World Environmental and Awareness Days of March 2023
Environmental and sustainability issues are becoming increasingly important, and it's crucial to spread awareness and celebrate the efforts that people are making to protect the planet. That's why throughout the year, every month is packed with different days to commemorate and create awareness for specific environmental and sustainability topics. These topics cover various fields like social sustainability, the environment, animals, economics, and more.
With March being a busy month in terms of environmental and sustainability events, we've chosen to focus on five world days: World Wildlife Day, International Women's Day, Global Recycling Day, International Day of Forests, and World Water Day. By summarizing what each day is about and why it's celebrated, we hope to inspire you to join in and make a difference in your own way.
World Wild Life Day - 3rd March 2023
World Wildlife Day, an annual event established by the United Nations, serves to acknowledge and increase awareness about the world's flora and fauna. This year's theme, "Partnerships for Wildlife Conservation" highlights the importance of forming partnerships at all levels to protect the earth's biodiversity. Given the current biodiversity crisis, it is imperative to recognize the numerous advantages of conservation and take action against wildlife crime and human-induced reduction of species. Sustainable Development Goal 15, which aims to halt biodiversity loss, emphasizes the need for collaborative efforts to safeguard the planet's ecosystems.
On March 3, 2023, World Wildlife Day will also mark the 50th anniversary of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), which has granted protection to over 37,000 species of animals and plants. CITES has been successful in building partnerships and reconciling differences between groups guided by its regulations. Sustaining existing partnerships and building new ones will be crucial for the future of life on earth. From intergovernmental to local scales, partnerships for conservation must find ways to include businesses to reverse the loss in biodiversity. It's time to change our relationship with nature and work together to ensure the sustainability of our planet's wildlife and ecosystems.
Read more here.
International Women's Day - 8th March 2023
International Women's Day (IWD) is a worldwide celebration of women's achievements and a call for gender parity. It takes place on March 8th and is marked by activities that range from celebrating women's successes to raising awareness about women's rights and fundraising for female-focused charities. The 2023 campaign theme is #EmbraceEquity, which encourages people to challenge gender stereotypes, discrimination, and bias and embrace differences as a positive element of life. The campaign highlights that achieving gender parity is not only about equalizing the rights and opportunities of women, but also recognizing and celebrating the unique contributions and perspectives that women bring to the world.
IWD is not specific to any country, group, or organization, and everyone can support it and you can mark IWD in many ways, including hosting an event, running a campaign, launching an initiative, reporting on achievement, and donating to a female-focused charity. The day is about advancing women's equality in all its forms, and has a long history dating back to 1911. It is celebrated in many countries, with purple, green, and white as its symbolic colors.
So make International Women's Day your day and do what you can to truly make a positive difference for women.
Read more here.
Global Recycling Day - 18th March 2023
Global Recycling Day is celebrated on March 18 every year and encourages us to rethink what we throw away by seeing it as an opportunity instead of waste. By recycling, we lessen our energy use, improve air and water quality, and combat climate change, all while saving money and natural resources. The last decade has seen extreme temperatures and a climate emergency, making it essential to make significant changes to protect the planet and humanity. The Global Recycling Foundation created this day in 2018, with the mission of telling world leaders that recycling is a global issue, and asking people to think about resources, not waste.
This year's theme is #RecyclingHeroes, which recognizes the role recycling plays in contributing to an environmentally stable planet and a greener future. By supporting the global green agenda, recycling is on the front line in the war to save the future of our planet and humanity.
Read more here.
International Day of Forests - 21st March 2023
Forests are often taken for granted, but they provide countless benefits to our lives. They clean our air, purify our water, and provide food and medicine. On March 21st, we celebrate the International Day of Forests, which highlights the role of forests in combating climate change and in the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals.
This year's theme, "Forests and Health" underscores the link between forests and human well-being. Forests stabilize the climate, protect watersheds, and enrich the soil, contributing to healthy, resilient communities and prosperous economies. It's our responsibility to safeguard these natural resources from deforestation and promote education on sustainable forest management. A sustainable forest industry can also provide new and sustainable ways to produce bioenergy.
Let's work together to protect and preserve these precious resources for future generations.
Read more here.
World Water Day - 22 March 2023
In 2015, the world made a commitment to achieve Sustainable Development Goal 6, which aimed to provide safe water and sanitation for everyone by 2030. Unfortunately, billions of people and institutions still lack access to these basic human rights. The lack of progress in water and sanitation undermines efforts to address various global issues, including health, hunger, gender equality, education, industry, disasters, and peace.
To accelerate progress and address this crisis, World Water Day 2023 will focus on the theme "Accelerating Change" This day coincides with the UN 2023 Water Conference in New York, which will offer a unique opportunity for governments and stakeholders to make voluntary commitments towards accelerating progress on SDG 6 and other water-related goals. These commitments will form the Water Action Agenda, which aims to bring about rapid, transformative change in the coming decade.
Everyone can play a part in achieving this goal, and even small actions can make a difference. Rapid, transformative change is needed to ensure access to safe water and sanitation for everyone.
Read more here.