It’s easy to make small changes. Just start by doing something different that’s good for the air and the climate on one day – like Clean Air Day.
CUPE’s National Environment Committee challenges CUPE Locals and members from across the country to go green this Clean Air Day. The Committee wants to hear from Locals and members about what they are doing on Clean Air Day to improve the quality of the air we breathe and to fight climate change. Tell the Committee’s staff liaison what you or your local did on Clean Air Day.
If you’re looking for tips to spare the air on Clean Air Day, here are some actions you can take at work:
- Walk, run, bike, roller blade or take public transit to work and leave the car at home. Enjoy the fresh air or sit back and read the paper on the bus or subway. Try it and see how easy it is to make this small change, plus this will cut greenhouse gas emissions and particulate air pollution.
- Take the CUPE eco-audit to see if your workplace is green.
- Turn off and unplug unnecessary appliances. Electrical power is often generated by burning fossil fuels that dump greenhouse gases and smog-forming pollutants into the air.
- Shut down air conditioners and use fans to cool rooms.
- Cut back on waste. Landfill sites emit methane, which is a greenhouse gas.
- Take the train Don’t fly. Train travel produces ten times less greenhouse gas per passenger than air travel.
The goal of Clean Air Day is to increase awareness on two environmental priorities: air contamination and climate change. It’s also a day to take action. Remember to let CUPE’s National Environment Committee know what you or your Local did on Clean Air Day 2008.
For more info, see:
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