3 ways to celebrate World Environment Day from right where you are
At the Southern Environmental Law Center, it’s no secret we love the South. Its people, its incredible biodiversity, and its unmatched natural wonders are just a few of the many reasons why. We know our region is where many solutions to climate change and other environmental issues start. But our staff and supporters know the impact of our work to ensure a healthier environment for everyone reaches much further than our Southern roots.
That’s why today on World Environment Day, we’re offering a few ways to celebrate from anywhere on the globe.
1. Connect with your surroundings
You can connect with nature pretty much anywhere—whether that’s on a nearby hiking trail or in a city park, and on World Environment Day, there’s no better way to celebrate than to get out there and experience it.
If you can, find some time today to sit outside, clear your mind, and explore the natural world around you. What does it sound like? And what do you smell? Where’s the nearest tree and what shape are its leaves? And if you’re celebrating today in the South, you’re in luck. We’ve got a list of some of our favorite hikes right in your backyard.
2. Listen and spread the good word
On our podcast Broken Ground, we pass the mic to Southerners who are on the frontlines of tackling our region’s greatest environmental issues and shed light on the stories that don’t always get the attention they deserve. In the latest season, we speak with women who are leading the fight for environmental justice. You’ll hear from some of the South’s most ambitious environmental leaders like Heather McTeer Toney, Catherine Coleman Flowers, and SELC’s own Chandra Taylor.
Press play now to celebrate their contributions to the environmental justice movement and get inspired to help create change in your own community! Available wherever you get your podcasts.
3. Take action
On World Environment Day, we’re reminded that everyone deserves the basic right to clean air and clean water. Now is your chance to join thousands of people who are urging their elected officials to support the Environmental Justice for All Act. This is the most far-reaching Congressional bill in history to address the disproportionate burden of pollution and environmental harm felt by communities of color and communities who earn a lower income.
If you agree that clean air and water are a basic right for all, join us in taking action today. Support the bill that would give these communities a larger voice in the decisions that impact them here.
