Planet Versus Plastics

“We do not inherit the earth from our ancestors; we borrow it from our children.”- Chief Seattle. Globally, governments do not pay sufficient attention to matters regarding the environment. One school of thought is issues concerning the environment do not translate to votes. The truth is most of us are more in tune with eking out a living. As a result the environment is always on the back burner. This back burner approach is intentionally given that governments do not adequately fund ministries and projects that are environmentally related. The citizenry also is not without blame given that we do not hold our governments accountable. How many of us have a working definition of the environment? The world today is faced with a volley of unprecedented interconnected environmental challenges in areas including climate change, clean water, ocean health and biodiversity. It is against this background that the international community pauses annually on April 22, to commemorate Earth Day. The day is set aside to recognize the Earth and its ecosystems as humanity's common home and the need to protect her to enhance people’s livelihoods, counteract climate change, and stop the collapse of biodiversity. The theme for Earth Day 2024 is Planet vs. Plastics, calls to advocate for widespread awareness on the health risk of plastics, rapidly phase out all single use plastics, urgently push for a strong UN Treaty on Plastic Pollution, and demand an end to fast fashion. This theme also underscores the urgent need to address environmental degradation, restore ecosystems, and promote sustainability on a global scale. The theme emphasizes the interconnectedness of all living beings and the planet’s delicate balance, urging individuals and communities to take concrete steps towards environmental restoration and preservation. The structure of the earth is divided into four major components: the crust, the mantle, the outer core, and the inner core. Each layer has a unique chemical composition, physical state, and can impact life on Earth's surface. Movement in the mantle caused by variations in heat from the core causes the plates to shift, which can cause earthquakes and volcanic eruptions. These natural hazards then change our landscape, and in some cases, threaten lives and property. Apart from the physical, there are other types of elements that make up an environment. They are the chemical and biological attributes. Thus, an environment contains all biotic and abiotic factors that have a role in the survival, evolution, and development of the organism occupying it. Education and Environmental Literacy. Alarmingly, over 3 billion students lack environmental education, stranding generations without educating them on the most critical issues facing the planet. In 2020, the Earth Day Organization (EDO) launched the Climate Literacy campaign, urging governments attending the crucial United Nations climate summit in 2021 to make climate literacy a core feature of school curriculum across the globe. Unfortunately, this initiative has once again highlighted the inequalities across education systems in the Global South as compared to the Global North. Notwithstanding this our students need to be aware of what is at stake should we continue to ignore the signs of environmental abuse. The time to introduce climate education is now. Climate education is cross-cutting by nature, meaning it encompasses many topics like math, civics, economics and history. Correspondingly, all aspects of our daily lives are connected to climate from the food we eat, to the way we travel to work, to the products we buy. The interconnectedness of the systems involved in climate change amplifies the need for environmental and climate education to include concepts outside of STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) like the arts, English, Economics and History. As individuals we connect to the environment in different ways depending on our own unique identities based on how we live, where we were raised, and what fields of study we choose for our careers. The Global Youth Coalition on Plastic Pollution. The Global Youth Coalition on Plastic Pollution (GYCPP) was established to enable the active involvement of young people in policy-making processes concerning plastic pollution, including the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC). By amplifying the voices of youth, the GYCPP seek to ensure their perspectives are considered and integrated into decision-making. The GYCPP promotes collaboration and partnerships among youth-led organizations. By fostering collective positions and strategies, the GYCPP aim to enhance our collective impact in eliminating plastic pollution and safeguarding the environment. Environmental Failure . In Jamaica, the Riverton City garbage disposal site continues to be problematic. In fact, the dump is perhaps Jamaica’s most serious environmental failure that has spanned successive governments. The Riverton City dump is located in the parish of St. Andrew and covers 125 acres. The facility has for many years been a thorn in the sides of many Corporate Area residents who live in close proximity. Numerous fires over the years have sent black toxic smoke billowing across many communities, worsening respiratory problems for some people. It produces an aggressively acrid and unhealthy smell that stings the eyes, burns the nostrils and irritates the airway. To add insult to injury the government’s agencies tasked for environmental protection have been found wanting. The ad hoc approach to development at times as well as the breaches regarding building permits also adds to the destruction of the environment. No one cares. The citizenry is left on their own to face the music both literally and figuratively. Climate Change. Climate change is caused by human activities and threatens life on earth as we know it. With rising greenhouse gas emissions, climate change is occurring at rates much faster than anticipated. Its impacts can be devastating and include extreme and changing weather patterns and rising sea levels. If left unchecked, climate change will undo a lot of the development progress made over the past years. Climate change is increasing the frequency and intensity of extreme weather events such as heat waves, droughts, floods and tropical cyclones, aggravating water management problems, reducing agricultural production and food security, increasing health risks, damaging critical infrastructure and interrupting the provision of basic services such as water and sanitation, education, energy and transport. The links between climate change and sustainable development are strong. Poor and developing countries, particularly least developed countries, will be among those most adversely affected and least able to cope with the anticipated shocks to their social, economic and natural systems. In many places across the globe there is an increase in the intensity of droughts as well as floods. Recently, storms swept through the United Arab Emirates and surrounding countries dumping 250 millimeters (around 10 inches) of precipitation in fewer than 24 hours in some areas recording the heaviest rainfall witnessed in the region for 75 years. Dubai is situated on the coast of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and is usually very dry. At Dubai's main airport, the runway flooded and flagship carrier Emirates suspended all departing flights. The Way Forward. The time has come for a new approach to address environmental matters. This approach should be void of any gender biases and must include a consultative and collaborative approach among stakeholders. Earth Day serves as a catalyst for collective action. It mobilizes people from all walks of life to participate in environmental initiatives, such as tree plantings, clean-up campaigns, and advocacy efforts. Mother Earth is clearly urging a call to action. Nature is suffering! Unfortunately, people have been filling our oceans with plastic resulting in more acidity. Extreme heat, wildfires and floods, have affected millions of people. We must also be mindful that we also share this planet along with animals and plants. In Sri Lanka, a number of developments have been encroaching on the natural habitats of elephants. According to the Wildlife and Nature Protection Society elephants in Sri Lanka killed at least 169 people in 2023 and during the same period humans killed 476 elephants. This deadly conflict is driven by human encroachment. Our zeal for development must be sustainable and must include the realization that we are not the only living beings on this planet. Climate change, man-made changes to nature as well as crimes that disrupt biodiversity, such as deforestation, land-use change, intensified agriculture and livestock production or the growing illegal wildlife trade, can accelerate the speed of destruction of the planet. Without a doubt if we continue to abuse the environment we will pay dearly for our actions. In fact there are glaring examples all across the globe signaling that we have started to reap the bitter fruits of our collective environmental inertia. What will be your environmental legacy? The right time is now to ensure that your environmental legacy will be one that future generations will benefit from. On this Earth Day there is a role for everyone in restoring Mother Earth. Why not plant a tree? Perhaps, you can start an environment club in your school. Students should be taught the importance of civic pride especially as this relates to their classroom environment. On this Earth Day let us remind ourselves that an urgent shift is needed to a more sustainable economy that works for both people and the planet. Let us also promote harmony with nature and the Earth. Join the global movement to restore Mother Earth. In the words of Rachel Carson, those who contemplate the beauty of the earth find reserves of strength that will endure as long as life lasts. Wayne Campbell is an educator and social commentator with an interest in development policies as they affect culture and or gender issues. waykam@yahoo.com @WayneCamo © #EarthDay #PlanetversusPlastics