World Environment Day celebrated on June 5th every year serves as one of the global platform for creating awareness as well as taking action on important environmental issues. In over hundred countries, it has grown into a global movement involving millions of individuals, which was established by the United Nations in the year 1974. World Environment Day acts as a reminder for protecting our planet earth and requires collective effort as well as individual responsibility. Every small step taken by communities as well as the individuals is a contribution to a larger movement to a sustainable & resilient planet. The theme for this year is “Land, Restoration, Desertification and Drought Resilience”. On this occasion of World Environment Day let us look at the five impactful ways through which communities & individuals can contribute to a better planet.
Reducing waste
Today, the global waste crisis is a significant environmental challenge. The planet earth generates over two billion of tons of municipal solid waste every year with at least thirty three percent of which is not managed in an environmentally safe manner, as per World Bank. A severe threat to the terrestrial & marine ecosystems is the plastic waste.
Therefore, some of the practical steps for reducing waste include minimizing single-use plastics, recycling & composting and conscious consumerism. A most effective way of reducing waste is to cut down on single-use plastics and these comprise items such as plastic straws, bottles, bags & packaging. People should rather opt for reusable alternatives which include stainless steel water bottles, cloth bags & bamboo straws.
Proper waste segregation will help in decreasing the amount of waste which ends up in landfills to a greater extent. Waste should be classified into metals, glass, certain plastics & recycle paper. Also, composting organic waste food such as yard trimmings, food scraps can change waste into valuable nutrients for soil, promoting a circular economy. Purchasing products with minimal packaging and selecting durable over disposable items as well as supporting brands which prioritize sustainability will make a huge difference. Furthermore, repairing the products instead of replacing them will help in extending the products’ life cycle and decrease waste.
“World Environment Day calls for industries to embrace sustainable development, with the technology sector leading the charge,” says Piyush Somani, Chairman, CMD & CEO, ESDS Software Solutions.
“This journey towards sustainability is not one that can be traversed alone. It requires collective action and industry-wide collaboration. As we observe World Environment Day, let us reaffirm our commitment to innovation that fosters ecological sustainability, shaping a resilient future for future generations," he adds.
Conserving water
Water - the finite resource essential for all life forms as well as critical to numerous human activities is becoming a scarce resource today owing to pressing issues in several parts of the world due to climate change & population growth. By 2025, 1.8 billion people will be residing in regions with complete water scarcity.
Some of the important strategies for Water Conservation include efficient household practices, greywater recycling, and sustainable landscaping. Simple changes at your residences can result in substantial saving of water. Fixing leaks, leveraging water-efficient fixtures & adopting practices such as turning off the tap while brushing teeth can help in saving gallons and gallons of water on a daily basis. Also, water conservation in industries or factories is not only an environmental responsibility however a practical approach for reducing operational costs & ensuring sustainability. Industries can decrease their water footprint to a greater extent by implementing efficient technologies, conducting water audits, maximizing process efficiencies, detecting & repairing leaks & enhancing cooling & landscaping practices. Furthermore, these efforts help in contributing to the broader objective of sustainable industrial development & environmental stewardship.
Embracing Sustainable Energy
Fossil fuels currently account for a significant share of global energy consumption are some of the major source of greenhouse gas emissions. Furthermore, transitioning to renewable energy sources such as solar, wind, as well as hydroelectric power which are critical for mitigating climate change & decreasing environmental degradation. Installing solar panels in place of electricity & solar water heaters can significantly decrease the resilience on fossil fuels. Organizations as well as governments across the globe render subsidies as well as incentives for encouraging the adoption of solar technology. Although large-scale wind farms are more common in all countries, small wind turbines can be utilized for community-based or residential power generation. Also, improving energy efficiency at homes & businesses can result in significant reductions in energy consumption and these include usage of energy-efficient appliances, better insulation & LED lighting.
Protecting Biodiversity
While biodiversity which is the variety of life on earth is crucial for the health & stability of the ecosystem pollution, overexploitation, habitat destruction, climate change have resulted in an alarming rate of extinction of species. According to the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services around one million species are at risk of extinction. Hence to preserve the biodiversity we should either engage in projects or support projects which help in restoring degraded habitats, which include reforestation, coral reef rehabilitation which would help in reviving the ecosystems and support biodiversity.
“The future of a sustainable environment in the industry includes integrating circular economy principles, advancing green technology innovations, and fostering collaborative efforts across sectors,” says Mahesh Anand, President, Nippon Paint India (Decorative Division).
Supporting Environmental Education
Environmental education plays a major role in creating awareness as well as inspiring action. People are more likely to adopt sustainable practices as well as advocate for policies which protect the earth through the understanding of the impact of human activities on the environment. Some of the ways through which environmental education can be promoted include encouraging schools as well as universities for incorporating environmental education into their curricula as these would facilitate in instilling a sense of responsibility as well as knowledge regarding the environmental issues from a very young age.
Participating & supporting in community-based environmental education programs like workshops, nature excursions, seminars will help in spreading awareness & engaging diverse groups in sustainability efforts.
Let us commit to make these changes in our daily lives & inspiring others to do the same as we celebrate World Environment Day. Our actions today will shape the future of our planet which will help in ensuring more sustainable place for our future generations.
