Earth Day 2024: What is Umande Doing to Improve the Environment



Today is Earth Day! Earth Day is a global holiday that educates the world about the importance of protecting the earth and sustainability. This year marks the 54th annual Earth Day, and the 34th year of Earth Day is recognised internationally.

At Umande Trust, we work hard to promote sustainability every day not just on Earth Day, but today it is especially important to recognize the importance of sustainability, and that everyone does their part. Here at Umande, our mission is to “promote eco-innovations that place community groups at the driving seat of enterprising solutions”. Through our more than 80 Bio Centres across the nation, basic sanitation services such as toilets and showers are provided to tens of thousands each day, reducing the contamination of water sources, through a reduction of open defecation. Reducing the amount of sewage that contaminates local waterways such as the Nairobi River is critical to improving the environment and improving the ecosystem that lies on the river and further downstream or in the watershed area. Umande is committed to both improving access to basic sanitation as well as ensuring that all projects are run as sustainably as possible.

Bio Centres produce biogas, which is a renewable fuel source that is produced from human waste. Biogas can be used in replacement of natural gas and can be used instead of burning wood or coal. Many Bio Centres offer the use of their biogas to the community for a low fee (less than the market price of other fuel sources) to allow the community to cook. Umande is working in particular to reduce the amount of wood and charcoal that is burned as a fuel source due to the high impact these fuels have on air quality. High levels of air pollutants can enter the bloodstream and can cause breathing difficulties, worsen lung diseases, and lead to hospitalization, cancer, or premature death. Poor air quality particularly harms children and women, who are exposed to higher levels of emissions from smoke and other pollutants than men. Umande is committed to the importance of gender-equitable solutions that look at the unique needs of women because of climate change and polluted air and water.

Bio Centres provide education to the communities in which they serve about the importance of reducing rates of open defecation, proper waste disposal, and use of renewable fuels, such as biogas, when possible. Reducing the impacts of climate change requires everyone to work together to reduce the impact that they have on the environment.

This Earth Day, the Earth Day Network, a global organisation that facilitates events and advocacy around the world, campaign this year is to call for a reduction in the amount of plastic produced. Plastic is particularly harmful to the environment as it leaches chemicals and microplastics into water sources which then pollute and harm the waterways and surrounding areas. The Earth Day Network is advocating for a global treaty, which calls for a 60% reduction of all plastics produced by 2040. This Earth Day, on an individual level, one can reduce the amount of plastic (especially single-use plastic like plastic bottles, plastic wrap, and plastic straws) you use.

At Umande Trust, advocating for government action on climate change and environmental protection is one of our focuses. Action must not be just taken on an individual level but on a county, national, and international level. Moving away from our dependency on non-renewable fossil fuels and having there be nation and county-wide initiatives for the protection of waterways is critical. Umande partners with other local organisations who also believe in the importance of advocating for climate justice and the cleanup of waterways.

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