In the last two decades, we have experienced 14 of the hottest 15 years on record.
By 2050, drought and chronic water shortages could impact a billion people while millions will be at risk from coastal flooding. Now, this can seem overwhelming, but there’s a reason yet for hope. If we embrace solar and wind power to their full potential, we can cut the world’s yearly carbon emissions by a 1/3rd. Already, Germany is expected to generate 27% of its electricity from renewable resources, with a goal of 80% by 2050.
Paris has also installed street tiles that harvest energy from foot traffic. Other cities are paving streets with smog-absorbing concrete and sidewalks with recycled materials. Individuals can make a difference, too, through the choices they make every day. Did you know that one tree can absorb as much carbon in a year as a car produces while driving 26000 miles? We are living on this planet as if we had another to take refuge in!
Everyone needs to be aware of climate change and its disastrous impact on wildlife, marine life and us. So please hear me out guys, because –
There’s No “Planet B”!
One of the biggest threats adversely affecting the environment today is plastic pollution. We need to prevent plastic pollution in every possible way.
Our simplest acts, like using a cloth bag for shopping—be it for milk or groceries—would save marine life, sea birds, flamingos from getting killed by ingesting plastic (bags/cups/straws/cutlery/plastic bottles). Plastic not only looks like food for tortoises and many marine creatures but also smells and feels like food to them!
Our plastic ends up in oceans, killing marine life. We must change our habits. Together we can. A simple formula of “Reject, Reuse and Recycle” will help our planet to beat climate change. You can also use bicycles for short distances or could walk and use public transport for travelling. This would reduce our carbon footprint.
Bhutan is an ideal example from which we could draw some inspiration. It’s the only country with a negative carbon footprint, which means it is absorbing more carbon than it is producing. Also, the tiger population in Bhutan has doubled. This shows a healthy ecosystem.
We need green forest covers for better health. Air pollution is at a maximum in this country as 7 out of 10 of the world’s most polluted cities are in India. Planting more trees and protecting our forests and wildlife would certainly help curb air pollution. Even if we protect our ‘mangroves’ which act as a carbon sink for cities, we will save hundreds of birds and animals, many of whom are already on the brink of extinction. Even oceans are getting warmed up absorbing too much heat and causing cyclones, tornadoes and hurricanes.
We need to become more eco-friendly, i.e. switch to eco-friendly products. As plastic pollution is harming marine life, it is even coming back to us in the form of ‘microplastics’, which have now made their way even into table salt–a product used on a daily basis in every home.
We also need to urge companies for sustainable, biodegradable and recyclable plastic packaging as it would result in saving tonnes of plastic from ending up in oceans. As Margaret Mead, American cultural anthropologist says, “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed it’s the only thing that ever has”. So let us get inspired, let us stop climate change. Let us stop encroaching into forests and seas as well. Our actions today have the potential to affect our future generations.
The moment it dawned on me that the biodiversity on our planet is getting destroyed because of global warming and climate change, and irresponsible use of plastic, I decided to make this a mission, to help my planet in every way possible and to fight for the preservation of our planet against the negative impacts of climate change.