Plan Bee

Many of us know that bees are small but mighty insects that play a vital role in the natural world – by pollinating flowering plants, helping ecosystems thrive and supporting biodiversity. But did you know that they are also essential to global food production?

According to the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations, a third of the world’s food production depends on bees. Honeybees in particular are responsible for pollinating over 70 per cent of leading crops, including fruits, vegetables, and nuts.

Without bees, the world would look very different – not least because humans, as well as many other species, may simply not survive.

And yet it is bees whose survival is under threat, due to habitat loss, use of pesticides and the effects of climate change. So dramatic has their decline been that it has even been termed a ‘bee population collapse’.

The situation is grave – but on World Bee Day, let’s focus on some recent, positive news: Bee populations in some Asian countries are remaining stable or growing, likely due to the growth of commercial beekeeping; the European Commission recently voted in favour of a ban on bee-harming neonicotinoids on all outdoor crops; and new innovations such as the ‘honeybee superfood’ that was developed by scientists at Oxford University could help sustain bee populations, and even increase them.

Change at policy-level is needed to make truly transformational change – but even small actions by individuals, when multiplied across communities, add up.

On World Bee Day, here are five actions you can take right now:

1. Plant bee-friendly flowers (in gardens, pots or window boxes). These include lavender, sunflowers, herbs and wildflowers (where climate allows)
2. Reduce pesticide use in your garden. Use natural methods instead.
3. Buy locally produced honey. Supporting pollinator-friendly farms helps maintain healthy ecosystems and raises awareness about bee conservation.
4. Take a bee-keeping workshop organised by The Hub. Take a look at our events calendar.
5. Raise awareness. Knowledge leads to action – and small actions add up. Run a school workshop, set up community planting days, share bee-friendly tips with your neighbours.

This award-winning photograph was shortlisted in the ‘Solutions’ category of the COP28 Photography Competition, a collaboration between The Climate Tribe and the Hamdan bin Mohamed bin Rashid al Maktoum International Photography Award (HIPA). The Climate Tribe has partnered with HIPA to leverage the power of photography to inspire global awareness of sustainability and advance climate action.