Nature Canada

World Environment Day 2014

Today marks the 42nd year that the world has celebrated World Environment Day! The UNEP (United Nations Environment Programme), the coordinator of WED, organizes several events to encourage us to raise awareness about the environment worldwide. These events include taking the annual challenge, contests, and leading your own clean-up campaign. The main idea is to do something- anything, that makes a positive impact to the earth. Each year, the United Nations comes up with a different theme for this day. This year, the slogan is “Raise your voice, not the sea level” with the theme of small islands and climate change.

In honour of WED, here are 10 simple tips from the Nature Canada staff on how to make our environment a better place to live in starting with your NatureHood:

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[tab title=”Tip 1.”]

Commute with your bike more often.

Commute with your bike more often[/tab]

[tab title=”Tip 2.”]

Turn off lights to save electricity and protect migratory birds.

Turn off lights to save electricity and protect migratory birds[/tab]

[tab title=”Tip 3.”]

Make yourself a balcony garden with reusable materials.

Make yourself a balcony garden with reusable materials[/tab]

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Keep unwanted pests out by tidying and cleaning your area.

Keep unwanted pests out by tidying and cleaning your area[/tab]

[tab title=”Tip 5.”]

Plant milkweed to protect monarch butterflies.

Plant milkweed to protect monarch butterflies[/tab]

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Write to your city councillor and ask him or her put recycling bins next to city garbage cans.

Write to your city councilor to put recycling bins next to city garbage cans[/tab]

[tab title=”Tip 7.”]

Buy products with minimal, recyclable packaging and with the most basic ingredients list.

Buy products with minimal, recyclable packaging and with the most basic ingredients list[/tab]

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Plant colourful flowers to attract as much wildlife you can.

Plant colourful flowers to attract as much wildlife possible[/tab]

[tab title=”Tip 9.”]

Stay away from body care products that contain micro-beads as they end up in the great lakes.

Stay away from body care products that have micro beads [/tab]

[tab title=”Tip 10.”]

Keep your cat(s) indoors. They kill approx. 200 million birds in Canada each year alone.

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Throughout the years, Nature Canada has been inspiring thousands of people to find their voice for nature and become involved with the world we live in. We have done so through great initiatives like Bird Conservation and Women for Nature or simply educating the youth with fun presentations and walks. Also, the Nature Photo Contest that just started motivates everyone to go outside and capture the beauty of nature all the while appreciating the simple joys of life. Sometimes, it just takes a small splash of action to add to the ripple of impact.

World Environment Day isn’t the only day you can show appreciation for the wonderful world we live in, how will you contribute to a better environment for today and tomorrow?


If you liked these tips, check out how you can make your backyard more bird-friendly here or how you can be a good neighbour with this awesome infographic!

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Canada’s wilderness is the world’s envy. It’s our duty to keep our true north strong and green.

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