#Beat Plastic Pollution
Our environment is going through a crisis. Devoting a day to create awareness about the environment and the challenges it is facing is important.
Since 1974, the United Nations has been observing June 5 as World Environment Day. It is celebrated in more than 100 countries and this year marks its 50th anniversary. This day helps us understand more about the dangers to the environment and the need to protect and conserve it.
Several factors such as industrial emissions, releasing industrial effluents into water bodies, overuse of plastic and deforestation have led to environmental pollution. These issues, in addition to others that cause pollution need to be addressed properly. The Government, industries, communities and individuals have to start acting responsibly in order to prevent environmental pollution.
Children can play a major role in saving our environment by promoting the message of World Environment Day. Every year the UN selects a topic of concern for that year. The theme of this year is ‘Solutions to Plastic Pollution’. This year’s hashtag and slogan is #Beat Plastic Pollution.
More than 400 million tonnes of plastic is produced every year worldwide, half of which is designed to be used only once. An estimated 19-23 million tonnes end up in lakes, rivers and seas annually. This affects our biodiversity and pollutes our ecosystem right from the mountains to the ocean floor. This is a major concern for our survival. That is why this topic is selected this year. We need to create awareness among the public about the dangers and educate them about reuse and recycling and proper waste management.
Let us be vigilant about this and try to make a difference by avoiding the use of single-use plastics.
