​
                                                                                                                                                                                                                       SUBSCRIBE                   PREVIOUS ISSUES​

​​​​Take Action                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               

​​​Give an Hour to the Earth!​​

​The 17th occurrence of Earth Hour will take place at 8:30pm (local time) on March 25, 2023. Earth Hour is a global campaign that seeks to increase awareness of nature loss and the climate crisis and to inspire others to act and advocate for urgent change. Earth Hour has traditionally been known as a “lights out” moment, a symbolic action to show our support for the planet. Rather than turn out your lights for this year’s event, Earth Hour is requesting that everyone spend 60 minutes doing something positive for our planet.

The possibilities for actions that positively impact our planet are nearly limitless! We encourage everyone to think creatively about how they could adapt an hour of their day to benefit the environment. Even if you cannot complete this action during the specific time of Earth Hour, choose a different hour on March 25 or another day that week! Here are a few ideas for positive actions that can be completed during Earth Hour:

• Plant a tree – This simple action will provide benefits for years through conversion of carbon dioxide into oxygen, habitats for local fauna, reduced stormwater runoff, and more.
• ​Clean up a local park or stream – Identify a local area where you have noticed litter and commit to cleaning it up. Locations like parks, streams, and roadsides are common areas where litter can accumulate.
• ​Fix dinner using sustainable ingredients – Purchase locally-grown ingredients that do not require plastic packaging, cold storage, or long-distance shipping. Minimize food waste by purchasing amounts that can be used before they expire and create a compost collection for food scraps.
• ​Choose an emission-free mode of transportation – Even if you are traveling during Earth Hour, you can participate by choosing a mode of transportation that limits greenhouse gas emissions like carpooling or the metro. You can even consider an emission-free mode like walking or biking while completing your daily errands.
• ​Learn which items you can recycle – Investigate the recycling guidelines for your home and compare them to some items you buy frequently. Can you recycle any items you have been disposing as trash or can you switch to an alternative that is recyclable?
• ​Organize a community gathering – Spreading the word about environmental issues is an effective way to encourage more people to take action. A community gathering could be arranged to discuss options for local positive changes or a clean-up activity could be planned.
• ​Turn off the lights – This traditional action for Earth Hour is still effective for showing your dedication to protecting our planet!​
  
  

​Spotlight                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     

Help Us Design A Kids Nature Scavenger Hunt! ​We are requesting assistance from our readers with designing an Earth Day scavenger hunt for the Bethesda campus. If you know of any campus features, trees, animals or other forms of nature that would fit a scavenger hunt, please let us know!​​​​ LEA​RN MORE​​​​

​​Featured Article                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      

​Stormwater Features on the Bethesda Campus ​ ​​This month, we are highlighting a few of the features of the Bethesda campus that help reduce stormwater runoff. From permeable pavement and green roofs to "no mow" areas and the Stoney Creek Pond, all of these features help reduce erosion, preserve water quality and combat flooding. LEARN MORE

NEMS Training                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         
Did you know? ​Earth Hour has traditionally been a "lights out" movement to inspire action through increased awareness. We can accomplish a lot just by talking to others about our environmental passions! To learn more about sustainability at the NIH, please visit the NEMS Training webpage to view a short (20 minute) NIH environmental awareness training video.