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Environmental Justice (new topic, Feb 2021!)

Can we solve the climate crisis without confronting global inequities?

A recent study in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences USA found that white residents in the USA produce more climate pollution than black or hispanic residents, but black and hispanic people are exposed to more air pollution.

And that is just the USA! Think about the global inequities in the "haves" and the "have nots".

And how are we going to lift people out of poverty without making the climate crisis even worse?

If you are a resident in a wealthy country, is it your responsibility to address both problems at once? And what would that look like in terms of national and international policy?




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Environmental Justice

Recent posts:

100borja   2023-11-09 03:18:59 (Last post: 2025-05-18 23:48:39)
Environmental pollution

Environmental pollution is a very negative thing that affects the entire planet sooner or later, for example animals, humans, landscapes, forests.
If we do not end them in the future we would not be able to live on our planet due to so much pollution.

willa_yetman   2024-03-22 06:45:19

I agree with you, but I think that there are more details that you can bring to the surface. Humans are the main cause of environmental pollution. Our everyday tasks and everyday routines pollute the environment. Some examples of this are, bonfires, eating not organic meats, phone usage, and clothes that we wear that are produced in factories. But, we can do better with these things in the future. Some things that we can do to reduce environmental pollution are eating more vegetation foods, turning off lights when we don't need them on, trying our best to conserve energy, and not buying things from huge industries. Those are only some of the things we can do to make environmental justice, save animals, landscapes, and forests from what we are doing to ourselves.

Jayonna C.   2024-10-24 07:28:51

I agree. If we don't stop polluting, there will be no future or a future with little to no resources for us humans to depend on. Yet, there are still many factories, vehicles, and whatever else is causing pollution that is still causing pollution. I think people should take action and think about what we can do to lower our pollution rates.

alyssak2024   2024-10-24 08:25:36

I agree with you! Firstly, it directly impacts our health. Air pollution, for instance, can lead to respiratory issues, heart disease, and even cancer. When we’re inhaling toxic chemicals or toxic matter, it’s like we’re inviting a host of health issues into our lives. Pollution disrupts natural habitats and endangers wildlife. When species struggle to survive, it throws off entire ecosystems.Healthy ecosystems provide essential services, like clean air and water, pollination of crops, and climate regulation.

judaBOD   2025-05-14 14:46:08

I agree with you fully! Pollution does really harm many things on Earth and it starts with human's irresponsibility and stuborness on the subject. I think more people need to recognize how serious of a problem this is and not wait to change until it is too late. If we don't act now, there will be damage that cannot be undone.

SakhBOD   2025-05-14 16:05:01

I agree with you 100%! We really need to lower our pollution rates as a species and get thiis under control. If we continue at the rate we are going, things will not end well for us and our time and the time of the other species on this Earth.

SakhBOD   2025-05-14 16:15:00

Environmental pollution harms people, animals, and ecosystems around the world. If it continues to get worse with no limits, the planet may become unlivable for the generations of all species to become. The United Nations and other organizations have linked pollution to rising global temperatures and worsening climate conditions. It's easy to see the effects in everyday things, like the amount of trash and bad air quality. We need global promis to protect our environment and make sure our home stays healthy.

ancoBOD   2025-05-15 23:12:43

I agree with you! Environmental pollution is a big thing in our environment. It harms human health, damages ecosystems, and contributes to climate change. It is a serious global issue that affects the air we breathe, the water we drink, and the land we live on. My experience is that I have traveled to countries that have loads of trash in there rivers and the air there can sometimes be thick. If we don't do something now it might be to late for the next generation to have a clean environment. To prevent this we must come together and protect our environment.

chviBOD   2025-05-16 12:57:48

I agree that environmental pollution needs to be addressed. I think that there are many different ways to approach this issue, but I think the one that should be focused on it water and air pollution. Both of these things are global issues that affect almost everyone everyday. To stop this, we need to come together to collaborate and think about the ways that we could help decrease this pollution. One way could be like talking to major corporations and help stop they from polluting the environment.

fiomBOD   2025-05-17 15:03:47

Environmental pollution is a serious issue because it affects people, animals, and the planet. When I calculated my carbon footprint, my home energy use was the highest. That showed how much electricity impacts the environment. To reduce pollution, I can turn off unused light and use less heating.

jotaBOD1   2025-05-17 15:11:15

I also agree, environmental pollution needs to be correctly addressed so that it doesn't keep negatively impacting the world. Environmental pollution is the dumping of unwanted mass into Earth's natural resources. Exposure leads to disease, especially respiratory, infections and disorders. Pollution can also cause ground-level ozone, damaging crops and agriculture as well as bringing harsh weather phenomena. If not addressed, environmental pollution will lead to Earth becoming inhabitable.

kmartibod   2025-05-18 19:23:54

I agree with you that pollution has impacts on humans, animals, and the environment. Air and water pollution contribute to serious health issues and damage ecosystems. Pollution also initiates climate change, leading to extreme weather and habitat loss. To address this problem, we need a combination of stronger environmental policies, focus in clean technologies, and greater public awareness.

ilatu28   2025-05-18 23:48:39

I agree because pollution hurts all living things. Dirty air makes us sick, kills animals and covers our skies with bad air. Trash in rivers and oceans harms fish and birds and can end up in our food. Poison in the soil stops plants and crops from growing well. If we keep polluting, the earth wont give us clean water and all the other materials that we need.

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aljoBOD   2025-05-18 20:25:57
Environmental Justice

Environmental justice means making sure that all people, and organisms, have equal access to a clean and healthy environment. Globally, low-income communities and communities of POC often are faced with higher exposure to pollution, limited access to clean water, and overall more vulnerable to the impacts of climate change. Environmental justice is about understanding the inequalities and impacts and working towards solutions and policies that protect both the planet and the people most affected by environmental harm. One thing I noticed from calculating my family's carbon footprint was that a lot of the emissions came from transportation and home. Although not much can be done about traveling via planes, I think installing solar panels and using public transportation or an electric vehicle can lessen CO2 emissions, ultimately leading to less pollution and a cleaner environment.

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Char B   2024-09-29 12:56:55 (Last post: 2025-05-18 20:04:23)
Environmental Justice

Environmental justice is a critical movement that seeks to address the disproportionate impact of environmental hazards on marginalized communities. Often, low-income neighborhoods and communities of color bear the brunt of pollution, hazardous waste, and climate change effects, while lacking adequate resources to combat these issues. This inequity stems from historical injustices and systemic racism, where decision-making processes often exclude the voices of those most affected. Advocating for environmental justice involves promoting equitable access to clean air, water, and green spaces, as well as empowering communities to participate in environmental policymaking. By addressing these disparities, we can foster healthier environments and create a more just and sustainable future for all, ensuring that every individual has the right to live in a safe and thriving ecosystem.

cagrBOD1   2025-05-18 20:04:23

I completely agree, and I believe that this is a very important issue surrounding both environmental issues, and social justice ones. Your point about advocating for equitable access to water, clean air, and green spaces is a very good one, but I would also like to note how much more expensive those are too keep up. Where I grew up, there was a huge difference between the nicer places, with cleaner air, and green grass because they could afford the water bill, and places that they couldn't. Also it is the same with buying from more sustainable sources, such as local farms, and other organic food sources. I was also wondering what way do you think we should work to address these concerns and work towards a more equitable and safe environment.

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LUKE21809   2025-05-16 14:32:06 (Last post: 2025-05-16 19:51:10)
Chlothing

Many people often buy lots of clothing that they don't need and they also do not wear. Lots of the time people buy a expensive and they will wear it only a few times. People buy the pieces of clothing from brands that do not make clothing with sustainability or the environment in consideration. The fast fashion brands are made for people who impulsive buy lots of clothing. The chain of people buying and throwing the clothing back in the closet is very very bad for the environment and your wallet. Since lots of people are repeatedly doing the process of wasting clothing the fast fashion brands keep on creating new products. Lots of energy and earth resources are being wasted all while the thing that powers this process is polluting the earth. A experience that i can relate to is one time i had bought something from a fast fashion place and i noticed that after i wore it like seven times the material started to deteriorate. That shows how these brands know that people buying aren't going to wear the items for that long. Instead you could buy from brands that have better quality so that the item lasts or you could buy second hand to reuse and stop buying into fast fashion.

cazobod   2025-05-16 19:51:10

I agree with your opinion on how fast fashion can become very expensive and leads to overconsumption. The goal of the fast fashion brand tis to sell as much clothing as possible and with as little money as possible into producing it. These trending brands' idea is to sell trendy low quality clothing at an amazingly low price so it will sell instantly. Then after wearing it once or twice it will rip, then you'll have to go back to the store to replace it. The cycle goes on. For example Shein produces over 6,000 new styles every day at prices of only a few dollars. The price makes you think at that point well why wouldn't I buy it. The mass production of new trends every day makes people like they need to keep up to say in line with the most current trending clothes.

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yagaBOD   2025-05-16 17:28:28
Affordable Sustainability in Transportation

Although CO2 emissions can come from many different sources, the largest contributors to CO2 emissions come from the burning of fossil fuels by method of transportation. Although individually we can do our part by driving less, or walking to places instead of driving, it is not entirely up to us. We must urge manufacturers and engineers, as well as public transportation officials to turn to a more sustainable solution to transportation and travel. Some changes have already been made, and there are more and more electric vehicles on the street. However, these vehicles are expensive and not many can afford them. We as a community should work towards encouraging companies to make more sustainable and affordable vehicles. By making sustainable travel and vehicles more affordable, this can encourage more and more people to travel sustainably. From my personal experience, most people turn to gas powered vehicles instead of electric ones not because they don't care about the environment, but simply because they cannot afford to purchase an electric vehicle. Those who cannot afford electric vehicles or even cars often turn to public transportation as well, and by making public transportation more sustainable, it will reduce carbon emissions even more.

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nawiBOD   2025-05-16 14:42:13
Electric Powered Transportation

We can promote environmental awareness by creating vehicles that are powered by electricity rather than gas. Similar to the electric car, we should copy this plan for 2035 for all forms of transportation to eventually move towards being powered by an alternative energy source. This could heavily decrease global warming's impact, as some CO2 is released into our atmosphere as a byproduct of gas-powered machinery. In addition the electric forms of transportation I speak of can also stop air pollution from causes health effects later in one's life.

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LNEX   2024-10-22 22:32:14 (Last post: 2025-05-16 13:37:48)
Clean up the environment

Since no one is to do it,we could add a monetary incentive for people to collect garbage and trash off the environment

JakeyPooh   2024-10-23 22:24:43

I like this idea and am very curious how you would implement such an idea. I know it is very expensive to recycle which is counter to how it should be, so giving people an incentive through recycling or collecting trash is a good idea. You could even allow a reward for those that are unhoused to collect trash and bring it to a location so they can recieve some sort of monetary reward.

KaleahE   2024-10-24 07:14:07

That inspired me to want to tell my city council about this because not only will this help the cities look great it would get the people going because who doesn't like money, most people do so this is a great idea.

im_not_olivia   2024-11-18 14:32:06

I really like the idea of cleaning up our world. Whenever I see a piece of trash I pick it up and put it away in the trash or wherever it belongs. If we all do this, this will lead to a nicer and just better world.

violet.B   2025-05-15 20:14:39

I agree that it is very important to clean up after the Earth, as it is the home to all of us and we ultimately depend on it. When I drive from my house to school in the mornings, I see trash dumped on the side of the roads which I find very sad because of the many negative impacts it has on the environment. According to the reading "Planet or Plastic?" by National Geographic, "Plastic waste kills up to a million seabirds and 100,000 marine mammals each year." This is a prime example of how littering harms the wildlife and the environment as a whole, and should be taken into account before choosing to carelessly discard your trash. Furthermore, the article, "How Does Littering Affect the Environment?' by Green Paper Products, states that "When litter breaks down, it releases harmful chemicals and microplastics. For example, polystyrene breaks into tiny pieces that pollute soil and waterways, disrupting natural habitats and food chains." This is just another aspect that should be thought about before preforming these acts, as although it may not seem like a big deal, or won't have a large affect, it truly damages ecosystems that depend on a healthy environment to survive.

phkiBOD   2025-05-16 12:50:32

I agree that we, as residents of this Earth, must clean up our environment, as no one benefits from littering and pollution. However, people are often unbothered to clean their messes up or place their trash in the proper bins, thus leaving those who wish to leave the world a better place in a difficult position, where we must work more. The disruption of our environment due to pollution, has caused many tragedies to happen both to mankind and animals.

sykeBOD   2025-05-16 13:37:48

I agree with this. Plastic pollution is becoming a bigger problem than ever before; microplastics are appearing in food, marine life is suffering, and plastic waste is pervasive. As seen in National Geographic's article on the Great Pacific Garbage Patch, "For many people, the idea of a 'garbage patch' conjures up images of an island of trash floating on the ocean. In reality, these patches are almost entirely made up of tiny bits of plastic, called microplastics... The microplastics of the Great Pacific Garbage Patch can simply make the water look like a cloudy soup. This soup is intermixed with larger items, such as fishing gear and shoes." This example re-defines how we think about our waste. Plastics are often present even when not visible to the naked eye. This presents a new problem, an invisible enemy in which our oceans and waterways are polluted with. We need to find solutions to either getting rid of microplastics or stop them from being created in the first place.

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andoBOD   2025-05-16 06:49:52
Comfort before Care?

For centuries now, we as human beings have been destroying our planet. Though our actions might not seem that big, every single one has a gigantic impact of the environment. By choosing to drive somewhere instead of walking, biking or even taking public transportation we are emitting more CO2 into the atmosphere than necessary. By wanting mores space for cities, factories and malls, so that we can live in abundance, we cut down forests, eliminating entire ecosystems. This process is called deforestation. Our overconsumption, intemperance and lack of constraint is seen everywhere in society; but somehow our compassion, care and action has been missing for so long. People have known, what we are doing to our earth for centuries, but they did not bother to think and stop. Though our earth is not right, for it is the only earth there is, it is the world that does not belong to anybody, though sometimes humans seem to think it belongs to them and they are the only one son it. They set their priorities straight. Before our home and its beauty, they put profit and comfort. We are stripping the earth of all it has, not caring about the fact that the earth gives us so much. The earth gives us life. Without it, we would not exist.
The novel "Dry" by Neal and Jarrod Shusterman explores a dystopian California, during an extreme drought that they call a "Tap Out". The way the novel is written, the reader can infer that it is set in a very near future. It shows the chaos in society and the struggles of the people. By highlighting all these negative effects, every reader can easily say; "This is not what they want for myself". However, the say these things during a call on the newest phone, while eating a highly processed hamburger and while drinking out of a plastic cup. If they really do not want it for themselves then why is nobody ever doing anything. Everybody wants to care, but not because they believe its right, but because they know they should. Everybody wants to care, but who really does care in a society that is built for everybody to keep consuming, a society that is built for everybody to drive fancy cars, in a society that is not built around the needs of the earth.
By putting profit and comfort before everything else, humans have mindlessly done something to the planet that might soon be irreversible. I guess they have chosen the life they want; living abundantly now and suffering later.

I want to mention, that though in a lot of parts of this response I say none, nobody and everybody I know that there really is people out there who try to help. This extreme words were just used to highlight how extreme the situation is, and though people to care, those people are normally not those in power. If the people in powerful positions started working for the environment, then we might be able to make a bigger hange.

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jlliBOD   2025-05-15 22:07:56
Environmental Justice and Who Gets Left Behind

Environmental justice is about fairness--making sure no group carries more of the environmental burden than others. But, in practice, it’s often the same communities, usually poor and marginalized, who face the worst climate impacts. They live near polluted areas, deal with rising heat, and have fewer resources to adapt.

It reminds me of the way injustice shows up in literature--like in Of Mice and Men or The Grapes of Wrath, where people at the bottom are hit hardest by forces they can’t control. Climate change works the same way. It’s not just about the environment--it’s about power, inequality, and who has the ability to recover.

When we talk about climate action, we should also be talking about justice. That means listening to the people most affected and making sure they’re part of the solution. Without that, any “solution” leaves someone behind.

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achinea17   2024-10-23 19:29:18 (Last post: 2025-05-15 18:32:23)
Lawn Care Warning

It has become a shock to me how much the effects of having pesticides used on your lawn care can negatively affect the environment around you. Especially, if your home or business is near a body of water because the pesticides used on your lot will eventually end up in that water which can cause a huge problem like algae or other environmental issues. The website I have provided in this post can give you excellent information of the dangers and pros of pesticides on your lawn care.

https://www.epa.gov/safepestcontrol/law … den#safely

katelyn_ryan   2024-10-24 11:24:01

It shocked me as well, we need to find better ways to take care of our lawns that do not affect the environment in such harmful ways. We really need to start being more cautious especially when it comes to our water sources since our Earth is mainly made up of water.

Kyelle   2024-10-25 07:31:50

Thanks for this info i never really thought about how lawn care products can affect the local environment I will think about what we use in our yards next time

dukiBOD   2025-05-15 18:32:23

I agree, it’s surprising the impact pesticides have on the environment. Lots of them use phosphorus, and when it goes into water it causes algae to grow from lots of nutrients which can lead to hypoxia, which is when the water has low oxygen. That means that the stuff inside can die and it’s bad for the environment. An environmental article states, “Using fewer fertilizers and adjusting the timing of fertilizer applications to limit runoff of excess nutrients from farmland” (Bruckner, n.d.). So I feel like it’s our duty to use fertilizers with precaution, away from water and doing it at times where water doesn't wash it into places it can harm the environment. Thanks for posting this because it got me to think about how we can use fertilizers but try and avoid the downsides they have on the environment.

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trrntoo   2024-04-26 10:21:26 (Last post: 2025-05-15 10:34:00)
Begin to change our habits to save the planet together

It is preferable to recycle all plastic bottles to store detergents or soaps

Alessia.xcarnaru013   2024-10-22 22:30:54

Yes,It's a very good idea!In my country there are special containers for recycling cans

maluBOD   2025-05-15 10:34:00

I agree that it is good to reuse containers for other purposes. It helps not to throw away such things, keeping them usable continuously. In my family, for example, sometimes we reuse candle containers after all the candles are burned. We usually create or consolidate them. We also save bags for as long as possible, for store trips and whatnot. It is a wonderful idea to reuse plastic bottles, as that is also something I have done. Reusing different things is beneficial for the future and is friendlier for the Earth.

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domdomareki   2024-03-28 07:56:48 (Last post: 2025-05-15 09:36:09)
Negative effect's of cattle farming.

Cons of cattle farming-

Contributes about 11%–17% of global greenhouse gas emissions
.methane and nitrous oxide released from digestion
.land use and conversion and desertification
.vast amount of food and resources being consumed
.1,800 gallons of water per pound of beef produced.

Thomas.Forsyth   2024-04-01 05:47:41

The costs of the cattle industry greatly outweigh any benefits in my opinion. It takes up massive plots of land while producing minimal meat. There are a lot more climate friendly options, like Guinea pigs that take up a lot less space and resources. Alternatively, you can pick a vegetarian or vegan diet.

WiSuBOD   2025-05-15 09:36:09

Great points! I agree that cattle farming has a big environmental impact. Methane from digestion is especially harmful since it traps more heat than carbon dioxide. Also, using so much land and water for just one pound of beef isn’t very efficient. I think if more people tried plant-based options, it could help lower emissions and save resources.

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TheronA   2025-05-14 11:19:53
Carbon footprint

Completing the carbon footprint questionnaire made me realize how much my daily habits impact the environment, especially in areas like home energy transportation. I was surprised to learn that my home’s heating system use contributed significantly to my emissions. In the future I plan limit transportation, lower my thermostat in the winter and suggest solar panels to limit electrical usage. This experience has made me more mindful of how small changes in my lifestyle can help lower my carbon footprint.

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0513   2024-10-24 10:37:53
Waste-reduction and recycling

In densely populated urban areas, waste reduction and recycling are crucial for managing environmental impact and improving public health. Cities with large populations generate vast amounts of waste, putting immense pressure on landfills and waste disposal systems. By implementing robust recycling programs and encouraging waste reduction, urban centers can significantly decrease the volume of waste sent to landfills, conserving valuable space and reducing methane emissions. This not only lowers the environmental footprint but also creates economic opportunities through the recycling industry, providing jobs and promoting a circular economy. In high-density cities, reducing single-use plastics, expanding composting initiatives, and incentivizing businesses to adopt sustainable packaging can help mitigate waste. Moreover, with a large population to educate and engage, city-wide efforts can cultivate a culture of sustainability, inspiring residents to adopt long-term habits that reduce consumption and waste.
https://www.epa.gov/recycle/reducing-and-reusing-basics

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Ke'Arie   2024-10-24 07:43:29
gender equality and empowering all women and girls.

Did you know that progress in women’s political participation remains slow. According to my research on the UN Sustainable Development goals... In local governments, the participation was higher at 35.5% as of 1 January 2023. While global employment sees nearly 40% representation from women, they only held 27.5% of management positions in 2022, a notable decrease from 28.5% in 2021.

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3468   2023-05-03 23:37:25 (Last post: 2024-10-24 07:24:27)
Ocean Conservation

Ever since I was little it would always amaze me how careless people could be; throwing their junk into the ocean. Don't they know there are living creatures living there? But let's be honest we have all made mistakes before this however cannot be an excuse to keep on repeating the same ones. We as of right now must stand up for our oceans. Turtles suffocating on plastic bags and sharks getting trapped in old fishing nets are just not right. Why do we have to be so cruel when they did nothing wrong? Hope is still not lost, we can change. But all it takes is a step, a step that everyone can make, a step that can be so powerful it can change millions of lives underwater. So please next time you feel an urge to throw your trash on the ground, remember the animals you will be hurting, the ecosystem that is slowly declining.

zacab   2023-05-04 02:28:12

yes i agree with your opinion because when i go surfing i can see a lot of trash and it didn't make me feel good. I can't understand why can't people make an effort to throw trash in the trashcan. I thought that with the new technology we would have better lives in 2023.

Maryam09   2023-11-04 17:06:01

I also think that we have to help save our planet through not polluting our precious oceans. We have to live together with our animals and not against them. We can do this through using our trash cans to the best of our abilities. If we do not see any trash cans around, we have to hold onto the trash until we can get rid of it wisely. Another way we can help our oceans is by helping to pick up trash around them. There are many organizations that are focused around helping to clean the ocean and pick up as much trash as possible in a day. One of these organizations is The Ocean Cleanup. This organization is a non-profit that has the main goal of cleaning up to 90% of the oceans floating plastic pollution.

Jayonna C.   2024-10-24 07:24:27

This statement is something I can definitely agree with. I feel for sea life because they receive a lot of harm to their ecosystems. People dump lots of trash either not knowing or not caring about how much they're dumping into the ocean. Also, another harmful thing to sea life is oil. there are lots of reports about how oil is damaging sea ecosystems.

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Petra12   2024-10-22 22:32:49
Environment

I think we should start taking care of our planet by not throwing our trash on the floor and start recycling for a healthier environment.

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Alessia.xcarnaru013   2024-10-22 22:32:44
Sustenability

Sustainability is a principle in life that helps me to be more responsible with natural resources and to keep the living environment as healthy as possible!?✨??

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Alessia.xcarnaru013   2024-10-22 22:28:53
Natural resources

Hey!?
I will try to save natural resources like turn off the lights that I don't need,turn off the water when I'm brushing my teeth,and more else.
I'm also going to start a journal,where I will be responsible about the natural resources!??
What about you?

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07iness   2024-10-22 22:25:36
ECO SISTEM

I’m trying to recycle to stop polluting with thousands of plastic cans

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07Niko   2024-10-22 22:25:00
Environmental Justice

Keep the environment clean for a healthy life!

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amalia__aaaaa   2024-10-22 22:24:12
Environment

Don't leave the water running while you are brushing your teeth,just turn it off and use it when you really need it.

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James C USA   2024-04-23 11:12:45 (Last post: 2024-10-16 10:17:52)
Reusable lunch trays

Today I had to do an assignment in class and it was about reducing carbon footprint. All day I have been thinking what to do, that's when I thought of it. Do you know how much plastic is being used and thrown away each and every day due to school lunch trays. For this fact I think we should start using reusable lunch trays. The reusable lunch trays will basically just be a materials we can use over and over again for lunch hints the name reusable lunch tray.

James C USA   2024-04-24 11:14:15

Today I had to do an assignment in class and it was about reducing carbon footprint. All day I have been thinking what to do, that's when I thought of it. Do you know how much plastic is being used and thrown away each and every day due to school lunch trays. For this fact I think we should start using reusable lunch trays. The reusable lunch trays will basically just be a material we can use over and over again for lunch hints the name reusable lunch tray. According to cafeteriaculture.org which did an estimation of New York's schools. They found out that NYC public schools throw away 850,000 styrofoam trays a day. All together about 80 trays per foot adding up to a whomping 2 miles high, if stacked on top of each other. They found out that this is 8.5 times the height of the empire state building. It is important to know that this is all just in one day in just one city. Now just imagine how much more this problem would be weekly. Around 4,250,000 styrofoam trays a school week. Now if you take this and use 80 trays per foot, you get 10 miles of styrofoam trays a week that get thrown away. If your worried people won't be interested in helping, a lot of people will be willing to partake in using reusable lunch trays. “We created giant NO-STYRO data PUPPETS, each made of 500 used and washed lunch trays. We took the puppets all over NYC and to City Hall. People laughed first, then heard our story of toxic and polluting styrene foam and were inspired to take action!” STYROFOAM OUT OF SCHOOLS. By reducing the amount of styrofoam thrown away it can help bring justice for the environment by eliminating the amount of trash around the world. Styrofoam also when broken down can be easily mistaken as food for smaller marine animals. This will help the environment in the long term along with other ideas that the new younger generation has, which can help keep the earth going for a long time. https://www.cafeteriaculture.org/foam-t … hools.html

stationary   2024-09-25 09:23:37

I have seen some videos of 'school lunches around the world' and I noticed that some of them had metal lunch trays. I wonder how easy that would be to integrate into US schools. It seems like it might be expensive to make and install a way to clean them. Is that what you meant by reusable lunch trays?

c00per   2024-09-25 09:27:04

In my school we are still using throw aways cardboard trays. However i think it would be much more efficient if they used metal or plastic trays. This will lower carbon foot print and save money for other things in the school that provide for students. It may cost a bit to clean but i feel like they could make profit not after a long time.

calim   2024-09-25 09:30:33

many people still use plastic bags for their lunches. we should only be using things we can wash and use again for lunches,

jadtam090@ausdg.us   2024-10-11 11:36:05

I strongly agree because if we use reusable it costs less money and it also helps use less waste for one use trays and it helps the enviornment because there will be way less waste environment

aissur   2024-10-11 12:21:09

In our school, we have paper trays that get recycled, as in our old school we had reusable ones. The thing with the reusable ones was the staff washes them, but there is still things on it which can be concerning.

hanshi   2024-10-15 14:23:38

At my old school in 5th and 4th grade we switch to metal trays/reusable and we had way less trash!

sopwin   2024-10-16 10:14:39

At my old elementary school we partnered with a company that helps schools get metal lunch trays and utensils. Sadly, I cannot remember the name of the company. The lunch trays were really cool, and made of metal so we could wash them. After you were done with lunch you would put the tray and utensils in a bin and the school would take them to a company that cleans the utensils and trays for schools. I highly recommend talking to your principal about this. With some hard work and lots of determination this can become a reality.

wilmei   2024-10-16 10:17:52

my school uses paper trays at my house we use only glass but my school only uses paper every day their are thousands of paper trays cause they use more trays for the food so they have double trays for each person if you ask me that's a lot of paper used in one day alone

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Fatimah   2022-11-04 12:31:28 (Last post: 2024-09-26 20:28:48)
Stop littering!

People should stop littering and throwing their junk such as plastic bags on the ground whenever they are done with the snack they just ate. They should rather stop being lazy and throw their waste in the trashbin. Saving the community from pollution by doing a simple act of consideration should not be too much of a hassle.

connor4412   2024-09-25 10:00:33

I think we can all agree that littering is bad and I don't think anyone would disagree with out on that. I think that there a multiple causes of littering and pollution, but while the are related, they are kind of two different things. I think of littering as something like dropping a wrapper on the ground, and I think of pollution as a more serious and company controlled issue. So, I do agree with you, but I think that pollution is a little bit different.

Loic1234567890   2024-09-25 10:06:14

I agree with you conner however I think it needs to be treated the same in order to truly stop it

Char B   2024-09-26 20:28:48

I completely agree that littering is a significant issue that can be easily addressed through simple actions. It’s frustrating to see people carelessly discard plastic bags and other waste, especially when taking a moment to throw it in a trash bin makes such a big difference. Littering not only harms our communities but also impacts the environment in numerous ways. Each small act of consideration can contribute to a cleaner and healthier space for everyone. Encouraging a culture of responsibility around waste disposal is crucial. We all have a role to play in keeping our surroundings clean, and it really shouldn’t be too much to ask.

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Aqua Elephant   2024-09-25 11:16:55
Climate Change Education

More people need to be educated on Climate Change. The fact that so many people still doesn't believe it is real is insane.

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ilya1   2023-04-28 11:14:12 (Last post: 2024-09-25 09:32:23)
coral bleaching due to climate change

One major habitat that is hugely impacted by an increase in temperatures is the coral reef. These groups of reefs serve as home to many incredibly diverse species. However, as the ocean temperatures rise due to the increase of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, the corals go through a process called "bleaching." Corals have a symbiotic relationship with a kind of single-celled dinoflagellate called zooxanthellae. The zooxanthellae live inside the corals, giving them their vibrant colors and energy through photosynthesis while the corals protect the organisms. As the temperature of the ocean rises, the corals experience stress due to the shift in their environment, leading them to release the zooxanthellae. This rids them of their beautiful colors (hence the "bleaching" part) and their main source of food. So, as these corals starve and eventually die, all of the organisms that rely on the reefs as a habitat are also affected, effectively destroying an entire ecosystem. When such an important ecosystem is impacted so strongly, the rest of the world will be affected in some way, so it is vital that coral bleaching is stopped and measures are put in place to protect the reefs and other environments affected by climate change.

CAGR   2024-05-12 21:18:59

I agree, coral bleaching is a very serious problem impacting our oceans, and there needs to be action to fight the massive disruptions to coral reef ecosystems. For example, many species are getting pushed out of coral reef ecosystems or having to adapt to their changing habitats. Invasive species, like lionfish, are also becoming a problem in these habitats. Research by NOAA outlines the effects of invasive lionfish on coral reefs and how they add to the stress of coral reefs.

fidaBOD   2024-05-14 14:21:23

There is clearly a correlation between the two situations. in 1980 NOAA recorded an average ocean surface temperature of 0.25 degrees celsius. In 2022 the recorded an average of around 0.7 degrees celsius. Below is an image comparing images from the Great Barrier Reef from 1980 to 2020.
[img]file:///C:/Users/Findley/Downloads/338_2021_2144_Fig1_HTML.pdf[/img]

ClaireAmrhein   2024-09-25 09:32:23

I agree save the ocean we need to stop coral bleaching and protect are ecosystem

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HenryLin   2024-04-23 00:32:18 (Last post: 2024-04-24 17:36:23)
Why oil is bad for the environment

Hi my name is Henry today i would like to discuss why oil is bad for our environment. Oil was first discover around the 600BC by the Chinese at first it was mainly use to transport bamboo as time changed the first car invented around the second world war that was when oil was start being use for automobile. Till today oil is one of the main fuel use for cars, but even though its a great fuel for cars but did you know that oil can actually damage the environment based on a article written by the World Wildlife Fund organization they state that Oil and gas operations could release many tons of harmful pollutants into the air and discharge dangerous chemicals into the water, thereby degrading the clean air and water. Not only that it will damage the environment but the toxic effects of inhaling vapors and ingesting oil when grooming or feeding can cause animals sick therefore i believe that using oil is damaging our environment.

By Henry
Heres a video from youtube about this discussing i will post down here

Carl2010good   2024-04-23 03:36:01

Hi Henry, I hope that companies could stop using oil but unfortunately for this time, it is like a fantasy story being told to small children. Big companies would die not to stop oil production since you would get lots and lots of money. But what happens if there is no Earth to earn that money? Do companies think that far into the future? Adults now only think about their life now, not about our life as Gen Z or Gen Alpha. They will life a life with luxury and air to breathe but for us, dirt and air hard to breathe. Adults only created Covid, not us as children. They are the reason why the only home we have is at risk. But, adults are hard to control, especially since the “Golden Rule” says respect your “eLdErS”.

WilsonWu   2024-04-23 04:09:24

I completely agree with this statement. Companies using oil is causing tons of pollution to our Earth. Companies nowadays are thinking about saving money, making profit, and thinking about current times. Thankfully many companies are starting to turn from gas cars to electric cars. Many companies are thinking making their cost cheaper and making high profit, using gas now are more efficient and cost saving for many tools. But it is pretty hard to get companies to start going to electric

W Smores   2024-04-24 17:21:38

I agree that oil is bad for the environment.

Vvivianl   2024-04-24 17:36:23

Hi Henry, I agree what you said. Although oil is a conventional source, it still caused a lot of damage to our world. People should start taking this seriously and take actions too. Like, understand how it impacts out world and know what you can help.

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Camille6321:   2024-04-23 03:35:26
Happy Late Earth Day

Every year, people throughout the world commemorate Earth Day to show support for environmental conservation. Earth Day inspires people to come together and take action in favor of a healthier world and a better future by serving as a global reminder of the importance of environmental sustainability and conservation. How can you support our house in any way? Here are a few easy ways we can all do our part to improve the planet. We have the option to take part in beach clean-ups and donate to companies who recycle plastic to make bags, chairs, and even tables (Enviro Tech Winder recycling)! Even the simplest actions can have the greatest impact on our world such as bringing your bags when you go shopping and using reusable water bottles instead of buying plastic ones in the supermarket. According to the Center for Biological Diversity, about 5 trillion plastic bags are used by Americans each year. This ends up with about over one trillion plastic bags in the ocean. Imagine all the animals suffering and ending up dead because they're thinking that the plastic bags are jellyfish due to the way they move. Earth Day is just a friendly reminder that the earth is polluted with tons of trash and that it is our responsibility to take care of it and help clean it up.

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KatieMDavis22   2022-10-06 20:29:19 (Last post: 2024-04-05 06:51:06)
adding compost bin to cafeteria

YES YES YES! All schools these days should 100 percent get a compost bin for the cafeteria, cause just think of all the uneaten food and where it's going out into the world.

smnz   2022-11-06 20:23:59

I totally agree. Compost bin in cafeteria is one way that students can participating in helping the environment. Here are some advantages that I found online. To begin with, approximately 84% of food waste from restaurants is disposed of in the garbage, according to a research on restaurant food waste done by the Business for Social Responsibility. Composting not only stops this percentage from rising, but it also has positive effects on the environment. The absence of synthetic chemical fertilizers in compost is the largest advantage for the environment. We consume these chemicals when they are employed in the soil to cultivate fruits and vegetables. Additionally, when it rains, synthetic fertilizers wash away and harm local species. Composting produces healthier produce and has less of an adverse impact on the environment than chemical fertilizers.

Hudson B.   2022-11-06 22:09:19

I Agree with you. I know someone who works as a school lunch server and they have told me about how much food is wasted because all they do with the excess food is throw it in the trash. I believe schools, restaurants, and other places with lots of food shouldn't throw away unused food but give it away to people in need. They could do many things like give it to charities or serve it to the homeless, or even put it in to a compost bin. In conclusion people in general should try their best to avoid wasting food and if they can give some to people in need.

hanavresk1   2023-04-30 03:10:41

I totally agree with you. I like the idea of having compost bin for the cafeteria. In my last school we had compost in the school yard. I think that every school (and all the places that produce a lot of food) should have it because a lot of food goes to waste. Composting also has a positive impact on the environment.

georgeta.bujor   2023-04-30 06:11:38

Students who live in an urban center know less about composting. Examples of good practice could be integrated into their everyday life.
The coordination of specific activities would contribute to the integration of these behaviors that will have a finality in a more or less near future. EDUCATION makes the difference

irmacikac1   2023-05-02 08:59:32

I totally agree with you. I think that is a great idea because lots of food gets thrown away. Compost bin in cafeterias can have positive impact on the environment.

Thomas.Forsyth   2024-04-01 06:01:13

Compost bins are one of the great options for buildings and companies to take a bit of climate initiative. One of the big issues in schools though is that children don’t sort their waste properly. To combat this we can educate them earlier on little ways they can make change, and push for compostable utensils and plates.

JudahBurgess3232   2024-04-05 06:51:06

Very true, I think composting is a great way to reuse the food we don’t eat. Also home gardens could be a great way to implement compost and get fresh food out to everyone.

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JudahBurgess3232   2024-04-05 06:23:32
Solar panels

I think that in order to make our energy more clean that we need to advocate for more solar panels and other clean energy sources like wind turbines.

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carbonara123   2023-11-13 22:09:28 (Last post: 2023-11-17 11:46:40)
The rich and wealthy

6

I think that sustainability can come naturally to those who can't go around tossing money down the drain. I find families with less money tend to use items that would otherwise go in the garbage or find creative solutions that don't involve buying more products. For example: reusing Ziploc bags, using plastic bags as garbage bags, using bread bags to store food in the fridge, keeping plastic takeout cutlery and containers and unused condiment packets. I can't imagine most of the ultra-rich do this as well.

Millyvanilly   2023-11-17 11:46:40

I definitely agree with this, I think being in the upper middle class, I don't tend to see the luxuries of having unlimited supplies of single use practice but having that never ending supply makes reusing it seem not necessary which causes me to use more. I think it hard to get this through the upper classes head, the thought of finding alternate uses for what they see as "garbage" would probably go against their lifestyle which most have been taught their entire lives.

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MD5492   2022-11-04 12:47:32 (Last post: 2023-11-14 00:34:30)
Plastic recycling

Instead of throwing your plastic away after the very first use, you could reuse it, like plastic water bottles, plastic containers, etc, and when you are done using them, you could recycle them and take them to a local plastic recycling place.

Julian Beck   2022-11-04 13:11:05

I agree we should reuse plastic and recycle it when we cant anymore. Though I wonder how much of the plastic actually gets reused when we recycle it.

julieScience2   2022-11-04 13:18:51

I agree. Also, I recognized as a German that more countries should start separating their trash. Most of people just throw everything together, but we should separate plastic, glass, and paper so we can reuse them.

triniti   2022-11-04 14:10:30

Plastic recycling is so beneficial to our environment, in more ways than one. Recycling our plastic means we won’t have to keep filling up the landfills with plastic that could be reused and reduced.  Reducing our trash in the landfills also means, we reduce how much of it ends up in the oceans, streets, homes, etc. Being able to reuse the trash helps us with keeping out landfills and the environment even cleaner.
--Triniti Tikoi

HarryS   2022-11-04 14:19:34

I believe that there should be more regulations on recycling certain products in order to have a reason for people to recycle instead of leaving trash and plastic on streets that eventually ends up in the ocean and ultimately killing innocent sea creatures.

Ariellee   2022-11-04 14:47:56

I agree that if we are going to use plastic we should reuse it and then recycle it when it can't be used anymore, but it would be better to buy reusable containers/water bottles than plastic.

hanavresk1   2023-04-30 03:22:42

I agree with you. I recycle trash at home. Plastic is a big problem for our environment. I try to reuse plastic because it takes a long time to dissapear, but I don't use plastic as much as I used to. I try to replace plastic items with cloth or paper ones. I also agree with the idea od buying more reusable containers than plastic.
Recycling is not difficult, it takes a very short time, but it helps the environment in a positive way.

irmacikac1   2023-05-04 08:13:39

I agree. I think we should recycle and reuse plastic as much as possible. Also, it is important to recycle plastic at home too. We should reduce the use of plastic bags and water bottles by buying the reusable ones instead. That can also have a positive impact on the environment and sea animals.

bioprint   2023-05-04 10:44:59

I totally agree, we need to reduce the amount of plastic in the world and that isn't possible if we are taking in more plastic every day. One of the solutions is recycling, but we could also use some other sources except plastics in every day life, we already have paper bags, we could maybe use glass bottles for milk and refill them, instead of buying new plastic packages of milk every time. Or maybe use paper packages for products that don't need to be wrapped in plastic.

vita barbir   2023-05-04 11:15:08

We need to recycle in order to reduce the amount of waste we create and save natural resources like water and energy. By recycling, materials don't need to be produced anew, which means that the need for extracting new raw materials from nature is reduced, thus reducing our negative impact on the environment.

Elean0r   2023-05-15 04:05:44

You would have to get rid of most plastic waste it would save money and the environment would be better off. Many people do not know that plastic not only harms animals and the enviroment, but also us humans. Everyone has plastic in their blood.

Lyasia._.   2023-11-03 11:19:57

I agree with this statement. Recycling could be very positive to the earth and its many environments. The start of mass recycling could also help with dying animals such as see turtles. Not only is plastic dangerous but so are the bottle caps on the bottles. We should definitely invest in a recycling bin for our house. Take care of our earth!

elaria   2023-11-14 00:34:30

I agree that it’s a great idea to reuse plastic water bottles and containers. While recycling is great, depending on your city, not everything you put in the recycling actually gets recycled, in fact, a lot of it ends up in the landfill. So if you can find a way to reuse plastic waste, choose that over recycling.

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abmcfly   2023-11-02 13:57:56 (Last post: 2023-11-14 00:11:34)
Destruction of environments

The destruction of resources and open land is a waste of time for everyone. Why build a giant supercomplex on good farmland when you can build good things, like a farm, or an animal shelter, or a hospital. New buildings that go up these days that are not for good things are all just a waste of space. In further, all of the open spaces that are condemned or not being used for anything should be developed into good things, as mentioned before, like hospitals, animal shelters, and homeless shelters.

Kalen.1   2023-11-14 00:11:34

You say that the "destruction of resources and open land is a waste" but what exactly are we wasting here? I agree that the destruction of natural habitats are most certainly awful and should be discouraged. But in highly populated urban areas tearing down an old house or other building is not necessarily a waste of space/resources. You mentioned lots of helpful buildings we could build instead of a complex like a hospital or an animal shelter, and don't get my wrong those are wonderful ideas. But if we look more closely at what exactly is needed in developing countries and even fully developed countries that have a poverty/overpopulation issue I feel we could use that space more affectively building affordable housing for struggling families. Or taking it a step further and building eco friendly housing. This is good for the environment and helps with poverty. Saying that what each urban area needs will differ wherever you look; so it could definitely be more useful to build a hospital like you suggested, prime ideas will vary in different communities.

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noragomes   2023-11-10 15:34:12
Country Environmental Equality

Wealthy countries such as the United States and Canada contribute to climate change much further than poverty-stricken countries do so. This is because of the rapid industrialization, deforestation, and energy overuse that the US and Canada partake in, disrupting the carbon cycle and causing more carbon to be released into the atmosphere. However, although large and wealthy countries's carbon emission are above others, the consequences to their actions have a profound effect on poverty-stricken or poor countries of the world. Countries that are unable to defend themselves against the harsh effects of climate change (unpredictable weather patterns, rising temperatures, loss of wildlife and biodiversity) are the countries that have to pay the price for our privileged negligence. I believe that wealthy countries that evidently put less-fortunate countries in a dangerous situation with the environment should be held accountable, and asked to help people and communities affected by the consequences of their actions.

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noragomes   2023-11-10 15:30:31
Country Environmental Equality

Wealthy countries such as the United States and Canada contribute to climate change much further than poverty-stricken countries do so. This is because of the rapid industrialization, deforestation, and energy overuse that the US and Canada partake in, disrupting the carbon cycle and causing more carbon to be released into the atmosphere. However, although large and wealthy countries's carbon emission are above others, the consequences to their actions have a profound effect on poverty-stricken or poor countries of the world. Countries that are unable to defend themselves against the harsh effects of climate change (unpredictable weather patterns, rising temperatures, loss of wildlife and biodiversity) are the countries that have to pay the price for our privileged negligence. I believe that wealthy countries that evidently put less-fortunate countries in a dangerous situation with the environment should be held accountable, and asked to help people and communities affected by the consequences of their actions.

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Louisa Schwarm   2023-11-05 21:18:21
Should the wealthy be taxed?

I believe that in richer countries (ie. countries that have high GDPs), the wealthy should be held responsible for their impacts on the environment. Where I'm from in the US, the wealthy often live very extravagant lifestyles, flying quite frequently, buying new cars, and using massive amounts of energy with little regard for others, not just in the US but in a larger sense, the world. Despite having the money to purchase more climate-friendly alternatives (which are often quite expensive), they squander their money on trendy brands to help fit in with the other wealthy individuals. I think that because of this the wealthy in richer nations should be taxed an environmental tax to help make up for their large carbon footprints and possibly to make them reflect on their use of resources. They should be assessed by a government official who is sent to their house and notes the appliances they use. The government official should also ask them about their flying habits or how often they leave the lights on, questions that help to create a more accurate reflection of their carbon footprint. They should be placed into tax brackets with those who have higher carbon footprints being taxed more and those who have lower carbon footprints being taxed less. I think that if this were implemented in countries with high GDPs, that the wealthy would start switching their lifestyles to be more eco-friendly to avoid taxing. Additionally, since people often want to emulate the wealthy, if the wealthy began using eco-friendly alternatives to products and trying to reduce their carbon footprints, ordinary people may follow which could cause a large decline in carbon footprints everywhere.

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