GAA clubs taking action for Earth Day
Earth Day takes place on April 22.
The theme for this year’s Earth Day, which is being marked across the world on Saturday 22 April, is ‘Invest in our Planet’. In 2023, GAA, LGFA and Camogie Clubs across Ireland are investing their time, energy and resources in actions to protect our planet and to secure the health and sustainability of our clubs and communities for future generations.
Almost 200 clubs across Ireland are signed up to the GAA’s Green Club Programme and are taking action in the areas of Energy, Water, Waste, Biodiversity and Transport to protect the environment, to future-proof their clubs and to preserve the natural heritage of their local communities.
Since the Green Club Programme began in 2020, Green Teams in Gaelic Games clubs from Malin to Mizen have been planting native trees, creating pollinator and bird-friendly habitats, saving money and natural resources through energy generation and water management, organising cycle buses and carpools, eliminating single-use plastic bottles and cups and working with their communities to protect river and waterways.
The GAA Green Clubs are supported in their actions by a Green Club Toolkit, designed specifically for the challenges and realities of volunteer-led GAA Clubs.
Interested in getting involved? The Green Club Toolkit is freely available at https://learning.gaa.ie/greenclub/ with easy-to-use templates, checklists and action ideas as well as videos and case studies from clubs across the country.
Not sure where to start? Visit the interactive Green Club at https://courses.gaa.ie/GreenClubInteractive/story.html for ideas!
The GAA is a recognised UN Sustainable Development Goal Champion.