Every year around the world, 1 million tonnes of plastic is produced, of which about 50 percent is ready to use only once. Only 10 percent of the plastic is re -bicycled.
1.9 to 2.3 million tonnes of plastic enters our lakes, rivers and oceans. If the current trends continue, the production of plastic will double by 2040 – and by 2060 it can touch 1.2 billion tons annually.
Plastic pollution is polluting every corner of our earth, but it is a threat to ecosystems, wildlife and human health.
Microplastic, plastic fine particles are now found in our diet, water, air, lungs, arteries, brain and breast milk. Plastic pollution is no longer an environmental issue, it has also become a health and economic burden.
To address these huge challenges, the UN Environment Program (UNEP) ‘Tide Turner Plastic Challenge’ is a global youth promotion that is targeted to deal with plastic pollution, waste.
In a village in Uttar Pradesh, a female team is converting plastic waste into life -saving jackets.
This initiative reduces the use of plastic for youth of 11 to 35 years, changes behavior and gives the ability to lead the leadership at the local level.
The initiative, which started from Kenya, has now spread to 615 countries, about a million youths have joined the operation.
This campaign has progressed rapidly in India – since the 21st, more than 5.5 million youths have become part of it, of which more than one and a half million, more than 5 villages come from villages. The special topic is 51 percent of women and girls are participating in these programs.
Small steps, big changes
Workshops focused on the pilgrimage of Rajasthan, zero-waste and public awareness are underway.
In Assam, the disciple has begun to create life-saving from plastic waste. This initiative is now being adopted in villages on the banks of the river Jamuna.
In the countryside of Madhya Pradesh, 20 tribes are making plastic plates instead of plastic and more than 5 youths have been trained so far.
In Kanekumari, an organization called Sunbard Strangle taught 22 rural women to create 40,000 biologicalization from coconut garbage every week, which makes it possible to finish using 2 lakh plastic stro and reduce 450 kg carbon dioxide emissions.
In Uttar Pradesh and Gujarat, dishes are becoming banks and textile cooperatives, as well as increasing hygiene, local livelihoods are also increasing.
In school and government institutions across the country, environmental awareness policies, education and daily life are being included.
From Agra District Education Training Institute (Diet) to Delhi schools, environmental behavior is being added to the syllabus by training teachers.
This change is for everyone. Blind Mohammed Azlan built a dustbin on his college campus, preached composting and was in favor of plastic-free options.
In Tamil Nadu, the government -backed 12 green workers went to 544 schools and taught more than 3,000 students the environment and started planting a tree.
From these examples it is clear that a new story is formed when young, communities and organizations work together – a continuous and green future.
Sam Barrett, the head of UNEP’s youth education and advocates, said, “I have two main words for change – hope and humility. We stop learning without humility. And without hope we can lose human chances.
Messenger of the United Nations Secretary -Jenral, Actress Dia Mirza said in a UNEP program in Delhi, “When the information is not just intelligence, feelings, the person simply changed. And this change helps to change behavior.”
“Plastic pollution is a crisis that we can solve. We need to change, use and re -use ways,” said Shambi Sharp, the United Nations Chief of India.
