Do you often find yourself wondering how to create a better and brighter future for your children? Of course, you are working day in and day out so that they get the best education, the best clothes, and the best housing.
But have you ever thought about how you will protect your children from ever-increasing pollution, which is a major health hazard? Or climate change? Or provide them accessibility to the depleting natural resources?
The only solution to this is being environmentally aware, yourself, as well as educating your children about the same. Taking the initiative does not just stop here; informing your family and friends and spreading awareness amongst your community is just as important.
The Importance of being environmentally aware-:
Awareness refers to understanding, being informed, and being conscious about something.
Hence, being environmentally aware is important to understand the threats our environment and Earth face every day. Be it the threat of climate change, global warming, or pollution from different sources.
It becomes important to realize how we treat our environment, stop its destruction, reduce the harm we have done—and focus on replenishing and restoring what we have lost.
Need for better Environmental Health
Environmental Health – A term used to define the effect of the environment (both natural and Built) on human health. The relationship shared by humans and the environment is such that if the environment around you is healthy, you will be healthy too.
If you take care of the environment, nurture it and live an eco-friendly life, nature will give it all back to you in the form of clean and breathable air, healthy food, and clean water; all the things essential for good health.
With increasing industries and several technological advancements, air pollution has reached catastrophic levels. And this is one of the most significant health concerns and has led to an umpteen number of health problems.
Thousands of people suffer from many respiratory problems, heart disease, cancer, etc. As a result, there is a dire need to understand the importance of preserving our environment and taking initiatives to clean it.
For Sustainable development
Being environmentally aware helps us understand the true meaning of sustainability. In today’s times, environmental issues have become of greatest concern for most countries in the world.
Environmental problems such as deforestation, loss of natural resources and biodiversity, ozone depletion, climate change, and global warming are all burning issues in the current situation.
Bringing sustainability and working on sustainable development is the need of the hour. Sustainability is nothing but a balance of the environment, equity, and economy. Practising sustainability focuses on using resources more conservatively so that we can develop resilient communities and plan for a better future for the upcoming generations.
The United Nations have adopted many Sustainable Development Goals. These goals were designed for the development of a better future for all.
They work towards eradicating poverty and hunger, providing good health, quality education, gender equality, clean water and sanitation, economic growth, reduced inequalities, climate action, and many others.
To sum it up, planning for the future is one of the most important components of environmental awareness.
Tackling Global Warming
Global warming is one of the greatest threats to our planet, and we need to take immediate action to curb this problem.
One of the most essential eco-friendly activities that you can incorporate into your daily life is to reduce your carbon footprint.
Carbon footprint refers to the number of greenhouse gasses, i.e., carbon dioxide, methane, etc., released into the environment due to human activities. Hence, making small changes and reducing your carbon footprint can help the environment in the long run.
There are many ways to do it:
- Planting trees
- Reducing paper use
- Reducing, Reusing, and Recycling
- Limiting consumption of meat and dairy
- Using public transport/ cycling often
- Consuming the local produce/ buying food in local markets
- Reducing wastage
Starting young-Making our Children Eco-friendly
Environmental awareness can start from home, which can be done by educating bg kids in the right way—inculcating habits that help them take care of the environment and regularly put these habits into action.
This will help them develop an ecological mindset from a very young age, thereby helping them develop an improved ecological behaviour for a lifetime.
Environmental education in schools
School is the first institution for a child, and teaching them and making them aware of their surroundings from a tender age helps them become better individuals.
It augments their ability to learn more about their surroundings. Creating awareness about air, water, energy, natural resources, flora and fauna, wildlife, etc. helps them to ponder over real-life situations and understand them.
Kids can start with practising simple habits such as:
- Switching off lights whenever they leave a room.
- Closing the tap while they are brushing their teeth.
- Watering plants at home.
- Recycling-teaching them segregation of waste in classrooms
- Use water bottles that are reusable.
- Discuss basic environmental problems with their parents.
- Planting a sapling
How can you contribute?
‘Nurturing Nature’ should be one’s mantra in today’s times. You can do your bit in conserving the environment in many ways:
You can begin from the comfort of your own home-
In the Kitchen-
- Start composting with food scraps from the kitchen
- Waste segregation- Segregating waste into dry and wet waste
- Avoid single-use plastics
- Using energy-saving appliances
- Using biodegradable items
- Using glass containers
- Avoid cooking food on open fires
- Buy local produce
- Using eco-friendly cookware
- Maintaining a kitchen garden
Let it be a Family Affair
Everyone in your family can take some steps and contribute to taking care of the environment-
- Using water judiciously in the bathroom-Taking a bucket of water for bathing
- Buying organic whole foods
- Dressing sustainably, e.g., choosing garments wisely and avoiding synthetic, polyester, etc.
- Choosing natural cosmetics with sustainable packaging
- Reducing, Recycling, and Reusing-segregating your waste into recyclable and non-recyclable
- Carpooling or using public transport
- Limiting electricity consumption-example switching off the TV during meals
- Bringing nature into homes by planting trees
- Using renewable sources of energy example: installing solar panels in homes
- Reducing screen time
Know about your waste and get your eco-friendly journey started
Learn to differentiate between dry waste and wet waste-
Dry waste- Example: Milk and juice cartons, rubber, plastic, metal, cardboard, packaging material, styrofoam, glass, paper, etc.
Wet waste- Example: Mostly waste from the kitchen, such as vegetable and fruit peels, scraps of food, leftovers, eggshells, coffee and tea filter bags, stale biscuits, bread, etc.
E-waste- This refers to all the electronic waste in your homes- for example, tube lights, bulbs, cartridges, phones, cables, laptops, etc.
You can keep separate bins for dry and wet waste. Wet waste from the kitchen can be composted, and dry waste and E-waste can be sent for recycling.
To summarize
Start today and go green because there is “No Planet B.” To learn more about life and the environment, download the JoyScore App now!
Download on the Appstore
Get it on Google Play
