World Environment Day Special: Beating Plastic Pollution through Collective Action and Sustainable Solutions

financialexpress.com:

Human actions have revolutionized the world and unprecedentedly transformed life on Earth. From the advent of agriculture to the digital age, human beings have continually pushed the boundaries of what is possible. In our relentless quest for development and comfort, we have maximized the exploitation of natural resources, often without considering the long-term consequences. However, in our pursuit of progress, we have severely compromised nature. The foundation of our existence, the natural environment, has been significantly degraded.

The pandemic has made us realize that environmental degradation can play havoc with our lives, severely impacting our everyday existence and making life impossible. It is time we realize that as far as environmental protection is concerned, we have just seen the tip of the iceberg and it is now or never for us to work towards the collective responsibility of preserving nature. If earth has to sustain life for our future generations it is the collective responsibility of all sections to come forward and lend a helping hand to the cause. The Time has come when human beings can no longer afford to ignore the negative impact of their action on Mother Earth.

From air pollution to soil and water pollution, all the natural resources that were once considered non-negotiable to sustain life on earth have been severely impaired and have turned toxic and unsafe for human consumption. The increase in various health disorders and non-communicable diseases is directly associated with the growing pollution at all levels.
Solid Waste Management, already a mammoth task in many Indian cities, is becoming more complicated with the increase in urbanization, changing lifestyles, and increased in