Issue Nº 503

Thursday

In today’s issue, we’ll take a look at:

• Talking to kids about the climate

• An eco-friendly company to invest in

• The power of seaweed

• Why a four-day week could save the world

True or False?

Forests are home to more people than Tokyo and New York City combined.

Scroll to the bottom for the answer.

Talking to Your Kids About Climate Change

We all want to raise our children to respect the world around them, and equip them with an understanding of the threats it faces. Even if we’ve held off talking about it until now, they’re probably already aware of the problem from other sources, whether at school or from TV. Having these conversations is crucial - but how can we do so in a way that empowers rather than scares them? Here are some tips: 

1. Leave Room For Questions

There are tons of resources online for explaining climate change in a child-friendly way - check out NASA, for example. But expect your kid to have a lot of questions once you start diving into this huge topic. If they ask something you don’t have the answer to, why not use it as an excuse to visit the library and try to find out together?

2. Listen to Their Fears

Talking about climate change will probably bring up a lot of emotions for your child, from anger to sadness. Let them speak their mind, and remind them that they can talk to you about how they’re feeling at any time.

3. Help Them Appreciate Nature

Take the time to take your kids to forests, lakes, or even just the park. The more they experience the wonder of nature, the more they’ll feel compelled to protect it. You can also nurture their curiosity by planting seeds together, and watching as they grow.

4. Give Them Hope

Let your child join in the day to day actions you take to combat climate change, from cycling to recycling, and teach them why it’s important to do so. Showing them that they can be part of the solution will help them feel positive about the future and alleviate their fears. You can also speak to them about young people who’re tackling the climate crisis, from Greta Thunberg to local heroes.

Thank you to ESGold for sponsoring The Canopy.

How Working One Day Less Can Help Save the Planet

With various studies having been conducted around the world, the benefits of a four-day week are now clear - better work-life balance and wellbeing, increased productivity, and less sick days, just to name a few. But did you know that this new way of working could also play a pivotal role in solving climate change? Here’s how:

1. Less Cars on the Road

If people go to their workplace four days a week rather than five, they’ll no longer need to make that extra commute. Imagine if we could take 20% of cars off the road during rush hour, just like that.

2. Last One Out Switches Off the Lights

If offices and other workplaces totally shut down for the fifth day of the week, they’ll save a significant portion of the energy they’d use on lights, heating and cooling, and machinery or equipment. All of this adds up to a pretty substantial reduction in carbon emissions. 

3. Encouraging Lower-Impact Habits

If people are short on time, they’ll opt for convenience above all else - and things that are convenient are often the most unsustainable. For instance, if people have more time to cook their own meals, they’ll no longer opt for plastic-wrapped meals to-go. 

4. More Time For What Matters

People often mean to volunteer in their community, but work gets in the way. A four-day week will give them more time for helping out, which could involve eco-friendly activities like litter picking or gardening.

Reflections:

• 🌎 True or False: False, Forests are home to more people than Tokyo, Mexico City, London, New York City, and Cairo combined.

• 🌅 Sunset Of The Day: The sun can provide the most beautiful photography. That's why we're eager to see your favorite sunrise or sunset photos. Reply to this email with your best sun-based pictures for a chance to be featured in next Wednesday's newsletter!