We are all aware of the many environmental problems facing the world, such as climate change, pollution, water shortages, loss of habitat, food and energy security, loss of biodiversity, and waste management. Rotary is in an ideal position to take leadership to ensure that the environment we leave to the next generations is better than when we inherited.

Tree planting Philippines

The District EnviroClub Awards have been adapted from a successful environmental awards program in the United Kingdom. To receive an award, clubs first stocktake and review their environmental initiatives (activities, projects, programs and events) and are encouraged to improve these initiatives through a series of awards, starting with a Bronze Award and moving on to a Silver Award and a Gold Award. Clubs and individual Rotarians are also encouraged to be catalysts for environmental action in their communities.

Any Rotary, Rotaract or Interact club in District 9815 can apply for one of these Awards.

 

The purpose of these Awards are to:

The Awards Scheme is a progressive criteria-based system, where clubs must first achieve a “Bronze” Award, before progressing to a “Silver” Award and finally a “Gold” Award.

To encourage innovation by clubs, there are no specific environmental initiatives for any level of the Awards.

While the requirements for the Bronze Award are relatively straightforward, they become more challenging for the Silver and Gold Awards.

A club can apply for an optional PLUS Award for each level, by completing additional activities that focus specifically on climate change, ie. Bronze PLUS, Silver PLUS and Gold PLUS.

Environmental initiatives of clubs may cover a wide range of topics. The following themes, as devised by ESRAG (Environmental Sustainability Rotary Action Group) ESRAG themes, provide an easy way of sorting your club’s current initiatives and imagining new ones.

Biodiversity: short for biological diversity, which is the variety of all living things, and the interactions between them.
Biodiversity initiatives include tree planting and mangrove restoration and pollinator friendly gardens.

Circular Economy: a model for extending the life of natural resources. This model includes the practices of sharing, rethinking design, reusing, recycling, and up-cycling.
Circular Economy initiatives include collecting aluminium and plastic drink bottles and returning these for container deposits – and for recycling.

Climate: the weather over a long period of time, and the factors that may impact on weather systems.
Climate initiatives include reducing the emissions of greenhouse gas emissions – solar panel installation (mitigation), and providing solutions to a changing climate (adaptation).

Food Systems: complex networks that relate to agricultural and food production and consumption.
Food Systems initiatives include planting bee friendly gardens.

Pollution: presence of substances that can be harmful or poisonous to the environment.
Pollution initiatives include monitoring air pollution or collecting plastic litter in parks or in waterways.

Sustainable Living: living in a way that will reduce each person’s impact on the natural environment while ensuring a good quality of life for everyone.
Sustainable Living initiatives include running a community festival on electric vehicles, and including more plant rich foods into club events.

Examples of environment initiatives for each level of the Awards can be found in Appendix 2 and for Climate initiatives in Appendix 3.

 

The Awards assessment team will use the following criteria for the awards. Keep in mind that the standards required for the Silver and Gold Awards will be higher than those for the base level Bronze Award. The term ‘initiative’ applies to any activity, project, program or event of your club.

Club engagement and involvement - examples include surveys, presentations to the club, workshops or forums, decision-making processes.

Commitment - examples include decisions by the club Board, survey results, club environment pledge, and a club environment policy.

Effectiveness of Initiatives  -examples include outcomes of projects (number of trees planted, greenhouse gases avoided), partnerships, publicity generated, number of project participants.

Planning - examples include integrating environment into club strategies and action plans, or developing a specific environment action plan.

Communication - examples include articles in Rotary newsletters or magazines (club, district, region, international), reports to the club board and to members, presentations at seminars and conferences.

Collaborations and Partnerships - examples include working with other clubs on initiatives, partnering with the local councils, businesses and environment groups.

Leadership - examples include participating on an environment committee, initiating and leading initiatives, forming partnerships with other clubs and local governments, speaking at Rotary and community events, and helping other clubs with their environmental initiatives.

To ensure that you qualify for each level of the Awards, make sure you have completed all the requirements listed in the Checklist in Appendix 1. The term ‘initiative’ applies to any activity, project, project or event of your club. Examples of environment initiatives for each level of the Awards can be found in Appendix 2.

Appendix 3. provides some examples of activities that may help you in your planning for the EnviroClub Plus Awards.

The Awards, in the form of a framed certificate, will normally be presented at appropriate club or District event such as a club meeting, District Presidents’ meetings, District Conference, District Assembly or District or club changeover nights. Accompanying the certificate will be a citation which will be read out and featured in the District Newsletter immediately following the function.

Available online

Bronze Award: here

Bronze PLUS Award: here

 

Contact the DEC:

Pat Armstrong

District Environment Chair (District 9815)

Solar energy for community market US Virgin Islands

Mobile: 0419 381 790

Email: pat.arm@bigpond.net.au

 

Appendix 1. EnviroClub Awards: Requirements for the three levels of the Awards

	BRONZE (COMMITTED)	SILVER (ACTIVE)	GOLD (LEADING)
EnviroClub Awards These awards cover a club’s environmental achievements across the six ESRAG themes, and may include climate related initiatives                 EnviroClub PLUS Awards A club can apply for an optional PLUS Award in each level, by completing additional activities that focus specifically on climate change, ie. Bronze PLUS Award, Silver PLUS Award and Gold PLUS Award *	Basic Award – the club has documented its current and planned environmental initiatives, and made a commitment for further action	Medium Level Award - the club demonstrates that it has made some progress in delivering its Club Environment Plan	Advanced Award – the club demonstrates that it has made significant progress in delivering its Club Environment Plan
	Bronze Award – requirements Listed our club’s current environmental initiatives Conducted an information session with members to share current environmental achievements and to explore new ideas (resources) Made a club commitment (pledge) to be more environmentally active (sample) Formed a club Environment Committee, and selected an Environment Coordinator (job description) Prepared a Club Environment Policy sample policy Developed a Club Environment Action Plan or integrated environment into club plans templates and samples Estimated our club’s carbon emissions for meetings ESRAG Oceania carbon estimator ESRAG Europe carbon calculator ESRAG flight estimator Bronze PLUS Award – additional requirements   Completed all the requirements for the Bronze Award Identified ways to reduce our club’s carbon emissions without affecting club outcomes (examples) Considered options to further reduce our club’s carbon emissions by supporting carbon offset or compensation projects ESRAG Oceania carbon estimator Made a club commitment to take further climate actions (sample) Incorporated Club Carbon Reduction into either its Club Environment Action Plan or Club Action Plan (template and sample)	Silver Award – requirements The Club Environment Committee meets regularly to coordinate the delivery of the Club Environment Plan and has encouraged other club members to participate in the club’s environmental initiatives. Launched ONE new environment initiative OR expanded an existing initiative Maintained the achievements for the Bronze Award                       Silver PLUS Award – additional requirements   Completed all the requirements for the Silver Award Conducted an assessment of our club’s annual carbon emissions for meetings, club organised projects and events ESRAG Oceania carbon estimator ESRAG Europe carbon calculator ESRAG flight estimator Started to implement the Club Climate Reduction Actions Undertaken at least ONE new climate initiative Maintained the achievements for the Bronze PLUS Award	Gold Award – requirements The Club Environment Committee continues to coordinate the delivery of the Club Environment Plan and has encouraged other club members to lead and participate in its environmental initiatives Launched TWO new major initiatives OR continued TWO existing major initiatives and explored ways to increase their effectiveness Demonstrated leadership in environmental action (examples and case studies) Built partnerships for environmental initiatives (examples) Maintained the achievements for the Bronze and Silver Awards         Gold PLUS Award – additional requirements   Completed all the requirements for the Gold Award Continued to implement and monitor our club Climate Reduction Actions Repeated the assessment of our club’s annual carbon emissions ESRAG Oceania carbon estimator ESRAG Europe carbon calculator ESRAG flight estimator Demonstrated that our club’s activities and projects are estimated to be net zero (carbon) Maintained the achievements for the Silver PLUS Award

Appendix 2. Examples of environmental initiatives for each level of the Awards

BRONZE AWARD

Litter cleanups (as with Clean up Australia Day) (Circular Economy, Pollution) Build a vegetable garden at local schools (Sustainable Living) Participate in tree planting events (Biodiversity) Sell bee-friendly plants at local markets (Biodiversity, Sustainable Living) Install renewable energy systems in schools or community centres in developing countries (Climate, Sustainable Living) Support projects that build water tanks for homes in developing countries (Sustainable Living) Collect foreign coins and notes and return to UNICEF (Circular Economy) Include an environmental column in your club newsletter (Sustainable Living) Organise a club social night to attend a movie with an environmental focus (Sustainable Living) Host events to encourage club members and their families to be more environmentally friendly, for example (Sustainable Living, Climate): Install environmentally friendly systems in their homes, such as solar PV systems, solar hot water, water tanks, composting systems or vegetable gardens Use public transport or cycling or drive low carbon emission vehicle such as hybrid or electric cars

SILVER AWARD

Collect unwanted clothes, toys or household goods to donate to a Rotary opportunity shop (Circular Economy, Sustainable Living) Conduct your initiatives to coincide with special days, such as National Tree Day, World Bee Day, or World Environment Day (5 June  each year) https://www.esrag.org/esrag-unep-handbook (Sustainable Living, Biodiversity) Conduct community/club seminars on contemporary environmental issues, such as recycling or the use of plastics (Sustainable Living, Circular Economy, Pollution) Organise or participate in a community environmental festival (perhaps as a cluster project) (Sustainable Living)

GOLD AWARD

Work with a local school to support students to monitor the energy performance of their school or assess its carbon footprint or to measure its water usage (Climate, Circular Economy) Encourage schools to work together, for example, students from a secondary school could assist children from a primary school to plant trees in parks or bushland reserves. Such activities are best done in coordination with the relevant local government ES department. (Biodiversity) Organise a major cleanup of a beach or creek (Pollution, Sustainable Living) Organise a clothing swap day (Circular Economy, Sustainable Living Partner with a group to collect aluminium and plastic containers and transport these to a Container Deposit Centre (Circular Economy, Pollution) Collect unwanted hospital equipment and ship these to needy communities in Australia and overseas (Circular Economy)

Appendix 3. Examples of club climate-related activities

A  Preparation and planning

A1 Club preparation

1. Conducted information session for members on becoming a Climate Friendly Club (Information)
2. Made a commitment to become climate friendly. (e.g. RCAT pledge)
3. Developed a club policy on climate (Sample)
4. Formed an environment/climate committee that reports to the club Board

A2  Club planning

• Incorporated/integrated climate into its annual plans (examples)
• Set targets to reduce its annual carbon emissions
• Invested its funds in green banks

A3  Measurement and monitoring

• Conducted an assessment or audit of its annual carbon emissions (estimators and calculators)
• Developed a plan to regularly monitor its carbon emissions
• Entered its annual carbon emissions on the ESRAG website.(link to site)
• Measured its carbon handprint.(e.g. carbonhandprint.org)

A4  Carbon compensation and offsetting

• Paid another organisation to compensate for its travel-related carbon emissions (e.g. ESRAG Flight Carbon Estimator)
• Planted or maintained indigenous or native trees as a means to offset its carbon emissions (ESRAG Tree Planting Guide)
• Offset some of its carbon emissions through accredited carbon offset schemes (List of accredited schemes)

B  Club operations and projects

B1  Meetings and events

• Allows members to join club meetings through Zoom
• Holds all or some meetings online. e.g. on Zoom
• Provides low waste alternatives as gifts for guest speakers
• Gives plant seedlings to guests at functions
• Offers members plant-based alternatives to meat meals
• Minimises the amount of paper it uses by communicating electronically (through email, electronic newsletters, website and social media)
• Minimises the amount of energy used in each meeting (e.g. keeping the meeting room temperature at a comfortable level, using natural lighting where possible)
• Encourages members to either walk, use public transport or carpool when travelling to club meetings and events

B2  Conferences and District events

• Encourages members to either use public transport or carpool when travelling to live conferences
• A member of your club environment / climate committee is a member of your District environment/climate committee

B3  Projects

• Conducted a project to plant trees, grasses or bushes
• Participated in a mangrove restoration project
• Developed one or more flower gardens/nature strips
• Conducted a project to provide renewable energy (e.g. solar panels)
• Supported a project of another club or group to provide renewable energy (e.g. solar panels, wind turbines)
• Supported a project to increase energy efficiency of buildings
• Installed a vehicle electric battery recharging station
• Organised or contributed to an electric vehicle exhibition/event
• Organised or contributed to a project to support communities impacted by climate change (adaptation)
• Received a District or Global Grant for a climate-related project

C  Communication and engagement

C1  Club communication and engagement

• Invites guest speakers to speak on climate change at club meetings
• Invites members of the Club Environment Committee to inform the club about its climate initiatives at club meetings and through your club newsletter
• Seeks feedback from its members about its club’s climate initiatives
• Encourages members to be more climate friendly at home, in community groups and in their workplace
• (A member of your club has) given a presentation on one of your climate-related initiatives or projects to either another Rotary club or at a District/Zone/International event

C2  Community communication and engagement

• Promotes its climate activities on the club website, club newsletter and social media
• Conducted a climate education program for the community
• Conducted a climate education program for local schools

D  Partnerships

D1 Rotary partnerships

• Invited other Rotary or Rotaract clubs to participate in your club’s climate activities
• Assisted other Rotary or Rotaract clubs with their climate-related activities
• Assisted an Interact club with their climate-related activities

D2  Community partnerships

• Partnered with other community groups on climate-related projects (e.g. tree planting, mangrove restoration)
• Partnered with your local/city government on climate-related projects (e.g. tree planting, mangrove restoration)
• Invited members of community groups to give a presentation to your club on climate-related projects