The Environmental Sustainability Rotary Action Group (ESRAG)
will be attending RICON, the 2023 Rotary International Convention.
Pre-Convention:
Thursday 25th May: 12pm – 17:00pm
Thursday 25th May: 19pm – 21:00pm
Convention:
May 27-31, 2023
The Environmental Sustainability Rotary Action Group (ESRAG)
will be attending RICON, the 2023 Rotary International Convention.
Pre-Convention:
Thursday 25th May: 12pm – 17:00pm
Thursday 25th May: 19pm – 21:00pm
Convention:
May 27-31, 2023
CONVENTION
Join us at RICON
Carbon Footprint
Calculate & reduce your carbon footprint.
Transport
Learn how to get to your hotel from the airport and travel between venues.
Sustainable Tours & Events
Discover our range of sustainable tours & Events.
HOF
Visit ESRAG House of Friendship booth.
Volunteer
We need your help as volunteers at the convention.
Venues
Discover Melbourne Convention sustainability plans & make a lasting impact.
Melbourne
Learn more about Melbourne Sustainable city.
FAQ
Your Frequently Asked Questions answered
Green Events Handbook
Discover our Green Events Handbook support page.
EVENTS
Breakout Sessions
ESRAG presenters will facilitate has three exciting breakout sessions this year. Go along and support our presenters. The breakout sessions will take place during 27-31 May. This year’s breakout sessions are:
- Adopt a River (ESRAG and UNEP) by Salvador Rico: Monday, May 29 (1pm-2pm)
Adopt-A-River program, successfully piloted in District 9212 since 2020 is now available to Rotary Clubs around the World. Adopt-A-River is in partnership with UN Environment Programme and Rotary Clubs to help connect with their community leaders to protect and restore the rivers, lakes, watersheds and aquifers. Learn how through advocacy, environmental education, clean ups, restoration, citizen science action…
- Stop Plastic Pollution – Of Mothers, Children, Plastic and Waste by Karen Kendrick-Hands: Monday, May 29 (4pm-5pm)
From blocked drains to open fires, mismanaged plastic causes disease. A closer look reveals more devastating problems. Plastic additives leach into food and water, which are tied to fetal development issues, early-onset puberty, and reproductive disorders. Learn how reducing plastic reduces disease. See how to do it and lead your community to make an impactful change!
- A Plant-Rich Diet: Delicious Climate Action by Ambaree Majumder: Monday, May 29 (4pm-5pm)
Discover how eating a diet rich in plants has the potential to have a marked positive impact on the current climate crisis related to water, soils, extinction of plants and animals, consumption of natural resources, greenhouse gas emissions as well as human health. This solution-based session will be about this powerful and delicious but unexplored climate action that all of us can take to fight the climate change collectively…
Also Enjoy Plant Rich Diet in your menu at RICON Convention Center from local sourced products!
EVENTS
Action Summit
If you are arriving in Melbourne ahead of RICON, you will not want to miss this ESRAG Environment Action Summit on Thursday, 25 May. To be held in a central Melbourne location, this Summit will feature leading environmental keynote speakers and showcase a number of outstanding Rotary environmental projects. After this inspiring introduction, delegates will work in breakout groups to develop practical ideas for Rotary club and district environmental projects. These ideas for projects will then be collated and produced into environmental action guides and made available to Rotary clubs and districts worldwide. This will be the chance for you to share some of the innovative projects of your club and district and to also learn from speakers and other delegates.
EVENTS
Sustainable Events
After 4 years of hard-work, we will uncover ESRAG latest handbook: “How to organise Green Events”
Rotary clubs and districts have traditionally conducted in-person events, such as conferences, PETS and District Assemblies. The Covid pandemic compelled us to conduct these events virtually, but with the decline in number of cases of Covid worldwide, many clubs and districts are returning to in-person events. However, with the introduction of the Environment Area of Focus, we are all now more conscious of the environmental impacts of these events.
Following the success of the ESRAG & World Environment Day Handbook, developed in partnership with UNEP, ESRAG is finalising a second Handbook, giving Rotary clubs and districts guidelines and tools to help them reduce the environmental footprint of their events. This new handbook will be launched at RICON.
EVENTS
RAGTime
Following the inaugural and successful RAGTime in RICON 2022 in Houston, Texas, the DNA RAG is organising a second RAGTime in Melbourne on Thursday, 25 May in the Jardin Tan room at the glorious Royal Melbourne Botanic Gardens. This is a unique opportunity, over canapés, to greet members of ESRAG and to meet, learn from and share ideas for joint projects with members of the other 26 Rotary Action Groups. You will also be able to have informal conversations with Rotary staff and our Rotary International leaders. If you are planning to arrive early to RICON, this is an event that you will not want to miss.
OUR TEAM
Sustainable Planning
Melbourne is the first Rotary International Convention which includes a sustainability expert team supporting the Hosting Organizing Committee planning the convention.
Deniz Vural
ESRAG Board Member
Transport Coordinator
Barb Sheehan
Volunteer Coordinator
Fabienne Nichola
Communication Coordinator
Ted Waghorne
ESRAG Oceania Chair
Vic Grosjean
HOC Sustainability Director
Previous ESRAG Board Member
Discover our RI 1st Artificial Intelligence generated Rhapsody about our sustainable Melbourne convention!
Click here to view the song or press play to watch the video
Melbourne’s a city that’s alive
With culture, parks, and events that thrive,
But did you know it’s also green,
Sustainability’s its dream!
Sustainable Melbourne, that’s the place to be
Rotary International Convention, you’ll see,
Sustainability’s at the heart of all we do,
Come to Melbourne, and join us too.
The Convention Centre’s a leader in sustainability
Award-winning and green, the environment is a top priority,
From Solar panels, recycling, to energy-efficient light,
This venue’s doing it right.
The public transport here’s the best
Trains, trams, bikes, buses and all the rest,
The tram system’s the largest in the world,
Mostly run on solar, as we are moving forward.
During the Convention, transport’s free
Trains, trams, and buses, you’ll see,
It has sustainable ways to get around,
Reducing your carbon footprint, that’s profound.
When you fly in from far and wide
To Melbourne, you’ll take a ride,
But don’t forget to offset your footprint too,
ESRAG Carbon Offset fund, is there for you.
There’s more to Melbourne’s sustainability
Like reducing waste and preserving its quality,
“Love Food Hate Waste” helps reduce food waste,
While DIK save donated goods at fast-paced.
Sustainability’s important in Melbourne’s natural scene
Protected areas, like the Yarra River, stay pristine,
Rotaract initiatives like our “River Clean-up” helps restore,
Nature’s beauty, that’s what Melbourne has in store.
The built environment’s important too
Melbourne’s got green buildings, we’ll tell you true,
Like your hotels, which are energy-efficient,
Reducing your impact, that’s how it gets vibrant.
Rotary International Convention’s the place to be
In Melbourne, sustainability you’ll see,
From the city to the Convention Centre and all in between,
Melbourne’s the destination that lead Rotary to be Green.
Melbourne’s the place to be
Join us at RICON and you’ll see,
Sustainability’s at the heart, Rotarians are keen,
Melbourne, that’s how we’ll keep you green.
ESRAG’s Eco-Friendly Contributions to the Rotary International Convention
The ESRAG Rotary International Convention (RICON) Working Group (WG) is on a mission to make Rotary events more sustainable and eco-friendly. We want to encourage Rotary Family members from all around the world to get involved in making our environment healthier and combating climate change. We need to walk the talk by reducing the adverse environmental impact of Rotary meetings. This article summarizes key insights from ESRAG’s eco-friendly contributions to the Rotary International Convention in Melbourne.
Appreciating Pat Armstrong
A celebration of 2022-23 Chair Dr. Pat Armstrong, whose vision, gumption, and love laid the foundation for an exponential growth in ESRAG’s capacity to help Rotary meet the world’s accelerating environmental crises.
ESRAG’s Roadmap for 2023-24
Chair Yasar Atacik explains how ESRAG is working to expand its credibility and effectiveness in catalyzing environmental action throughout Rotary
Expo
Several ESRAG task forces, regional chapters, and project teams will have exhibits at the Rotary International Convention House of Friendship.
Attend the virtual expo booths for free by clicking below.
CHAPTER
Oceania
EXPO
LEARN MORE
Latin America
EXPO
LEARN MORE
East Asia
EXPO
LEARN MORE
South Asia
EXPO
LEARN MORE
Europe
EXPO
LEARN MORE
TASK FORCES
Clean Cooking
EXPO
LEARN MORE
Plant Rich Diet
EXPO
LEARN MORE
Climate
EXPO
LEARN MORE
Renewable Energy
EXPO
LEARN MORE
Food Waste
EXPO
LEARN MORE
INITIATIVES
EnROADS Climate Workshop
EXPO
LEARN MORE
Rotary Climate Action Teams
EXPO
LEARN MORE
Watersheds, Rivers, Oceans
EXPO
LEARN MORE
Lunch out of Landfills
EXPO
LEARN MORE
Plastic Solutions
EXPO
LEARN MORE
Refrigerant Solutions
EXPO
LEARN MORE
Pollinators
EXPO
LEARN MORE
RESOURCES
COP26
EXPO
LEARN MORE
Eco Clubs
EXPO
Global Footprint App
EXPO
LEARN MORE
Our Themes
The six key themes for ESRAG to make a difference.
Biodiversity
Sustainable Living
Pollution
Climate
Food Security
Circular Economy
Become a Member of ESRAG
Make a difference, take action, attend events,
learn more about environmental sustainability
and get involved.
Follow us & join the conversation.
#IFixThePlanet
