World Environment Day 2026 – Learning for a Sustainable Future
Learning for a Sustainable Future
Education is one of the most powerful tools for environmental change. Across Soroptimist International, clubs are helping women, girls and communities understand climate risks, make informed choices and take practical action.
From school gardens and climate awareness panels to everyday lifestyle changes and digital campaigns, these projects show how environmental learning can take many forms. By sharing knowledge, building skills and encouraging discussion, Soroptimists are supporting women and young people to become more confident environmental leaders in their homes, schools and communities.
SI Pampanga, Philippines, SIA
Gulayan sa Paaralan
Soroptimist International of Pampanga brought its Urban Gardening Awareness Campaign to Sindalan National High School, inspiring students, teachers and the wider school community to embrace sustainability and food security through the “Gulayan sa Paaralan” — or “School Garden” — initiative.
Girls from economically challenged backgrounds were trained to establish their own small urban or container gardens at home, growing organic vegetables, medicinal plants and ornamentals. These skills help families supplement their food supply and open a pathway to additional income through selling produce within their communities.
By placing young girls at the centre of this initiative, SI Pampanga is nurturing a love for urban gardening and a generation of environmentally conscious leaders — young women who understand that caring for the earth and caring for their communities are one and the same.
The initiative promotes sustainability and nutrition, while also encouraging community care, empowerment and environmental stewardship among young learners. Through practical education, the girls learned how to contribute to their families’ food security, generate additional income and take action for a more sustainable future.
Soroptimist Union of Türkiye, SIE
Women Leading Climate Awareness in Türkiye
As climate change continues to reshape communities worldwide, its impact is felt unevenly, with women and girls often among the most affected. Recognising both their vulnerability and their potential as agents of change, Turkish Soroptimists have taken steps to place women at the centre of environmental dialogue and action.
In line with the European Union’s 2050 climate neutrality goals and national sustainability priorities, the Turkish Soroptimists organised a high-level panel during Environment Week on 4 June at the Ayazağa Campus of Istanbul Technical University. The initiative aimed to raise awareness among university students, civil society and the wider community about the specific impacts of the climate crisis on women.
The panel brought together leading voices in environmental science and advocacy, including Ms Deniz Ataç, Chair of the Board of the TEMA Foundation, and Professor Dr Mikdat Kadıoğlu, an expert in climate science. The discussion was moderated by Professor Müfide Banar and attended by Betül Elmasoğlu, President of the Turkish Union.
Reaching approximately 100 participants, the panel created a platform for dialogue on women’s health, economic stability and social wellbeing in the context of climate change. It also encouraged participants to reflect on practical measures to strengthen resilience within their communities.
Soroptimist Club of Umeå-Sävar, Sweden, SIE
Women Leading Everyday Climate Action in Sweden
Addressing climate change does not always begin with large-scale initiatives. It often starts with individual awareness and daily choices. In Sweden, the Soroptimists of Umeå-Sävar embraced this approach by developing a project that places women at the heart of sustainable lifestyle transformation.
Over the course of a year, climate action became an integral part of their regular club meetings. Each month, a new theme was introduced, encouraging members to reflect on their habits and adopt more sustainable practices in daily life. These included reducing food waste, lowering energy and water consumption, making more conscious purchasing decisions and rethinking travel habits.
Although the project directly involved around 20 participants, its wider impact extends beyond this number. Through conversations with family, friends and the wider community, participants helped to spread awareness and inspire more responsible behaviours.
The initiative also highlights the importance of education and continuous learning. Each theme provided an opportunity to deepen understanding of the climate crisis and explore practical and accessible solutions. Participation remained voluntary, creating a supportive environment where everyone could engage at their own pace.
Through their commitment, the Soroptimists show that lasting environmental change can be driven by consistent, everyday choices.
SI Chaguanas, Trinidad and Tobago, SIGBI
Earth Day and World Environment Day Awareness
To commemorate Earth Day and World Environment Day in 2025, SI Chaguanas created eleven social media posts to raise planet consciousness and encourage people to become planet champions.
The posts covered a range of environmental subjects. Earth Day topics included the impact of artificial intelligence on the environment, the plastic credit dilemma, fast fashion, the “14 Rs of Waste Wisdom” and coral reefs in danger.
For World Environment Day, the club focused on the theme of ending plastic pollution. Posts covered beating pollution, the importance of tackling plastic pollution, green skills for a clean future, moving towards a circular economy and practical ways to get started through small but impactful changes.
Through this awareness-raising campaign, SI Chaguanas used digital platforms to share accessible environmental information and encourage everyday action. The campaign reflected the role of education in helping individuals and communities understand environmental issues and make more sustainable choices. It also showed how clubs can use social media to extend the reach of local environmental messages and connect global observance days with practical community action.
SI South Perth, Australia
Plastic Free July Event
SI South Perth led a Plastic Free July campaign to raise awareness of the damage caused by single-use plastics to marine and terrestrial ecosystems.
Club members encouraged participants to take part by pledging to avoid a specific type of single-use plastic product for the month of July, and preferably beyond. The project also provided practical alternatives, including reusable produce nets, helping people make small but meaningful changes in daily life.
Working with the Plastic Free Foundation, the campaign moved beyond awareness by encouraging personal accountability and behaviour change. It showed how education can support more sustainable choices, especially when people are given clear information and practical ways to act.
SI Griffith, Australia
Recycling Ripple: Small Acts, Big Impacts
SI Griffith’s Recycling Ripple project is a 12-month member-led initiative focused on monthly environmental themes, local recycling options and community sustainability education.
Through the project, members explored ways to decrease plastic waste, promote responsible recycling and share practical information with their community. By focusing on small monthly actions, the initiative encouraged people to see environmental responsibility as something that can be built into everyday life.
Working with local businesses, the project helped raise awareness of available recycling options and supported wider conversations about waste reduction and climate action. It reflects the value of steady, local education in helping communities make more informed environmental choices.