This year marks the 50th anniversary of the first ever world conference dedicated to the environment, which was held by the United Nations with the slogan ‘Only One Earth,’ the same theme for this year’s World Environment Day.

Back in 1972, the United Nations Conference on the Human Environment was held in Stockholm for 11 days. The conference was attended by representatives from 113 member states, which launched the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and The Stockholm Declaration. It was this conference that sparked the discussion on how economic growth, pollution and well-being can be managed effectively.

What is World Environment Day?

Fast-forward to today, climate change has taken a real toll on the planet. From record-high temperatures reaching 49.6 degrees celsius last year in British Columbia, Canada, to the Australian wildfires in 2020, and from the multiple droughts in the Horn of Africa over the past decade alone, climate change is threatening our way of life. World Environment Day calls for not only individual action to be taken, but for a collective and transformative change from countries, governments and organisations across the world. 

What can be done about it?

We’re as passionate about the natural and built environment, as we are about recruitment. So we’ve taken a look at how businesses across our industry can help the world’s battle with climate change.

Building retrofit
Currently, it’s cheaper for development firms to knock down old buildings and construct new ones in their place. This may seem cost-effective in the short-term, this is not only a waste of resources, but creates more carbon emissions from the construction work itself. With VAT on retrofit measures now at zero per cent as of April 2022 for certain energy-saving residential improvements (such as heat pumps, insulation and solar panels), the ability to retrofit residential buildings is starting to be more financially viable. As for commercial buildings, there’s still a lot of work to be done, with some calling for a formal strategy to be put in place. Some organisations feel that putting a strategy in place wouldn’t get the behaviour change needed to implement the strategy, but that’s only short-term thinking. With all legislations, strategies and projects, behaviour changes always creates a challenge, but if we don’t have one at all, where does our environment, and our health stand in the future?

Investment into ESG policies 
ESG isn’t just about financial investment, (although they are integral to the economy and business as a whole) it’s about companies investing their time and efforts into their own ESG policies and business practices. HRnews recently reported that 67 per cent of employees expect their employers to be more sustainable, so this doesn’t just help our environment, but attract and retain talent.  

Being a sustainable business goes beyond recycling (although that’s a good practice to keep up) but can also include using renewable energy, leasing or investing in low-carbon office buildings and creating indoor garden walls.

Town Planning
Creating more people-focused places to live and work which prioritise active travel, public transport and include green spaces is essential for sustainability and for people’s mental health. 

Currently, building operations are responsible for 28 per cent of global annual emissions with building materials and construction itself, responsible for an additional 11 per cent of global emissions per annum. When building new areas, materials and their transportation to sites need to be taken into account as well as the design and accessibility of the space for the public.

Transportation
Vehicular pollution has long been in the news as a key contributor to carbon emissions, but over the past few years, we’ve seen significant strides towards electric vehicles including buses, cars and cargo bikes. For many, particularly in large cities, public transport plays a large part of daily life, so access to reliable, cost-effective and eco-friendly public transport is essential as we move towards net zero, and for the general public.

Education
If we’re to tackle climate change, find new sustainable solutions, and encourage new eco-friendly behaviours, early education is vital. We have more technology, data and resources than ever before to understand our environment and teach the effects of climate change and pollution on the planet and on our health. 

Our sister company, MP Smarter Travel, provide children’s workshops on air quality and pollution, and they also work with schools to create effective school travel plans and increase their TfL STARS accreditation. If you work with, or at a local authority, contact the team directly via email.

For more information on World Environment Day and to access their guides and resources, visit their page today and don’t forget to share the message on social media!