2020 Essay Contest Winner

Entry by Akhshith Rengaraju

Our Next Step

As intelligent civilizations, we’ve advanced from the Stone Age to the Modern Age by utilizing natural resources from the Earth. But we don’t always ponder about how they’re processed. Our world is shaped by the dangerous effects this can cause, such as global warming and the loss of biodiversity.

We, the young generation of the future have the responsibility and potential to change our world for the better. Schools should enforce a policy to have a mandatory class named “Earth Solutions”, where students are educated about “Reuse, Reduce, and Refuse”. Students should also be made aware of all unnecessary products which aren’t biodegradable and develop a practice of completely avoiding one-use items. These can include plastics, decorative items for celebrations, styrofoam products, and ceramics. Additionally, we should be taught about our “Needs and Wants” considering the environment.

Our planet’s natural biodiversity is the world’s largest cleanser, absorbing ⅔ of the carbon often released by wildfires, deforestation, and burning fossil fuels. So far, 3 trillion trees are chopped for timber, reducing the remaining wilderness to a mere 35%. It’s not too late to reverse the effect by using renewable energy harvested from solar, hydro, wind, and geothermal power.

As communities, we can put pressure on manufacturers of harmful non-recyclable products to stop, and persuade companies to invest in renewable energy. We should enforce policies involving responsible recycling, reusing materials, and the use of biodegradable and plant-based products. Younger generations should be cultivated about efficient methods of transportation, eco-friendly shopping, composting food waste, agriculture, effects of pollution, conserving energy, and priority over needs than wants. Our knowledge, education, and love for our planet should be implemented in the right way. Let’s step down from luxurious living standards to an eco-friendly one, and form our future: The Green Age.