Wednesday June 8 is Clean Air Day. In communities all across Canada CUPE members will join with other citizens to take actions to help improve air quality and cut back on greenhouse gas emissions that cause climate change.
This day is centred out toward the start of the summer months, a time that is often characterized by bad air quality and dangerously hot weather. Clean Air Day is also part of Environment Week, a time for everyone to reassert their commitment to a cleaner and greener planet.
Clean Air Day actions CUPE members can take include:
- Don’t drive. Travel by more environmentally responsible ways, such as by foot, bicycle and via public transit.
- Conserve electricity to cut back on greenhouse gas emissions. This means turning things off, such as air conditioners in favour of fans, appliances that use a lot of power and computers and other devices that all rely on electricity.
- Consume less. Clean Air Day is a good time to cut back on unnecessary consumption that generates waste, which in turn contributes to poor air quality and climate change.
On past Clean Air Days, CUPE members have reported on their community actions. The National Environment Committee invites members to submit both their reports on actions taken on Clean Air Day and any photographs to go along with these actions. For example, send images to mfirth@cupe.ca of CUPE members on bikes, on foot, and at work in our communities to show how we can reduce our carbon footprint and help improve air quality.