The war against single use plastic straws (and other similar products) by such campaigns has led to them being replaced in a lot of places with eco-friendly products. Several individuals across the world have joined hands to demand immediate climate action from their local, state and national elected China Plastic Injection Custom Molding representatives. It is responsible for a large chunk of greenhouse gas emissions across the world. What we need is an entire ecosystem coming together including policy makers, think tanks, creative industry, media, academia and civil society to tackle our climate challenges.Choose WiselyThose of us reading this and other similar articles are part of the privileged few who can choose to even attempt to live sustainably.Many cities today are being designed keeping mobility at the core. Our planet is capable of living without us in some form or the other – but are we capable of living without it? With every New Year comes the time of making resolutions — promises, pacts and commitments for personal wealth, happiness and prosperity.
A recent study that found Australian plastic among waste contaminating Indonesian food chains is direct evidence.Start a Movement Engage and participate in the movements around you. It will require measures on a global scale, but there are individual actions that each one of us can take in our day-to-day lives to reduce our carbon footprints. Hence, we need to consume consciously —before buying anything, ask yourself why are you purchasing the item? Do you really need it or just want it? Where has it come from? What could the impacts of its production and end of life be? Let’s learn to appreciate what we already have and put that extra effort into building and sustaining relationships instead of things.Sustainability is a complex and often misunderstood and misquoted term. What exactly are we trying to sustain? Why are we trying to sustain it? When we do something ‘sustainable’ are we actually creating unintended consequences that are likely to create further complications? Are we trying to sustain the planet only for our benefit or do we realise and internalise the importance of other creatures living along side us? Do we realise that we need the planet for our survival and not the other way around?Time to ActAtul Bagai UNEP, India Country Head says that the United Nations Environment Program in India is committed to working on solving environmental issues here. "History has taught us that only public led revolutions has have brought change. The other fallacy that we have conceived over the years is the concept of ‘away’.2 billion pounds of plastics into our oceans every year —and that’s just ONE waste stream.
This year let’s make an important resolution — to protect, preserve and serve when our planetary health is in dire straits. A movement that started with a teenage girl in Sweden has mobilised millions across the world to strike against climate inaction, many of whom are children and young adults. Optimising our transportation could help ease urban air pollution. We need to raise our voices NOW so that our kids’ future is safe," says Bhavreen Kandhari, an environmentalist.As we move into a new decade and closer to a climate catastrophe as most scientists are predicting, there is an increasing need to wake up from our deep slumber and act because like Greta rightly said: "I want you to act as if our house is on fire. Through our land and river-based technology solutions, we hope to reduce ocean plastic pollution where it begins.A simple example could be — give fruits or home cooked meals to the poor on the road instead of packaged food to avoid creation of trash."Latika Thukral founder, I Am Gurgaon feels that there is a sense of indifference for the environment by the government.Having started a successful campaign in 2017 called ‘No Straws Attached’, I can say today that refusing a single use plastic straw won’t change the world, but it has the power to start a conversation and movement that will eventually change the world. If our kitchen waste is capable of reviving soil health and nurturing life and increase carbon sequestration then it’s time we all looked into our dustbins and re-evaluated the resources we have mistakenly termed as waste. The science of ‘Climate Change’ is complex and overwhelming for a layperson. Sumeet Bodington, chief development officer, Renew Oceans Foundation says that India is undergoing rapid urbanisation and industrialisation.Consume ConsciouslyDo we really need multiple pairs of shoes, pants, bags and almost everything else? Our lives have become so inextricably tied to the material things we own (and want to own) that we often forget that they are ‘just’ things and nothing more.
The citizen’s movement that sprung up to protect the Aravallis in Gurgaon (#AravalliBachao) is a perfect example of collective action to protect our forests from greedy land sharks and politicians." So, here are a few things that you can do in your daily lives to participate in the global movement to prevent catastrophic damage to other species, including our own on this planet.Re-evaluate ‘waste’Why do we term something as waste? Is it only because it does not serve its original purpose? Are you bored of it and looking for the next new thing? Owing to this mindset our planet is literally drowning in the ‘waste’ that we are constantly churning out? In India alone, The Ganges is responsible for carrying up to 1. There are many for whom it just isn’t a choice – think of the people who are repeatedly impacted by natural disasters or even manmade ones like the hurricanes in The Bahamas or the Flint Water Crisis or even the ones for whom basic food and shelter is a priority for themselves and their families.The Way AheadThe transportation sector plays a key role in economic activity and social integration but it also relies on fossil fuels. Help your local fruit and vegetable vendors understand the benefit of cloth versus plastic bags.
