Why Business Should Promote Environmental Awareness

In today's day and age, we, as humans, must do our bit for the environment. Our planet may not seem like it, but it is a fragile ecosystem that is coming under extreme pressure because of our lifestyle. As we progress in the industrial and technological spheres, we are putting our environment under more pressure, which is becoming apparent at a rapid rate.

We are witnessing natural disasters that are happening more frequently and with deadlier consequences around the globe. Hurricanes are hitting countries in different parts of the world harder, leaving destruction in its wake. And ocean levels are rising at surprising rates, putting millions of lives at risk in low lying locations. Furthermore, the number of species going extinct or being put on the endangered list is becoming too alarming to ignore. 

That's why the only hope we, as the human race, have is to educate ourselves and develop in harmony with Mother Nature if we plan to leave the next generations with a brighter future. Here, we take a look at how we can promote environmental awareness and the drastic measures that will need to be implemented to curb this downward spiral.

What is Environmental Awareness

In a nutshell, environmental awareness is the education and promotion of working and living in an environmentally friendly manner. It is the knowledge of our responsibility and duty to protect and preserve nature and our planet. Unfortunately, we are responsible for the situation we are in, and only we can save ourselves from it.

Methods of Creating Environmental Awareness

The first course of action we can take as stewards of the environment is to become aware of the current environmental issues. The more we know about our situation, the easier it will be to address these problems and find a solution.

Although you may want to tackle the bigger picture right away, it is far more feasible first to get involved in your community. Join a group that exists already or create your own; many hands make light work. The more members of the community you can attract, the more traction the movement will gain.

Education is Key

You can use loads of resources when trying to educate yourself on the current issues facing us on a global scale. Reading books, watching documentaries, taking online courses, and even attending seminars are just a few ways you can begin making a difference. 

Environmental Issues

Although there are several things to blame for our current predicament, the two main factors are certainly pollution and fossil fuels.

Plastic Waste

Over the years, we have seen a dramatic increase in plastic waste pollution all over the globe. Single-use plastics are undoubtedly the number one culprit, and unfortunately, this problem doesn't look like it's going anywhere, anytime soon.

The only way we can tackle this enormous problem is by starting at home. Re-use or recycle wherever possible, plastic bottles all come with a marking that grades them in terms of how they can be used or disposed of. By recycling your plastic bottles and bags, you are taking a stand, decreasing your carbon footprint.

It may seem like you're not making a difference but if every person on the planet started to be more conscious about their waste, just imagine the impact we could have as a collective on the global plastic waste issue.

Oil

Our need for this fossil fuel has had detrimental effects on the environment over the years. Disasters such as the BP oil spill have managed to grab the attention of the entire planet, but is it too late already. Oil spills are deadly to marine life and birdlife. Oil spills alone are considered one of the main causes of the death of entire marine ecosystems.

It's not only in the form of spills that oil has an impact on the environment, though. The burning of fossil fuels contributes to the already high levels of CO2 in the atmosphere which is having a suffocating effect on the planet. The rise in CO2 levels is directly linked to global warming and ocean acidification; as the temperatures rise, ocean levels will increase. As you can see, the entire system is linked, and if one fails, it will cause a chain reaction that will see our demise on this planet. The only way to stop this is to raise awareness so we can all work together.