Sustainability

Save reefs from home

Worldwide reefs are in trouble and the Great Barrier Reef (GBR) lost 50% of its coral cover in the past 2 year.
People are often unaware of the magnitude of this problem and the fact that they can help from their homes to save reefs.

COME JOIN OUR WATCH

Adopt seven areas of LIFE-CHANGE with actions that make a difference!

Food

*Reduce food waste
* Eat veggies

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Reduce food waste
• Plan meals ahead
• Compost your organic matter
• Donate to food banks
• Buy local produce
• Eat what you buy
• Store food better
• Check the use-by dates of fresh food
Eat veggies
• Eat a plant rich diet
• Grow your own
• Support silvopasture, buy carbon-neutral beef
• Eat responsibly, check sustainable seafood guides

Energy

*Reduce energy at home
* Reduce energy globally

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Reduce energy at home
• Buy energy efficient appliances
• Turn off lights/appliances not in use
• Install LED lighting
• Adjust aircon temperature
• Insulate your home
• Close doors, curtains
• Wash clothes in cold water
• Reduce shower time
• Save water
Reduce energy globally
• Connect to microgrids and community solar
• Switch to greenpower
• Support renewable energy sourced from the sun, wind, water and waste

Waste

*Disposables
* Avoid packaging, recycle

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Disposables
• Use a reusable cup
• Use a reusable water bottle
• Use a reusable takeaway container and cutlery
• Reduce or refuse plastic bags
Avoid packaging, recycle
• Gift-wrap in fabric
• Buy in bulk
• Buy loose not packaged
• Repurpose old stuff
• Get cash for containers
• Use council recycling options
• Sell/donate unwanted goods
• Buy secondhand clothes

Its easy to feel anxious and
overwhelmed by the issues of global warming and climate change. And, you might find it hard to believe that your individual contribution can make a difference but healing the environment starts with the decisions you make at home, in the kitchen, in the garden,
at the shops and in the environment. Small actions accumulate.

“Little drops of water make the mighty ocean” Julia Carney

Travel

*Local travel
* Global travel

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Local travel
• Drive less or share rides
• Take public transport
• Walk more
• Take the stairs
• Ride a bike
• Buy an electric vehicle or fuel-efficient car
Global travel
• Only fly when needed, holiday in your own country
• Take non-stop flights
• Pack light
• Rent your gear on location
• Act green during your holiday
• Offset your flights, it is cheap
• Buy locally to reduce shipping-related emissions

Activism

*Conversations / Actions
* Voting power

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Conversations / actions
• Converse with others about climate change
• Become a driver of social change, not a follower
• Participate in clean up days, green festivals and campaigns
• Put a ‘No Junk Mail’ sticker on your letterbox
• Donate time and money towards conservation
Voting power
• Write a letter to a politician
• Join a march
• Participate in elections by casting your vote
• Say NO to companies that support fossil fuel

Education

*Kids in nature / girl power
* Biophilia / citizen science

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Kids in nature / girl power
• Play outdoors
• Visit your local reef, forest, river or park
• Motivate children to protect the environment
• Support education for girls
• Empower women in the labour market
• Provide women a voice in family decisions
• Read labels on products
Biophilia/Citizen science
• Connect with nature and get healthier and happier
• Become a citizen scientist
• Become an environmental steward
• Limit screen-time

Rewilding

*Restore ecosystems
* Blue carbon

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Restore ecosystems
• Plant native trees
• Buy responsibly, avoid palm oil
• Save trees, reduce paper use, use recycled paper
• Use alternative recycled packing materials
• Use sustainable wood/paper
• Protect threatened species and ecosystems
• Keep pets inside at night
Blue carbon
• Protect seagrass, mangrove, salt marsh, macroalgae habitats
• Control pollution
• Support marine permaculture research
• Fight deforestation

Corals in the Outback – Sustainability tour

As part of National Science week 2018, CoralWatch engaged with communities between Mt Isa and Longreach presenting the latest reef science, creating reef awareness and provide suggestions on how they can help through presentations, displays and screenings of the Netflix documentary Chasing Coral, from the makers of the Emmy Award-winning Chasing Ice. Virtual reality will provide a realistic reef experience, connecting participants with the reef.

Funding and support for the Sustainability project has been provided by: