Global environmental 2023 dates for your diary
At Roots & Shoots UK, you are part of something big - a global movement of young people dedicated to creating positive change for people, animals and the environment. And if you’re looking to take part in major events, or channel your actions around particular themes or topics, you could choose to get involved in some of these global events.Add each of these dates to your diaries, and get involved, whether that’s encouraging others, taking direction action, or learning more about the issues and causes. There’s lots you can do to make a positive change and inspire change in others.
Jane Goodall Roots & Shoots UK Awards
Date: 3rd March
We’re so excited that the 2023 Jane Goodall’s Roots & Shoots UK Awards will be happening in person! We can’t wait to get together with some of our amazing Roots & Shoots UK groups and schools in the beautiful Barbican Centre in London to celebrate all your amazing achievements over 2022.Read our Awards post to find out more, and we’ll be sharing all the information as it’s confirmed. Keep your eyes peeled!
Dr Jane Goodall’s Birthday
Date: 3rd April
Join us as we celebrate Dr Jane Goodall’s 89th Birthday! She works tirelessly to empower us to make a change and inspire hope within us all.We’ll be sharing the ways you can get involved in the celebrations soon, or you can always organise your own actions inspired by Dr Jane Goodall’s work.How about researching the amazing life and behaviour of chimpanzees, our closest cousins in the animal kingdom? Or you could organise a litter pick in your local area, to help make it a better, nicer place for the people, animals and plants that live there?Looking for more ideas? Check out our free online resources!
Earth Day
Date: 22nd April[embed]https://youtu.be/ihPpNHiX3vE[/embed]Earth Day is an international celebration day that draws attention to the impact we have on our precious planet, and encourages everyone around the world to take positive action - something that Root & Shoots UK is all about!The first Earth Day took place in 1970, and the event has evolved a lot since then. This year, the theme is ‘Invest in Our Planet’, and it’s all about sustainable development.“In 2023 we must come together again in partnership for the planet. Businesses, governments, and civil society are equally responsible for taking action against the climate crisis and lighting the spark to accelerate change towards a green, prosperous, and equitable future. We must join together in our fight for the green revolution, and for the health of future generations. The time is now to Invest In Our Planet,” said Kathleen Rogers, President of Earthday.org.Find out more about Earth Day 2023.
World Environment Day
Date: 5th June[embed]https://youtu.be/_CIPLOajR58[/embed]Organised by the United Nations to promote awareness and action for the protection of the environment, World Environment Day takes place on the 5th June every year, in a different location though with a global focus.It’s celebrated with online and in-person talks and events, and actions which can be logged centrally as a way of measuring the positive impact we can cumulatively have when we work together.For 2022, the theme was Only One Earth, and it was focussed on the resources we use and the fact that we need to protect the planet we call home. The theme for 2023 hasn’t been announced yet, but keep an eye on the World Environment Day websiteWorld Environment Day website for more information.Find out more about World Environment Day.
World Oceans Day
Date: 8th June
World Oceans Day is all about reminding us of the importance the oceans play in our everyday lives. They help provide oxygen, food, medicine, beauty and are essential part of the biosphere of life on Earth. And we all have a responsibility to look after our seas and treat them sustainably.People are encouraged to take action like beach cleans, reduce plastics use, and encourage businesses to work in a more sustainable fashion to conserve our oceans. There are events and exhibitions all over the world you can attend, as well as digital events and talks to join in remotely.Find out more about World Oceans Day and how you can get involved.
World Refugee Day
Date: 20th June
Imagine what it would be like to be forced to leave your home, leaving behind everything you own, everyone you know, everything you have. Imagine travelling huge distances, often in dangerous conditions, to try and find somewhere safe. People become refugees - people seeking somewhere safe - for lots of reasons. They could be fleeing war, hunger, religious persecution, environmental destruction, or for other reasons, and sadly they also often face hostility from people on their journey.World Refugee Day honours refugees around the world, celebrating their strength and courage and working to build empathy and understanding.There are events, exhibitions, talks and activities in places all around the world, and the stories of refugees are shared.Find out more about World Refugee Day.
World Chimpanzee Day
Date: 14th July
The 14th of July is World Chimpanzee Day, where people around the world unite to celebrate the innate value, complexity and importance of our closest living relatives in the animal kingdom – chimpanzees.The day honours the anniversary of the moment in 1960 when 26-year-old Jane Goodall first stepped foot onto the shores of Lake Tanganyika in Gombe, Tanzania, to study these mysterious and wonderful beings. Jane’s insights that chimpanzees make and use tools, are compassionate, have dynamic personalities and intelligence – and deserve our respect – transformed the scientific landscape, forever redefining our relationship with the animals we share this planet with.As Dr Jane Goodall has said:‘We are not different in kind, but rather by mere degree.”Find out more about World Chimpanzee Day and how you can get involved
International Day of Peace
Date: 21st September
This day is devoted to peace, with people around the world encouraged to observe 24 hours of non-violence and cease-fire. Peace is precious; it is also something we need to value and protect and work towards.At Roots & Shoots UK we love celebrating Peace Day, and we love all the events and activities Roots & Shoots groups around the UK run to celebrate and raise awareness too. Think about what you can do to build bridges, combat inequality and division, and help everyone live peaceful, happy, secure lives.Find out more about International Day of Peace and how you can get involved.
COP 28 - United Arab Emirates
Dates: 30th November to 12th December
The big global environmental summit where world leaders come together every year is the UNFCCC COP. That stands for United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) Conference of Parties (COP) 28 (the edition number, with COP events taking place nearly every year).At COP28, global leaders will come together to discuss and arrange agreements for unified action on environmental protections. For 2023, the event will take place in the United Arab Emirates.This is where your voice, and the unified voice of your family, friends, school and community comes in. These leaders are representatives of the people, including you, so you need to let them know that protecting the environment is something you want them to act on. You can do this by writing to your local politician, to bigger companies and political parties, and amplifying the voices of others who are asking for the same changes.