Environmental issues and awareness initiatives
Can you think of living in a house which is full of dust and trash? Your answer would probably be no. Nobody prefers to make a stay at a place which is not clean and full of mess. Nevertheless, the case is different when it comes to our environment where we actually live in and breathe in, but it is also a bitter fact that we, the human, are the main source of degrading our environment.
For example, according to the UN, the emission of CO2 (a major cause which leads to a dramatic rise in temperature) has increased up to 50% since 1990.
Moreover, it is not only the environment, but human health is also at risk due to environmental issues. The world health organization estimated that 90% humankind breathes in polluted air which results in seven million deaths a year.
These are the figures which show despicable behaviour towards our environment. However, in order to secure our environment from further destruction and chaos, the very first step to be taken should be providing awareness to people about environmental issues.
Firstly, schools can play a very productive role in terms of giving awareness to students about environmental issues. Before doing that, teachers must ensure that students understand environmental issues, and why it is important for humans to protect, preserve, and respect our environment.
School management should conduct seminars in order to address students about environmental issues and how they can aid to save our environment from plunging into further turmoil. There should be awareness campaigns arranged from the students’ side so that they can alert people in their communities regarding the miserable environment. In addition, students should be given lectures and books about environmental issues, its effects, and ideas and initiatives for solving these issues. Once they are well acknowledged about environmental issues, they can also help their family, friends, and community cognize the threat of the environmental catastrophe. In addition, they can involve themselves in such innovative environmental issues.
Secondly, the media, too, is a key instrument in terms of providing awareness about environmental issues among the people. Government officials, scientists, and journalists can acknowledge viewers about environmental issues by conducting talk shows and awareness programs regarding environmental issues.
Government officials can also take help from NGOs in order to introduce awareness programs for the public. In addition, print media is also pivotal to address readers about environmental issues emerging each day and how people can prevent these issues by adopting eco-friendly behaviour. For example, instead of driving to work, or school, people should prefer public transportation, go for carpooling or adopt riding bicycles; resultantly, cutting down the emissions of greenhouse gases in the environment.
According to EPA transportation contributes to 33% of CO2 in the atmosphere.
Thirdly, people can run social media awareness campaigns on different social platforms. For example, on Twitter, Facebook, and other socializing applications government officials, social activists, and environmental experts can pass on their messages towards people about serious environmental problems.
An estimated 3.6 billion people are active on social media, so in this way, millions of people can have the access to information about environmental issues and solutions regarding it.
To sum up, people would no more take the environment for granted when they would be well intimidated about environmental issues. By taking these innovative steps, we can successfully preserve our environment for not only ourselves as well for the next generation.