What do I owe my environment?

What do I owe my environment?
…Responsible consumption and production.
Have you ever stopped to think or imagine… What would happen if the world where we live in today stopped growing food? What if it became so hot we we all have to pack our things and leave? Scary Huh?

One important reality that we mostly shove under the carpet is the fact we owe a huge part of our existence and success to our immediate environment. Our lives, jobs, families and universe cannot thrive without an environment especially one secured by the best practices geared towards sustainability.

Our world stands threatened if we continue to treat it badly and undermine its resources the way we do on a daily basis. The hidden beauty in our world lies in the fact that if we treat the universe and its resources the way we ought to, it would remain a sustainable environment for us and generations yet
unborn to thrive given the fact that there is more than enough for us to use if we act right. The big question,however, is what are the risks and how do we go about mitigating them?
The United Nations has as its 12th sustainable development goal; RESPONSIBLE CONSUMPTION AND PRODUCTION.

The goal according to the UN,wants us to think twice what we use, the waste we create and how that impacts our planet. To this extent, I would be giving some advice;
It is important that we reduce wastes especially non bio degradable wastes. There are nine options available in terms of waste reduction all nine being self-explanatory;
• Refill​​​
• Reduce
• Reclaim
• Reuse
• Repair
• Refuse
• Recharge
• Recycle
• Rethink.

There is the need to reduce the use of plastic bags especially in low income countries. Go shopping with your reusable shopping bags, encourage the government to increase tariffs and ensure the increment of charges on use of plastic bags, drink from water dispensers instead of sachets or plastic bottles, purchase drinks in reusable bottles or move around with your own bottle to fill your drink with when you go out to purchase a drink so you do not have to opt for plastic bottles. Do not ask for straws; use reusable cups and eat out of reusable plates and not disposable ones.

We must pay attention to our consumption of food and water, do not leave taps running unattended or when not in use, cook and consume just enough food in order to reduce food waste; also, it is important that we encourage food and bottling companies to be ethical in their use of land resources and production. It is also important that waste is disposed responsibly especially non-biodegradable wastes by companies and private individuals alike.

Embrace the culture of walking, cycling or taking public transport in order to reduce the number of vehicles on the road. Cars are no longer luxuries given their grave effects on the environment. Every family should have at most two cars and road restrictions should be in place in order to reduce the number of cars on the road and get people to seek alternative means.

Switch off light bulbs and sockets when not in use.

Think and suggest ways to ensure best practices in the use of natural resources in place of artificial resources.


Spread the word, especially to persons without access to internet, volunteer to take up sanitation in your local community and take a pledge to ensure responsible consumption and production.
Every day, think about What you buy, what you use, what you eat, how much electricity you use, what you drink, how much waste you create, how you dispose or can avoid waste and most importantly, how you use earth’s resources.

I have outlined a few things we can do as citizens and I can assure you that if each person contributes their little, before the year 2030, we would have a sustainable environment for ourselves and generations to come.
Should you have any questions, addition or comments do not hesitate to use the comment box!
Thank you for taking your time to learn and ensure a better world.