Celebrated on June 5 every year World Environment Day

Celebrated on June 5 every year World Environment Day was initiated to encourage worldwide awareness and to initiate actions to protect our environment. World environment Day is supported by many government organisations and non government organisations.
It serves as a reminder that each individual has a role to play in preserving our environment for future generations.

For the very first time this day was celebrated 49 years ago on 5 June 1973, and this year marks the 50th anniversary of World Environment Day.

Significance of World Environment Day 2023
World Environment Day holds immense significance in fostering environmental consciousness worldwide. It serves as a platform to educate people about the urgent need to address environmental challenges, including climate change, biodiversity loss, pollution, and resource depletion. By focusing on these issues, World Environment Day encourages individuals, communities, organizations, and governments to take proactive steps towards sustainable practices and policies.

Theme of World Environment Day 2023

The day observes many issues like environmental issues marine pollution, global warming problems over population, and Sustainable development . Every year more than 143 countries participate in the meetings of World Environment Day and try to find out the various feasible solution for the problems we are facing. Like every year the, theme of the World Environment Day 2023 is ” solution to plastic pollution.”

Plastic pollution – a global environmental crisis
Plastic bags have become a part of our daily life as they are inexpensive and are adaptable for different uses and are durable also. This kind of pollution is the most common and the most threatening kind of pollution we are facing Worldwide. Plastic pollution is the accumulation of various forms of plastic particles and objects in the earth’s environment which effects humans, wildlife and our habitat. Plastic particles which has various kinds of pollution are named differently according to their sizes which are micro meso or micro debris.

Plastic pollution is a result of the excessive use and improper disposal of plastic products, leading to their accumulation in landfills, oceans, rivers, and other natural environments. These plastics take hundreds of years to degrade, causing long-term harm to ecosystems and posing a threat to wildlife. Microplastics, tiny particles of plastic, have also become a major concern as they can enter the food chain and impact human health.

The abundance plastic debris found in the oceans have contributed to increase in distribution of algae associated with red tides.

The amount of plastic waste which we produce annually Increased manyfolds during the covid 19 pandemic. As there was increase in requirement for protective equipment and many packing materials.

Various effects of plastic pollution

The plastic debris is very well scattered in our environment.

Effects on environment

The plastic pollution is affecting our environment and the most adverse possible ways. The increase in plastic pollution has degraded the quality of vegetation, the quality of air in which we breathe, the quality of soil, these all are decreasing day by day on a very fast pace. Plastic contains destructive chemicals which can create large level of problems for us.

Plastic pollution as a reason to climate change

In the year 2019 report was published named plastic and climate according to which the production of plastic will contribute greatly to green house gases.

Effect of plastic pollution on land

According to a report published in 2021 by the Food and Agriculture Organisation it was stated that plastic is most often used in agriculture and there is more plastic in the soil rather than in oceans the presence of plastic in the environment and our surroundings have hurted the human health and pose a great threats to our wellbeing. Drainage system can be cloged up by the plastic waste. In 2017 a study found that approximate 83% Of the tap water samples taken over all the world has shown presence of plastic pollution.

To solve all these, there is very urgent need for us to develop habits which will no more contribute in creation of pollution but will help to reduce the pollution levels.

WAYS TO Mark World environment Day

1. Reduce the usage of plastic
Ninety percent of the plastic items in our daily lives are used once like grocery bags, plastic wrap, disposable cutlery, straws, coffee-cup lids and later are thrown. We should take note of how often we use such products and replace them with reusable ones. It only takes a few times of bringing your own bags to the store, before it becomes our habit.

2. Reduce the rate of plastic bottles.
Every year, upto 20-30 billion plastic bottles are thrown in the trash. We can carry a reusable bottle in your bag instead of buying bottled water.

3. Boycott Micro-beads.
The little plastic particles found in many of our beauty products—facial scrubs, toothpaste, body washes slip through water-treatment plants because of their very small size, and later the aquatic animals choke upon them. Such products can be replaced with natural exfoliant substances, like oatmeal or salt.

4. Cook more instead of buying.
Not only is it healthier, but will also reduce considerable amount of takeout containers. We can bring our own food-storage containers to restaurants for leftovers.

5. Bring your own bag while shopping.
We can buy a zippered cotton or leather or any other kind of fabric bag while going out to make purchases or going to dry cleaner with a pile of clothes.

6. Recycle.
We all know about it and there are many innitiatives taken for this, still we are not doing any good job this, there is great need for us to be get serious and take corrective measures regarding, recycling of waste.

By raising awareness, promoting sustainable practices, addressing climate change, and preserving biodiversity, World Environment Day plays a crucial role in shaping a better world for present and future generations. Let us celebrate this day by taking concrete actions to protect our planet, for it is only through our collective efforts that we can create a sustainable and thriving future.