This World Environment Day 2022, we are all urged to protect our environments. About 7 million people are killed by air pollution in the world, most deaths occur in Asia. 5th June encourages Global Activism.
World Environment Day was created in 1972 by the United Nations General Assembly. It aims to raise awareness of environmental problems and inspire action to improve the state of the planet.
In order to mark this occasion, let’s take a look at what we can do to protect our planet:
We need to take action against climate change:
Climate change is one of the biggest threats facing humanity today. In fact, it poses an existential threat to human civilization as we know it. If we continue with business as usual, there is a high chance that we will see irreversible damage to the environment within decades.
We should reduce carbon emissions:
Carbon dioxide (CO2) is a greenhouse gas produced by burning fossil fuels such as coal, oil, and natural gas. It traps heat inside the atmosphere, causing global warming. This has led to climate change, which threatens the survival of humans and other species. To combat this problem, governments need to take steps to reduce CO2 emissions.
We need to stop deforestation:
Deforestation is one of the biggest contributors to carbon dioxide emissions. In fact, it accounts for nearly half of all human-caused emissions. If we continue with business as usual, we will see an average temperature rise of 3°C by 2100. This would mean more extreme weather events, rising sea levels, and increased risks of drought, floods, and wildfires.
We need to conserve water:
Water is essential for life. It is used for drinking, cooking, cleaning, bathing, and farming. However, there is not enough fresh water available to meet current demand. As populations grow, so does the demand for water.
In addition, climate change has led to droughts and other natural disasters that affect access to clean water.
History of World Environment Day
World Environment Day which is celebrated on the 5th of June is one of the most unique and special days because of its history and its many firsts. It was created on the very first day of the U.N. conference which focused on humans and how they interact with the environment.
It is the United Nations’ principal vehicle for encouraging awareness and action to protect the environment. It was developed as a platform to raise awareness of the problems faced by our environment such as air pollution, plastic pollution, illegal wildlife trade, sustainable consumption, sea-level increase, and food security, among others.
What will be the Theme of World Environment Day 2022?
The World Environment Day 2022 Theme is “Only One Earth” focusing on “Living sustainably in harmony with nature” by bringing changes in consumption patterns and in national and international environmental policies.
What fun activities can you do on World Environment Day?
On that account, with an intent to impart an affirmative change, our Squad For Change volunteers at Wishes and Blessings decided to carry forward the same theme by organizing a Paper Bag workshop for the juveniles at Coolie Camp in Vasant Vihar.
Under the guidance of our leading volunteer Kriti and other helping volunteers, the kids got to know how detrimental plastic bags can be to our habitat.
The kids used eco-friendly, reusable, and recyclable matter like sheets, pencil shavings, cloth strings, etc. Our volunteer shared with the children how plastics cause adverse effects on the environment, in a bid to sensitize the people on why we should stop using plastic bags.
Kriti expressed her gratitude by saying:
I would like to thank Wishes and Blessings for giving me a chance to organize a paper bag workshop for the kids at Coolie Camp. Being a teacher, I love interacting with kids so when I got this opportunity, I prepared myself with all the materials. I was surprised to see how well disciplined the kids are and how eager they were to learn. It was clearly visible on their faces how much they were enjoying the process.
Furthermore, I observed that all the kids were over the moon when they wrote their initials with pencil shavings on the paper bags. It teaches the message that nothing is a waste and everything can be converted into art. With this, the chief objective of this workshop of making children sensitive about their environment has been accomplished.”
Highlights of World Environment Day 2022 Activities:
The day began with a beautiful greeting by the kids. The way they said “good afternoon ma’am” unanimously showed us how well behaved and well taught they are. Interacting with the little kiddos gave all the volunteers immense pleasure and they really cherished every moment they got to spend with them.
One of the volunteers said, “Their eagerness to learn new things, their values, etiquette and everything was absolutely adorable”.
The kids had so much light in their eyes while making the paper bags. The best part was that they understood nothing should be thrown away, everything has some use or the other. They seemed to be so surprised by the fact that they can even use pencil shavings to turn it into something creatively beautiful which, otherwise they generally discard.
Each and every child’s creation turned out to be so perfect that it was so pleasing and satisfactory. Some even said that they would use it to keep their belongings.
Reshu, a kid at the camp, whom one of our volunteers was helping in making the bag had a craft paper with which she was supposed to make the bag with. Accidentally, her paper tore off, meaning that the sheet could no longer be used for the purpose it was bought for.
At that moment she got so disheartened thinking that she won’t get another sheet, the sheet itself being wasted, and that all her chances of making the bag were ruined. But our volunteer assured her that all was fine and got her a new sheet. At that moment the astounding smile on her face was something so delightful to look at.
It made the volunteer ponder that had she been in her place, she would have simply gone, bought a new sheet, and wouldn’t even have contemplated at all as little Reshu did. It would have been simply something insignificant for her. Little kids immensely value even the smallest things. There is so much to learn and unlearn for us in life which we as volunteers are doing every day at Wishes and Blessings.
The primary goal of each human is to protect and give back equally as much as we take from it. When we are working together for the betterment of the surroundings we live in, we are not only creating a happy place to live in but also creating a sustainable environment for the generations to thrive in.
World Environment Day Quotes:
Paradise or paradise lost?
Your effort is what it will cost
To keep our precious earth clean
By living a lifestyle that’s green.
We cannot go on as we are
Leaving scar after scar
Upon this beautiful planet
Which so many take for granted.
The time to take action is now,
To restore what’s been damaged somehow.
We stand on the brink of “too late,”
But there’s still time to change our fate.
~ Kelly Roper
“The Earth is what we all have in common.” —Wendell Berry
Sustainable Development Goals forms the base for the activities performed in Wishes and Blessings. Highlighting the Sustainable Development Goals, we majorly work for:
Goal 1- End of poverty
Goal 2- Zero Hunger
Goal 3- Good Health and Well being
Goal 4 – Quality Education, etc through the various programmes and initiatives like the Daily Meals Programme, Street To School Programme, Elderly Care, Sponsor a child.
On the occasion of the 8th Birth anniversary of Wishes and Blessings we made sure that we do our part of giving back to the environment. The celebration embarked with a Green Plantation Drive where a total of 800 trees will be planted in the course of the year. As a part of world environment day, our paper bag workshop by the volunteers was a great success and we believe the message was very well portrayed to the children.
FAQs:
Who started environment day?
World Environment Day was established in 1972 by the United Nations at the Stockholm Conference on the Human Environment (5–16 June 1972), that had resulted from discussions on the integration of human interactions and the environment.
Which country will host the World Environment Day 2022?
World Environment Day 2022 is hosted by Sweden.
What is the theme of World Environmental Day 2022?
For World Environment Day 2022, the theme #OnlyOneEarth, which was used at the first global environment gathering in 1972, is being revived.
Why is 5th June celebrated as World Environment Day?
World Environment Day (WED) is celebrated annually on 5 June and is the United Nations’ principal vehicle for encouraging awareness and action for the protection of the environment.
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