Why strike for climate?
At Onya, we believe that all of us benefit from living in a healthy, stable climate. As a certified B Corporation, being socially and environmentally responsible is incredibly important to us so we’re proud to announce that on 20 September 2019 here at Onya it was not business as usual as we supported our employees to get involved and participate in the Global Climate Strike happening in Perth.
Part of a global collaboration
An estimated 10,000 people gathered in Perth for the Global Strike 4 Climate rally, demanding government and businesses commit to a target of net zero carbon emissions by 2030. The rally is thought to be the biggest in Perth since the 2003 anti-Iraq war protest. Police made no arrests and praised protesters and organisers for their behaviour.
Across Australia, more than 110 towns and cities took part in the protests, bringing streets to a standstill.
The protests were planned in 4500 locations across 150 countries. Likely the largest climate strikes in world history, the 20 September strikes gathered roughly 4 million protesters, many of them schoolchildren.
Not business as usual
Unlike the last global climate strike that was primarily focused on engaging school aged children, the strikes around the globe on September 20th, had an increased focus on business to get involved. With strong calls from the B Corporation community, in Australia, Future Super began the #notbusinessasusual campaign to encourage businesses to either take a long lunch break or give their staff the day off to attend rallies in their regions.
Over the course of just 10 days, from a core group of 30 businesses committing to allow their staff to strike for climate, more than 2600 businesses across Australia took the Not Business As Usual pledge so they and their teams could also be part of the movement.
As a business that has fought for ethical and sustainable business practices for many years, it was so exciting to see so many in the business community also stepping up to the plate and taking responsibility for how they conduct business.
We know from first hand experience that this campaign has lead to many conversations on how businesses can take further action to reduce their impact on the planet which we find immensely encouraging.
Here’s a little look so you can get a chance to see some of what we saw:
We were thrilled to see a few Onya customers participating and bringing their Onya products along with them!
With so many people of different ages and backgrounds there was much inspiration and encouragement for everyone.
Stay involved and make the changes you can
The climate strike marches have been inspiring, but we need to stay engaged and vigilant. Doing something as simple as talking about the climate crisis with your friends and family can encourage others to get involved. For tips on how to start the conversation, Climate Reality Project has some helpful guidance on Starting a Climate Conversation.
If you haven’t already, consider making some of these small changes and encourage others to do so. Together, they do add up to make a real difference.
Use energy in a more climate-friendly way
Change to energy-efficient light bulbs
Install a heat pump in your home which will extract heat from one location and transfer it to another
Unplug computers, TVs and other electronics when you’re not using them
Wash clothes in cold or warm water (not hot)
Hang-dry your clothes when you can and use sustainable material dryer balls when you can’t
Install a programmable thermostat
Look for the Energy Star label when buying new appliances
Winterize your home to prevent heat from escaping
Look for ways to keep your home cool in the summer without an air conditioner
Get a home or workplace energy audit to identify where you can make the most energy-saving gains
Move yourself in a more climate-friendly way
Take public transit
Ride a bike and advocate for bike lanes in your community
Car-share
Switch to an electric or hybrid vehicle
Fly less, and when you do fly make sure you offset your emissions
Eat in a more climate-friendly way
Eat more meat-free meals
Grow your own food
Buy organic and local whenever possible
Don’t waste food
The post Climate Strike Perth, Western Australia appeared first on Onya.
Why strike for climate? At Onya, we believe that all of us benefit from living in a healthy, stable climate.
The post Climate Strike Perth, Western Australia appeared first on Onya.Read MoreEnvironmentOnya
