Happy Monday 👋

What comes to your mind when you think about insects?

I bet the first pictures aren’t those of how insects help us keep our ecosystems in balance 😉

And while they are so important, it’s sad for me to say that by the end of this century, up to 40% of the world’s insect species may go extinct owing in part to habitat loss…

That’s why it’s so important that we take action now and get involved in events like National Insect Week!

Here are the impactful insights that I have for you today:

• How to save vital insect species from extinction 🐜
• How nitrogen can reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the construction industry 🏗️
• The new legislation that aims to restore biodiversity across Europe 🇪🇺
• And more… 💚

🐜 Event of the Week: National Insect Week 

👉 Did you know that this week (June 24-30) is National Insect Week? This awareness event was founded as a celebration of all insects and to educate the public on the role they play in the world’s ecosystems. 

1️⃣ The big picture: National Insect Week was initially set up in 2010 by the Royal Entomological Society to raise awareness of the plights affecting insect species around the world. It came at a time when British scientists were becoming increasingly worried that insect populations were declining due to climate change and unsustainable agricultural practices. Today, the event is used to raise awareness of the importance of insects as pollinators and predators in conservation, food production, medicine, and ecology.

2️⃣ Why is this important: The world has already lost 5-10% of all its insects within the last 150 years, equating to 250,000-500,000 species. In terms of diversity, insects represent more than two-thirds of the 1.5 million documented animal species. Yet, just 0.5% of all funds allocated to conservation go toward saving endangered insect species. If insect declines are not halted soon, it could cause terrestrial and freshwater systems to collapse, with profound implications for humans and the world as a whole. 

3️⃣ How can you get involved: There are plenty of ways you can get involved in National Insect Week, from setting up a fundraising event to volunteering for a local conservation group. Alternatively, the Royal Entomological Society holds numerous educational events and competitions in collaboration with partner organizations during Insect Week for you to get involved in. 

You can also consider donating to one or more charities that are working to conserve the natural ecosystems that insects depend on as well as promote sustainable agricultural practices:

• 9 Best Charities for Land Conservation
• 9 Best Charities for Protecting Nature
• 9 Best Charities That Help Farmers

If you are looking for more inspiration, you can find a wider range of charitable causes to support in our charity support blog.

📢 Three Good News

🏗️ Researchers discover the environmental benefits of adding nitrogen to concrete:

• Researchers at the University of Birmingham have found that by adding nitrogen to concrete, they could significantly reduce levels of harmful nitrogen oxides (NOx) in the construction industry. 
• NOx are highly reactive toxic air pollutants that can contribute to acid rain, ozone layer depletion, and also pose significant health threats. 
• The researchers believe that concrete nitrogenation could contribute to a reduction in NOx emissions by up to 6.9 megatonnes (Mt), representing 13% of industry-related emissions.

🇪🇺 Europe approves a first-of-its-kind law to bring back biodiversity:

• A new Nature Restoration law aims to restore at least 20% of the EU’s land and sea areas by 2030 and all degraded ecosystems by 2050, making it the first comprehensive continent-wide law of its kind.
• The law was first proposed in 2022. However, it received backlash from conservative parties in Europe who claimed that it would disrupt supply chains and threaten the livelihoods of farmers.
• Under the new law EU member states will prioritize restoration of Natura 2000 protected areas, which cover Europe’s most threatened species and habitats.

🇵🇼 New law in Palau empowers communities to manage and protect ocean waters:

• New legislation passed by the Melekeok State Government, Palau, has placed a 172-hectare Ngeschsiau Managed Access area of ocean water under protection for the first time. 
• Ngeschsiau is a critical habitat for clams, urchins, sea cucumbers, and other key species, as well as being recognized as a highly productive fishing area by the community. 
• After years of production, the area has been assessed as requiring intensive restoration and management efforts to counteract degradation. The law has been hailed as a win for the environment and local communities. 

🤝 Three More Important Awareness Events

🧕 June 24, International Day for Women in Diplomacy:

• International Day of Women in Diplomacy is a UN-designated day that recognizes the important achievements of women within the world of diplomatic relations.
• The day acknowledges the low representation of women in international relations and encourages women to pursue careers in diplomacy. 

⚓ June 25, Day of the Seafarer:

• Day of the Seafarer celebrates the contributions of seafarers to the maritime economy and culture.
• Seafarers are on the front lines of the fight for ocean preservation and so it is integral to uplift their voices. 

🐟 June 23-29, Fish Are Friends Not Food Week:

• Fish Are Friends Not Food Week highlights the dangers of overfishing as a major threat to the planet’s oceans.
• The week encourages people to boycott the fishing industry to help mitigate the risks that it poses to the ecosystem. 

Related: You can discover all the 119 most important awareness events (for the month, days, weeks) in our awareness calendar for June 2024!

📜 These Days in History

♀️ June 24, 201: Julia Gillard became Australia’s first female Prime Minister. She worked as a lawyer before entering politics. 

🏳️‍🌈 June 25, 1978: The first version of the rainbow flag, which represents the LGBTQ+ community, was flown during the San Francisco Gay Freedom Day parade. 

📖 June 25, 1903: British author George Orwell was born in Motihari, Bengal, as Eric Arthur Blair. He later became renowned for his fictional works Animal Farm and 1984. 

💭 Quote of the Day

“Happiness can exist only in acceptance.”

— George Orwell, British author

Share the news with your friends to make a bigger positive impact on the world and society together!

Stay impactful 💚