World Environment Day 2022 arrives on 5 June, with the theme “Only One Earth”. Among the billions of galaxies In the universe, and the billions of planets in our galaxy, there is only one planet Earth.
With this in mind, the focus for World Environment Day this year is living sustainably in harmony with nature.
There are plenty of ways we can all do this, from thinking about the clothes we wear and the food we eat to conserving energy in our homes and cutting out unnecessary car journeys.
Thankfully, none of us is alone. As environmental consciousness grows, communities are growing and technology is being harnessed. There are now many apps on the market that can help you to track your energy use, reduce food waste, and find out about the eco-credentials of potential purchases before you buy.
Here are eight you might consider downloading now.
1. Ailuna
Ailuna means “aiming high” in Hawaiian and this is the perfect mindset to take into this year’s World Environment Day.
The app uses behavioural science and an intuitive dare system to help you form good habits.
New “dares” appear regularly and usually last a week. You can choose the ones you want to try – going meat-free, using less energy, cutting down on single-use plastic – and then track your progress.
An online community can offer support and accountability, helping the simple dares to become part of your normal day.
2. AWorld
Created alongside the United Nations (UN) ActNow Campaign this is another app that looks to turn small changes into lifestyle-altering habits.
AWorld supports the 27 goals of the UN’s 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, allowing you to track and log the positive changes you make.
What seems like a small change can grow to have a tangible effect on the planet, encouraging you to make more and bigger changes.
3. Ecosia
Ecosia is an extension that you can add to your internet browser – whether that’s on a laptop, smartphone, or tablet. Each time you search, the ad income you generate goes back to Ecosia, allowing them to plant trees with the money raised.
The app currently has more than 15 million users who have helped the app plant 125 million trees across 9,000 planting sites. Each search removes 1kg of CO2 from the air, so why not start searching greener now?
With energy bills rocketing, you might consider the National Grid’s ESO app.
It can provide real-time data on the energy you are using and help to predict the best times of day to use certain appliances.
This can help you to lower your carbon footprint, and help you to better manage your energy consumption, hopefully lowering bills.
5. Giki
If you’re looking to shop more sustainably, Giki could be the app for you.
It looks at the sustainability, ethical, and health credentials of the products you buy and assigns each a rating that you can use to make greener choices.
By looking at issues like the use of palm oil, animal testing, or the environmental impact of transportation, you can use the app to understand the carbon footprint of the products you buy.
You can use the Giki Zero calculator to set yourself targets to become a net-zero consumer.
6. Good on You
The fashion industry – or more specifically “fast fashion” – has a poor track record on green issues.
Good on You can help you understand the environmental impact of the companies you shop with, helping you to find sustainable alternatives to some of the bigger culprits.
A simple five-star rating system makes it clear at a glance whether a company has a poor record in areas like animal welfare, the environmental impact of supply chains, and working conditions, helping you to shop in a way that aligns with your green values.
7. JouleBug
Another app designed to build lifelong habits from small changes, JouleBug provides you with environmentally friendly and sustainable actions. It then allows you to “buzz in” when you complete these actions in real life.
Track your buzzes and get competitive with friends to see who can be the greenest. Each action you take also links to stats and how-to videos to help you understand the effect of the changes you are making, and how to go even further.
The changes you make could even save you money, as you help to save the planet.
8. Refill
Single-use plastics are a huge environmental issue and the Refill app looks to address the issue of bottled water.
Bottled water is around 900 times more carbon-intensive than tap water, so the app aims to connect global users with the more than 30,000 free refill stations across Britain. These could be shops, businesses, or transport hubs that allow you to refill your own water bottle on the go, cutting down on single-use plastic consumption.
Join the 300,000 people already using the app.
