April, the busiest time for climate action, was marked by the now globally celebrated Earth Day. This event sparked a shift from observation to action, with individuals and communities worldwide joining forces. JouleBug witnessed this inspiring collective effort, with a shared goal of protecting thrivability on Earth throughout April.
JouleBug’s Earth Day Challenge, inspired by Project Drawdown’s top twenty sustainable actions, may have started with just 60+ users, but their collective impact was significant. Throughout April, these users saved 238 kilograms of CO2, diverted 22 kilograms of waste, and saved 10.8k liters of water. This is a powerful demonstration of how individual actions, when combined, can make a substantial difference. Imagine the impact if this level of participation were sustained over one year or one decade.
Looking broadly at all active JouleBug enterprise accounts, individuals globally logged 28,900+ actions. The top five actions that made up these statistics prove the simple but effective nature of climate action:
- Turn Off The Lights – 504 Logs
- Water Off While Brushing – 465 Logs
- Walk There – 379 Logs
- Reusable Water Bottle – 321 Logs
- Public Transit – 301 Logs
These top five most popular actions are a testament to the fact that making a difference doesn’t always require significant effort or financial commitment. They are simple, everyday actions that anyone can incorporate into their routine. You can make a tremendous impact with these simple behavioral changes that are easily recorded on your phone, making sustainability a manageable and achievable goal.
Keeping the Ball Rolling
While a month of dedicated action is commendable, it’s not enough to reverse the damage. Real change comes when many people are committed to forming lasting habits. Sustainable habits are not formed overnight. They form through intentional practice until a behavior becomes second nature. We encourage you to keep the ball rolling and continue your climate action journey beyond Earth Month.
The quickest way to make a lasting impact is by involving your company in your sustainability journey. JouleBug can be a valuable resource for your team. It has the power to encourage continuous climate action across all departments. No longer can sustainability be a one-department issue. Company-wide initiatives are essential for reaching sustainability goals. When we are all on the same page, we become a stronger movement.
JouleBug’s simple, effective and educational actions prove that contributing to climate action does not need to be costly or require a significant time commitment. All you have to do is to motivate your team to participate in sustainability initiatives throughout the year.
A clear understanding of climate issues is essential for uniting cross-functional teams tasked with balancing financial objectives and environmental standards. The attitude of your staff towards sustainable practices is the determining factor in whether your company will successfully meet its reduction goals.
Check out One Point Five’s resources for embedding sustainability by upskilling your workforce rather than searching for a unicorn hire.
Without anticipating Earth Day, it is possible to feel unmotivated to participate in climate action. We understand this feeling, but we want to remind you that sustainable behavior is necessary all 365 days of the year. We urge you or your company to mark your calendars with global initiatives that inspire continuous climate action. Some examples of these upcoming events include World Environment Day on June 5th, Plastic Free July, and NYC Climate Week in September. You can leverage the excitement around these events to inspire company-wide participation in sustainable challenges.
Whether you are an individual trying to reduce your impact or a company dedicated to meeting your climate goals, the JouleBug team is here to offer support on your lifelong journey towards a more sustainable future. All you have to do is keep the ball rolling.
Why is this Important?
Now, more than ever, we need people to stand up to fight for climate action and environmental protections. Here in the United States, we lack authority figures who fight for the health of our planet. Allowing large corporations to cut back on their sustainability initiatives is not only harmful to our environment, but it also puts our future on this planet at risk.
With the sea levels rising, biodiversity fleeting, and air pollution worsening, you can’t rely on leaders to enact the change you hope to see. The responsibility falls on you. As you advocate for an increase in environmental protections, we encourage you to transform your lifestyle to reflect your sustainable values. Actions such as utilizing public transportation, recycling, and installing a low-flow shower head effectively reduce your environmental impact.
There is still hope. According to Project Drawdown’s article, “Corporate sustainability isn’t backing down – but was it bold enough in the first place,” more than 80% of companies continue to value sustainability in the workplace and plan on increasing their impact. Despite the ability to walk away from climate action, most companies are choosing Earth. We hope to see this statistic rise as more companies are aware of their participation in climate change.
With all this in mind, will you join the fight towards a healthier planet, or sit and watch as climate action passes you? We cannot reverse the damage done overnight, but we can do everything in our power to prevent it from getting worse.