
With over 8,000 tons of waste being produced in Pakistan daily, recycling waste can help minimise effects of pollution
KARACHI: Whether it is Greta Thunberg’s crucial role in the climate action movement or Donald Trump’s political game by calling climate change a hoax, you will not see noticeable differences in the earth through your social media activism.
Environmental journalists have highlighted numerous changes taking place in the current global scenario through the extremism of the issues presented; whether it is the global rise in temperature, warming of icecaps and the two polar zones or the rise of sea levels, these effects will continue to deteriorate if you do not move further from your social media activism. The efforts made by advocates, environmental journalists and thinkers are much deeper than bringing in awareness to the common man. Their effort lies inherently in the domino effect of the same initiatives and energy being put in by people like us.
Recent confusions have shown that climate change is such a large issue that only people from the technical field can contribute to de-intensify the changes being displayed. However, while it may be the job of experts in that specific field to bring about changes, it is also our job to contribute to the larger step. Small efforts such as carpooling, planting trees in your surroundings and healthy activities such as cycling can help to make the environment around you green. As we continue to be heavily reliant on technological devices, we can contribute to the movement simply by ‘unplugging’ those gadgets not being used. With over 8,000 tons of household waste already being produced in Pakistan on a daily basis, simply recycling most of the waste can help minimise the effects of pollution.
What will make a difference is power; and within power lies the initiative taken by a significant number of people to contribute wholly to the change we wish to see!
Nisa Hafeez
Published in The Express Tribune, December 21st, 2019.
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