Going Green

Unite and Conquer Plastic Pollution

Young woman picking up plastic on a beach
Federico Marsicano / 123rf.com

The 50th World Environment Day is around the corner, and it’s time to take a closer look at a critical issue that affects all of us: plastic pollution. It’s hard to fathom, but humanity produces a jaw-dropping 430 million tonnes of plastic each year. Even more concerning is that two-thirds of this plastic is made up of short-lived products that quickly become waste, contaminating our land and oceans and eventually entering our food chain. It’s crucial to join forces and address this crisis to protect the planet for future generations.

The painful reality of mountains, beaches and land being transformed into rubbish dumps due to plastic waste accumulation is becoming more prevalent. The mounting levels of plastic pollution are threatening the survival of life. Plastic is often mistaken for food by animals, which can cause harm to their health as well as ours. It is absolutely imperative to take proactive measures to prevent this situation from spiralling out of control. Failure to do so could result in catastrophic consequences for the environment, human health, and the Earth’s natural beauty.

But fear not! The situation isn’t all doom and gloom. Working together makes it possible to effect change and overcome this crisis. The 50th World Environment Day offers the perfect opportunity to raise awareness, initiate action and explore solutions to tackle the plastic pollution crisis.

Cover of the June 2023 issue of The Teenager Today featuring Usha Uthup.

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Nitish Barole is the Founder of Youth for Resilience, a youth-led organization working on disaster risk reduction, climate action and SDGs. He has worked with U.N., government agencies and grassroots organizations to build resilience through disaster education, community work and capacity development.

Nitish Barole

Nitish Barole is the Founder of Youth for Resilience, a youth-led organization working on disaster risk reduction, climate action and SDGs. He has worked with U.N., government agencies and grassroots organizations to build resilience through disaster education, community work and capacity development.