Image Credit: NASA
This October there are awareness days for freshwater dolphins, lemurs and okapi as well as days to raise awareness of e-waste, human habitats and sustainability.
The key environmental dates, awareness days, weeks, months and environmental events in October 2024.
Date: 3rd October
A UN designated day, World Habitat Day is celebrated on the first Monday in October and launches Urban October.
The day recognises the basic right of all to adequate shelter.
Date: 2nd October 2024
Energy Efficiency Day is a US based day to encourage everyone to make thier home more energy efficient as a way to save enrgy and cut pollution.
It is held on the first Wednesday in October each year.
Date: 4th October
World Animal Day was created to raise the status of animals in order to improve welfare standards around the globe.
Coordinated by the Naturewatch Foundation, to create a world where animals are always recognised as sentient beings.
Date: 14th October
International E-Waste Day was founded to raise the profile of the global e-waste issue and encourage everyone to recycle e-waste, no matter how small.
It also promotes the correct treatment of electrical and electronic equipment to enable reuse, refurbishment and recycling.
Date: 14th October
World Migratory Bird Day is held on the second Saturday of May and October each year. Part of the United Nations Environment Programme it focuses on a theme each year.
The theme for 2024 is Water which will focus on the topic of water and its importance for migratory birds.
Date: 17th October
International Sawfish Day is a day to celebrate this endangered species and to highlight endangered sawfish and the challenges they face in our world's oceans.
Date: 18th October
World Okapi Day is aday to celbrate and educate people about the okapi, which is also known as the forest giraffe, Congolese giraffe and zebra giraffe, is native to the Democratic Republic of the Congo in central Africa.
Date: 23rd October 2024
Sustainability Day is held on the last Wednesday in October.
Date: 20th October
International Sloth Day is a day to to learn about these amazing animals, raise awareness about the problems they are facing.
Native to south and central America, they are in danger from hunters and poachers.
Date: 22nd October
International Wombat Day is celebrated mainly in the wombat's homeland of Australia, where it celebrates these marsupials.
Wombats are endangered due to its small population size, predation by wild dogs, competition for food because of overgrazing by cattle and sheep, and disease.
Date: 23rd October
The snow leopard, or ounce, is a species of large cat native to the mountain ranges of Central and South Asia.
Date: 24th October
International Day of Climate Action is organised by 350.org to combat climate change.
Date: 24th October
There are five species of dolphin that live exclusively in freshwater rivers. These relatively small creature's habitat has been adversely affected by agricultural, ranching and industrial activities, as well as by the use of dams for hydroelectric power.
This day raises awareness of freshwater dolphins and the challenges that they face.
Date: 25th October 2024
World Lemur Day is celebrated on the last Friday of October. Lemurs are facing extinction in their native Madagascar due to deforestation, hunting for bushmeat, live capture for the exotic pet trade, and climate change.
More key environmental dates
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