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Lewis Pugh, David de Rothschild and Jan Leeming among
first wave of new green ambassadors
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Year of Green Action inspires groundswell of
change
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Gove calls on businesses to lead the way in
environmental action
Leading environmentalists have today pledged
to champion and promote the Year of Green Action.
Environment Secretary has welcomed UN Patron of the
Oceans and endurance swimmer Lewis Pugh, environmentalist David
de Rothschild and TV presenter Jan Leeming, who will all help to
educate and inspire the next generation of environmental
leaders.
They are among the first ambassadors to join
the Year of Green Action, a year-long drive to connect more
people with the environment and raise awareness about the simple
steps everyone can take – in their home, garden, workplace or
school – to make a difference to the natural world.
Environment Secretary said:
“The natural world is our greatest asset and
we all have a responsibility and role to play in protecting it
for generations to come.
“These new ambassadors have shown tremendous
passion in their drive for environmental protection and have been
tenacious in their desire to raise awareness, from swimming the
length of the English Channel to sailing a recyclable boat made
from reclaimed plastic bottles."
“I am delighted to have them on board to
champion the Year of Green Action and inspire
change.”
The Year of Green Action is a year-long
initiative to get more people from all backgrounds involved in
projects to improve the environment.
It provides a focal point for organisations,
individuals, communities and businesses to learn more about their
environmental impact, take action to reduce it, and spread the
word on environmental issues.
The newly-announced ambassadors
are:
- UN Patron of the Seas Lewis Pugh, an
ocean advocate and endurance swimmer;
- Adventurer and environmentalist David de
Rothschild, who sailed across the Pacific Ocean in 2009
on a entirely recyclable boat made using 12,500 reclaimed plastic
bottles;
- TV presenter and newsreader Jan Leeming, a keen
supporter of environmental issues, who has also spent time
working on cheetah conservation projects in South Africa;
- Ethical lifestyle blogger Besma
Whayeb;
-
Sian Conway, Green & Eco Influencer
of the Year 2018;
- Explorer, entomologist, zoologist and
broadcaster George McGavin;
-
Professor Tim Jackson, Director of the Centre
for the Understanding of Sustainable Prosperity;
- Founded of Earth Changers sustainable travel
company Vicky Smith;
- Blogger and social influencer Izzy
McLeod; and
-
Lucy Finlay MBE, Founder of Social Enterprise
Mark CI.
UN Patron of the Oceans Lewis
Pugh said:
“I have been swimming for 32 years and over
that period of time, I've seen our oceans change
completely. That’s why I am delighted to support the Year of
Green Action and help share the importance of protecting our
oceans and tackling plastic pollution.
“We need urgent action. Our greatest hope is
that there are 66 million people in the United Kingdom. Any
problem, however colossal, becomes manageable when divided by 66
million. If we all play our part, we can fix this.
“We can change our behaviour or we will change
our planet. We now need urgent action”.
The Environment Secretary has also called on
businesses up and down the country to pledge support for the Year
of Green Action, with representatives from some of the UK’s
biggest businesses attending a parliamentary reception this
evening.
The Year of Green Action is a leading pledge
from the government’s 25 Year Environment Plan, an ambitious
blueprint to improve the environment within a
generation.
Since its launch in January, the government
has outlined ambitious plans to overhaul the waste system and
transform household recycling, pledged support for charity Step
Up to Serve’s #iwillfornature campaign, and set out plans to
protect some of the country’s rarest and most threatened
fungi.
