2050 – the year when the world population is expected to be too big to feed.
• 2070 – the year when coral reefs are expected to be gone altogether.

Let’s get active, not anxious. It’s time to reimagine, recreate, and restore, Sandton Central!