Do you need a bath? ... hang on ... Do you REALLY need a bath?

Do you need a bath? Hang on … do you REALLY need a bath? Do you need one every day? Could you skip a bath today, or have a shower instead? Having ‘clean water and sanitation’, sits alongside ‘climate action’ as one of the Sustainable Development Goals – and it’s Global Goals Week – a time for thinking about other children all around the world – and how we can help end global poverty whilst protecting our planet. Can you imagine waking up before dawn to trek to the nearest water source, and then carrying a filled water container – without spilling it – and doing that every day?Women and children around the world, spend 200 million hours each day collecting water.

Your challenge this week is to avoid a bath, or two - atypical bath uses 80 litres of water! Reducing our water consumption can help combat climate change. Pumping, treating, delivering and disposing of cold water causes carbon emissions, on top of those resulting from heating the water - and all to provide us with a nice hot bath.

Remember to HIT THE RED BUTTON and tell us when you have saved water, and reduced your carbon emissions this week!

Today, a change in climate is felt primarily through a change in water. Climate change is disrupting weather patterns, leading to extreme weather events, unpredictable water availability, exacerbating water scarcity and contaminating water supplies. Such impacts can drastically affect the quantity and quality of water that children need to survive.

What have you heard about the Sustainable Development Goals? The 17 goals were adopted by all United Nations member states in 2015. They set out a 15 year plan – a 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. They are a universal call to action to end poverty, protect the planet and improve the lives and prospects of everyone, everywhere. Can you try and guess what the goals might be – how many did you get? Here’s a 6 minute film about the Sustainable Development Goals – introduced by Malala Yousafzai

As well as being Global Goals Week, it is also Great Big Green Week. Ever wondered who else cares about climate change?– well this week is the biggest celebration of action on climate change that the UK has ever seen – over 3,000 events are expected around the country. Go to https://greatbiggreenweek.comto find your nearest events– check out shop windows, community stalls, concerts, litter picks, nature walks, green bazaars, and much more besides!

When you have helped to tackled climate change from your bathroom – don’t forget to HIT THE RED BUTTON and let us know!