Globe held between two hand.

I always think of autumn as the marmite season of the year – you either love it or you hate it. For some people, the change in the weather means the re-arrival of cosy hats and scarves, boots and coats. For others, it is the end of the long hot summer evenings and the return to school and porridge.

Having said that, with the climate going in the direction that it is, it is getting increasingly harder for us to distinguish between the seasons. Following the major downfall of rain which we witnessed throughout August, as well as the arrival of storm Ophelia in October, we have really seen the huge impact the changing climate can have on our lives.

With the ever-changing and growing patterns of production and consumption that now exist across the world, we can no longer deny the impact we are having on our surrounding environment. In the famous words of Terri Swearingen “we are living on this planet as if we had another one to go to”.

When focusing on sustainable development, the impact of the environment is key. Climate change and poverty are very much linked together. Putting an end to both of these issues are the defining topics of our time, they can no longer be considered in isolation.

With regards to the Sustainable Development Goals, the inclusion of the environment could be seen as a key factor in almost each and every one of them. Having said that, there are 4 Goals in particular which we could label as ‘environmental’ goals. Goal 12 – Responsible Consumption and Production, Goal 13 – Climate Action, Goal 14 – Life Below Water and Goal 15 – Life on Land all focus their attention on the climate and the influence we have upon it.

So, what can we do to help?

There a million different ways in which you can get involved in helping to keep a clean environment, and in turn a clean climate.

Plant a tree, pot some flowers or grow some vegetables! Through making your surroundings look more attractive and growing some delicious dinners, you can also help to contribute to a healthier and cleaner environment.

If gardening isn’t up your street, why not have a go at being energy efficient? By doing something as simple as unplugging your TVs, computers and other electrical goods you can help to turn your home into one which is a lot more energy efficient. If you want to go that step further you can even switch the lightbulbs in your house to energy saving lightbulbs – not only conserving energy levels within your home but you’ll also save yourself some money by cutting down on your electricity bills!

One of the most important things which we can all do with regards to the climate is get ourselves informed. Education and communication are two of the most important tools that we can use to bring hidden issues to our attention, understanding and action. After you’ve got yourself informed share your findings with your friends and family – let’s all work together and help to achieve a sustainable world for all.

“Earth rejoices our words, breathing and peaceful steps. Let every breath, every word and every step make Mother Earth proud of us” – Amit Ray.

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