The third annual No Impact Week will focus on improving and protecting the environment through a series of events designed to promote eco-friendly behaviors concerning food, energy, water and waste.

Georgia Sothern University’s Center for Sustainability and the University Wellness Program will host the only third consecutive year of No Impact Week in the United States from April 14 to April 22.

“No Impact Week engages our campus in extended sustainability awareness with challenges, action and positive choices that are within our control,” Lissa Leege, director of the Center for Sustainability, said in a news release.

Over the course of the week, over 25 events will be offered to students and outreach centers will also contribute to No Impact Week by hosting programs for the public.

Each day will hold events in relation to a specific theme including consumption, trash, food, water, energy and giving back.

The Campus Life Enrichment Committee, the Multicultural Student Center, the Office of the Vice President for Research and Economic Development and the College of Science and Mathematics each sponsor the various events throughout the week.

Sunday will kick off the week by focusing on consumption with clothing and book drives held throughout the week.

The clothing drive will be located at the RAC and the book drive will be held at the Russell Union, Henderson Library, Carroll Building and the Biology Building.

Monday will focus on trash with a ‘Swap, Don’t Shop!’ event from 11 a.m.–1 p.m. at the Rotunda. Students will be able to swap out their unwanted items, shoes and accessories for another student’s items.

Transportation will be the focus for Wednesday featuring Van Jones, “New York Times” best-selling author, who will present at 7 p.m. in the Performing Arts Center.

Jones is the founder of Green for All, is a national organization that supports green jobs in disadvantaged communities and has been an advisor for green jobs to the Obama White House.

An Earth Day festival will be held on Thursday at the Rotunda from 10 a.m.–2 p.m. providing students the chance to cheer on their favorite mode of transportation, such as bikes, skateboard, bus and car as they are raced by students and faculty to the RAC and back.

No Impact Week will be wrapped up on April 22 with the celebration of Earth Day. An energy panel will be in the Nessmith-Lane Conference Center from 6:30–8 p.m.

Leege said, “It gives participants power in the face of difficult environmental problems and shows us collectively, that our small lifestyle changes can result in a large impact on the planet.”

Tayler Critchlow contributed to this this report.