Environmental Journalism

MAC 322

1.0 Understand the nature of the environment and human society

2.0 Understand environmental issues that promote human society

3.0 Understand media role in reporting human and environmental issues

4.0 Understand media advocacy in environmental sustainability and human development

Environment Definition
The environment is simply the natural environment in which people, animals, and plants exist.
The word "environment" comes from the French word "virer" (to turn) or "in/viron" (to encircle),
and it refers to how organisms, including people, interact with their natural surroundings. The
surroundings in which living and non-living objects exist are hence considered the environment,
Interact, develop, or die. The environment's characteristics control how the local wildlife lives.

Components of Environment
The four major components of environment include lithosphere, hydrosphere, atmosphere and
biosphere, corresponding to soil, water, air, organisms and solar energy. It has provided us all the
resources for leading a comfortable life.
 Lithosphere is the outermost layer of earth called crust, which is made of different minerals. Its
depth can reach up to 100 kilometres and is found on both land (terrestrial crust) and oceans
(oceanic crust). The main component of lithosphere is earth’s tectonic plates.

 Hydrosphere comprises of all forms of water bodies on earth including oceans, seas, rivers,
lakes, ponds, streams etc. It covers 70% of earth’s surface. 97.5% of water found on Earth is in
the oceans in the form of salt water. Only 2.5 % of water on Earth is freshwater. Out of this,
30.8% is available as groundwater and 68.9% is in frozen forms as in glaciers. Amount of 0.3%
is available in rivers, reservoirs and lakes and is easily accessible to man.
 Atmosphere is gaseous layer enveloping the Earth. The atmosphere with oxygen in abundance is
unique to Earth and sustains life. It mainly comprises 78.08% nitrogen, 20.95% oxygen, 0.93%
argon, 0.038% carbon dioxide, and traces of hydrogen, helium, and noble gases. The amount of
water vapour present is variable.

 Biosphere refers to all the regions on Earth where life exists. The ecosystems that support life
could be in soil, air, water or land. The term Biosphere was coined by Geologist Edward Suess
who used this term for place on Earth where life can be found. Biosphere refers to the sum total
of all living matter, the biomass or biota. It extends from the polar ice caps to the equator, with
each region harboring some life form suitable to the conditions there.
The atmosphere, hydrosphere, lithosphere, and biosphere make up the majority of the
environment. Nevertheless, it can be loosely classified into two categories, namely(a)
Microenvironments and (b) Macro environments. It can also be separated into the biotic
environment and the physical environment, respectively.
(a) The term "microenvironment" describes an organism's immediate local environment.
(b) The term "macro environment" describes all of the biotic and physical conditions that are
present outside of the organism.
(c) All abiotic elements or conditions, such as temperature, light, rainfall, soil, minerals, etc.,
are referred to as the physical environment. It is made up of the hydrosphere, atmosphere,
and lithosphere.
(d) All biotic elements, or living things, such as plants, animals, and microorganisms, are
included in the biotic environment.

Environmental Issues
Climate change, pollution, environmental degradation, deforestation, and resource depletion are
some of the major environmental concerns we are currently facing. The conservation movement
campaigns against genetically engineered foods, global warming, and endangered species. It also
advocates for the preservation of any biologically significant natural regions. Numerous issues in
our environment seem to be becoming worse over time, On World Environment Day, people
from all walks of life come together to promote a cleaner, greener, and more optimistic future for
both current generations and themselves. Everybody is important in this project, and World
Environment Day depends on you to make it successful. World Environment Day gives us a
chance to participate in upholding our duty to safeguard the environment, bringing about a
genuine environmental crisis at this point. Therefore, it is becoming more crucial than ever to
spread knowledge about these problems and what can be done to lessen their detrimental effects.
Among the crucial issues are:

1) Pollution: Toxins including plastics and heavy metals produce pollution of the air, water, and
soil and nitrates, which are brought on by things like industrial waste, acid rain, oil spills, and
toxic gases generated by companies, and the burning of fossil fuels.
2) Global warming: Human activity-related greenhouse gas emissions contribute to global
warming, which raises temperatures and, in turn, causes sea levels to rise, polar ice caps to melt,
flash floods, and deserts.
3. Overpopulation: To support the growing global population, particularly in developing
nations, we are facing a shortage of resources including food, water, and fuel. Through the use of
chemical fertilizers, pesticides, and insecticides, intensive agriculture, which seeks to minimize
the issue, instead causes more damage.
4) Waste management: Too much waste is created and dumped in the oceans. Plastic, electrical,
and nuclear waste are all highly hazardous.
5) Ocean acidification: As human activity increases, the acidity of the oceans rises, which has a
detrimental effect on marine life.
6) Biodiversity loss: Human activity is causing species and habitats to go extinct. This upsets the
equilibrium of natural processes like pollination and threatens ecosystems, particularly by
destroying coral reefs.
7) Deforestation: When trees are cut down to create a way for residential, commercial, or
industrial projects, less oxygen is produced, which has an impact on temperature and rainfall.
8) Ozone layer depletion: The ozone layer, which shields the earth from damaging UV
radiation, is destroyed by pollution brought on by chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) in the air.
9) Acid rain: The effects of acid rain on people, animals, and aquatic life are caused by
pollutants in the atmosphere such as sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides.
10) Public health concerns: At the moment, one of the biggest environmental difficulties is a
lack of clean water. Issues like cardiovascular disease and respiratory conditions are also brought
on by air pollution.
Effects of the Issues on Human Society
Anthropogenic or human-caused changes to biophysical environments, ecosystems, biodiversity
and natural resources include global warming, environmental degradation (such as ocean
acidification), mass extinction, and other phenomena.

Impact on the Environment

An environmental impact is defined as any alteration to the environment brought on by the
operations, goods, or services provided by a facility. It is, in other words, the impact that human
behaviour has on the environment. For instance, the result or impact of the release of volatile
organic compounds into the environment is pollution in the form of smog, which is in this case
detrimental. On the other direction, as an individual, picking up trash can have a positive effect
on the neighborhood’s ecology.

Negative Effects
In a civilization that relies on energy, our energy usage frequently has the most significant
negative effects. When hydrocarbons like coal and oil are burned to produce usable energy,
carbon dioxide and other pollutants are released into the atmosphere. Inappropriate trash
dumping into water and land, chemical accidents owing to human error, rising population
pressure on resources (particularly as a result of consumerism), and many other activities also
contribute to harm. Following is some of the effects that they have on the environment:

 Changes in the climate, such as global warming

 Pollution includes photochemical haze, acid rain, and other factors.
 Acidification of the sea
 wildlife displacement or extinction
 Depletion of resources: water, food, and more

Environmental Reporting
Environmental journalism is the process of gathering, confirming, producing, disseminating, and
displaying data about current events, trends, and problems relating to the non-human world. One
needs to grasp scientific jargon to work as an environmental journalist. The person must apply
what they know about past environmental events. It is necessary to be able to keep up with
environmental groups and policy decisions. An environmental journalist should be able to
transmit facts to the public in an understandable manner and have a general awareness of current
environmental challenges.
Environmental communication encompasses environmental journalism. Writing about nature can
be seen as its ancestor. How to identify environmental journalism from its related fields is one
area of debate in the field.
Journalists covering environmental problems educate and engage the public about significant
environmental challenges. The general population wants to keep informed about potential
dangers to their environment and their implications for human and ecological health, whether it
is climate change, dirty coal plants, or genetically modified crops. Without resorting to
sensationalism or jargon, reporters should be able to explain developments relating to these
topics in a clear, fair, impartial, and interesting manner. Their accounts ought to enhance
communication between journalists, scientists, decision-makers, and the general public.
The journalism industry moves quickly. Daily routines can change. Every day, Journalists will
invest time in their research, source interviews, writing of stories, use of social media,
photography, videography, and/or video editing. Depending on where they work (a daily
newspaper versus a monthly magazine) and whether their story is time-sensitive, the deadline
pressure can change.
Environmental journalists must be able to tell stories effectively on a variety of media, including
radio, television, and the web. It is essential to be eager to adopt new technological
advancements and storytelling formats.

Reporting on hot-button environmental issues like pollution, climate change, genetic

engineering, factory farming, or canned trophy hunting is known as environmental journalism. It
also includes news and studies regarding animals and wildlife, conservation, and environmental
problems like these. A writer could choose to work as an environmental journalist for a variety
of reasons. The ones that Africa Media considers to be most significant are listed below.

What is an Environmental Journalist's Job?

Journalists cover a wide range of topics. Journalists conduct research, elicit information, seek
solutions, and share their discoveries with the public on a variety of topics, such as the Middle
East wars and contemporary pop culture. Environment-related subjects hold a special interest for
environmental journalists.
If you work as an environmental journalist, you might travel the globe or focus more on local
information gathering. You may cover a variety of subjects or choose to focus on just one, like
global warming or deforestation. The ability to pursue your interest is what makes this profession
so enjoyable.
What environmental issue is very important to you? Would you like Congressmen to act? Is it
your intention to encourage recycling? You may want to raise awareness of water conservation,
pollution, or chemical waste.
Keep your facts accurate when producing pieces as an environmental journalist, whether they are
for radio, television, newspapers, magazines, or even a book you are writing. Therefore, you
conduct a ton of studies before you fly out to interview the CEO of a major firm accused of
disposing of garbage into a nearby river or the Scientist who asserts that food supplies are
dangerous. Your interviews are designed to go deep into the issue.
Your interviews are designed to go deep into the issue, which entails posing challenging queries
and searching for solutions that nobody else has discovered.
Naturally, you are reporting facts, therefore it's crucial to maintain objectivity, acquire data from
all sides, and provide both sides of the story.

THE BEST WAY TO SPREAD KNOWLEDGE ABOUT CLIMATE CHANGE IS

THROUGH ENVIRONMENTAL JOURNALISM
The most effective defense against climate change is a conscious society. And here is where
environmental journalists are so important because they educate and increase public awareness.
Ones that are becoming more and more important are topics like sustainability, biodiversity, and
renewable energy. Increasing public knowledge of the environment is one of the goals of
environmental journalism.
In contemporary democracies, the consensus among the populace is required for public
authorities to propagate their policies. Sustainability-related policies are not an exception. As a
society, we can only advance environmental policy if we educate people on environmental issues
like global warming and sustainable development. Environmental journalism fills a crucial need
in this context.

OBJECTIVES OF ENVIRONMENTAL JOURNALISM

Environmental journalism can be characterized as current affairs journalism that is concerned
with nature and the environment, particularly the impact of human activity on the environment,
to raise public awareness. However, each expert brings his or her distinct style to the topic.
Other goals of environmental journalism, in addition to enlightening and increasing societal
knowledge, include:
 creating a discussion on environmental issues
 encouraging the populace.
 bringing together subjects that aren't covered in the mainstream media.
 fostering collaboration between the general public, communicators, organizations, NGOs,
and any other agents working on environmental issues.
 encouraging the adoption and development of environmental policy.
The fact that climate change has lately surpassed international terrorism as Europeans' top
concern is an illustration of the significance of environmental journalism. The European
Parliament's annual study, the Eurobarometer, came to this primary conclusion at the end of the
year, a shift in focus that pushes businesses to take responsibility for the environmental effects of
their operations to uphold their reputations while also paving the way for more effective policies
to combat global warming
Function of Environmental Reporting
External (or societal) function and internal function are the two primary purposes of
environmental reporting, internal process, which encourages environmental efforts in business
operations. It sounds extremely significant role in supporting groups' actions that involve
voluntary environmental efforts.
The three tasks listed below are external ones that environmental reporting can be utilized
between the organization and the general public regarding the environment.
1 Disclose information based on an organization's social responsibility
2 Serve as a resource for information that helps interested parties make decisions.
 3 Promote environmental initiatives by establishing "a pledge and review" between
companies and the general public.

The following two are internal processes.

(4) Create or amend environmental policies, goals, and initiatives of organizations.
(5) Function to inspire management and staff and to promote environmentally their activities.
When reporting on environmental issues and publishing them, it is crucial to plan objectives that
are successfully achieved by environmental reporting.

There are five good reasons to work as an environmental journalist.

Reporting on hot-button environmental issues like pollution, climate change, genetic
engineering, factory farming, or canned trophy hunting is known as environmental journalism. It
also includes news and studies regarding animals and wildlife, conservation, and environmental
problems like these. A writer could choose to work as an environmental journalist for a variety
of reasons. The ones that Africa Media considers to be most significant are listed below.
1. Building the future generation of environmental and wildlife journalists
An environmental article requires much study (an enormous amount, actually). Compared
to other travel or environmental writing genres, this one is more serious. Every truth
needs to be verified, and every information source needs to be double-checked. Writers
frequently get knowledge in this in-depth study procedure. This is a great approach to
educate yourself and eventually become an authority on all things environmental if you
want to work as an environmental journalist. This implies that you can instruct people
about topics like the value of conservation.

2. Environmental issues are being recognized Globally.

More organizations are contributing to environmental improvement. Additionally, more
individuals are becoming aware of the negative effects of single-use plastics. More
information is being disseminated on how to support sustainability and conservation. For
once, the human population appears to be interested in a social movement that is good for
the environment, and more people are aspiring to be environmental journalists. Choosing
to focus on environmental writing is one way to participate in this global dialogue. It also
helps you stay updated about the many points of view on environmental issues.
3. Researching and writing an environmental article is an exciting process
Environmental writers must employ serious interviewing and investigative techniques in
their reporting because the issue is weightier and more factual. Your piece might be the
first to address a subject that no one else has covered, or it might be the one to draw
attention to a company's unethical environmental policies. You can spread new
information about a particular environmental concern if you work as an environmental
journalist. This is a motivating idea for journalists who are passionate about conducting
in-depth research and investigative reporting.

4. Possibility of independent publication

The ambition of any journalist is to pick a genre or subject that they are passionate about
and then get paid for writing about it. Most media outlets, especially travel periodicals
and websites, now either produce more content on environmental issues or have a section
dedicated to environmental news. Since there are many periodicals, freelancers can
submit their environmental pieces to them. In other words, they continue to add published
works to their portfolio. Possessing published publications on environmental subjects is a
valuable addition to your work history if you're thinking about a job in environmental
work or conservation.

5. Impacting change
Environmental writers employ their writing style and talents for a cause they support.
They contribute to the global conversation about the environment and methods to
safeguard it in this way. They conduct a study on both sides of an environmental problem
before reporting on it in a moral yet practical manner. Despite introducing both sides of
the debate, they do not minimize the significance of the problem in their work. The
author backs up the direness of the topic that he or she has chosen to research with facts
and data. Environmental journalists communicate information in a way that is clear to
readers and leaves a lasting impression, whether they are writing on microplastic
pollution in the ocean, fresh climate change research, the impact of human activities on
certain wildlife species, or other subjects. Although becoming an environmental
 journalist requires a lot of work, it also can transform the world. Environmentalism is
more important than ever in today's world. Environmental journalism can be for you if
you desire to change the world by promoting the preservation of nature.

Functions of Mass Communication

There is no single reason for the existence of mass communication. Its role in our lives has
significantly expanded as a result of the expansion of its uses. Wright defines seven aspects of
mass communication that shed light on how it affects our daily life.
 Surveillance. The primary role of mass communication is to provide those looking for
global information with eyes and ears. The main sources for learning about what is
happening in the world around you are the internet, television, and newspapers. Mass
media is the primary source of news and information in society; it provides information
about our daily life, including the weather, current events, the hottest celebrity rumours,
and even game schedules. Do you still have any memories of the 2013 Boston Marathon
bombing? How were you made aware of it? Instant access to information is available to
users thanks to the internet and mobile devices. By instantaneously delivering the most
recent news to smartphones via notifications, news apps have made mass communication
surveillance readily available.
 Correlation. Correlation examines how the media provides the data we rely on to
navigate the world. Information obtained through mass media is not impartial or
objective. Ironically, some people will say, "If it's on the internet, it must be true."
However, we don't believe that people in previous generations would have automatically
assumed anything "had to be true" just because it was broadcast on the radio. How
trustworthy are the media, in light of this assertion? Can we watch media without
considering its intentions and goals? The information used in the media is chosen,
organized, interpreted, edited, and critiqued by someone. Anyone who works for a major
reality TV show would respond affirmatively if asked if what viewers see is an accurate
depiction of what occurs.
 Sensationalization. If it bleeds, it leads is a cliche in the news business that emphasizes
the concept of sensationalization. When the media presents the most exciting messages to
titillate viewers, this is known as sensationalization. Media managers think in terms of
 consumers rather than citizens, Elliot notes. Unfortunately, both good and bad journalism
are commercially successful. Additionally, it is less expensive and simpler to generate
substandard journalism, such as articles that merely restate official statements or support
popular opinion.
 Entertainment. We are kept up to date on the everyday activities of our favourite
celebrities thanks to media outlets like People Magazine, TMZ, and entertainment
websites like Perez Hilton. Daily, we utilize technology to watch sports, watch movies,
play video games, watch YouTube videos, and listen to iPods. The majority of
mainstream media simultaneously informs and entertains. During our free time, many
people turn to the media as a way to escape boredom and escape the routine of our daily
lives. We look to the media to transport us to locations we could not otherwise afford or
envision, familiarize us with facets of culture, and elicit strong emotions in us. Through
the media we consume, entertainment can have the secondary impact of offering
camaraderie and/or catharsis.
 Transmission. The mass media is a means of disseminating cultural norms, values,
guidelines, and customs. Think about how you first learned about current trends in
fashion or music. The process of socialization is significantly influenced by the mass
media. We look to role models to demonstrate proper cultural norms, yet all too
frequently we fail to recognize when they are acting inappropriately or stereotypically.
The general public starts acting like the individual in the music video, commercial, or
movie in terms of shopping, dressing, smelling, walking, and conversing. Why would
soda companies give Taylor Swift or Kim Kardashian millions of dollars to promote their
drinks? Have you ever altered your haircut or purchased a new pair of shoes as a result of
something you read or saw in the media? Culture, age, media type, and other cultural
factors influence how we learn about and perceive our culture.
 Mobilization. In times of crisis, mass communication works to mobilize the population
(McQuail, 1994). Remember the bombing at the Boston Marathon? Regardless of your
connection to the tragedy, the attack affected all Americans as a whole, and many kept up
with the news until the attackers were apprehended. We may all simultaneously watch the
same events occurring elsewhere in real time thanks to fast access to media and
information, which helps rally a sizable number of people around a certain event. A
 prime illustration of the proactivity of the internet is the online community Reddit.com.
The Reddit community posted witness images and worked to identify the perpetrators as
the FBI was conducting their investigation into the bombing. People believed they were
having an impact.
 Validation. Mass media serves to legitimize the position and standards of specific
people, movements, organizations, or goods. Validating specific individuals or groups
helps to uphold societal standards (Lazarsfeld & Merton). Who are the main characters in
the majority of TV dramas and comedies? Which ethnicity and gender predominate
among the stars? Which ethnicity and what gender are individuals who pretend to be
criminals or those who are deemed abnormal? The media downplays variances and
deviations from specific cultural standards while validating those norms as well. The
focus of a lot of criticism is on how the way that different groups are portrayed in the
media promotes some and marginalizes others.
Given the influence of mass communication's different purposes, we must consider its impact on
our lives (McLuhan & Fiore). Now that we have turned our attention to studying mass
communication, let's examine what and how researchers study it.

Starting an environmental journalism career

Start contributing environmental articles to a campus journal or a neighbourhood newspaper as a
freelancer. Numerous freelance employment is constantly posted on JournalismJobs.com.
Introduce a few tale ideas in your cover letter. Create an online presence by launching a podcast,
blog, or vlog.

How to Write an Article on the Environment

The area of environmental journalism is expanding. For writers and wildlife advocates, this kind
of writing has emerged as the main vehicle for spreading awareness of environmental protection.
Additionally, it's a fantastic opportunity to spread awareness of the value of safeguarding the
environment. However, how does one create a thought-provoking and influential environmental
article? Here are some fundamental pointers to help you get started in this crucial area of writing.
Step 1: Select a broad subject
If you want to write about the environment, you presumably already care deeply about wildlife
and conservation. It's time to focus on that interest: what subjects do you feel passionate about?
Which environmental problems are common in your neighborhood? What subject, in your
opinion, merits more media attention despite being the subject of much research? You can
choose a compelling, pertinent issue to grab readers' attention and attract the attention of
environmental magazines by asking yourself these questions.
Step 2: Narrow it down
Consider the case when you've decided to write on a subject like the canned lion hunt, climate
change, endangered wildlife, or plastic pollution. Although these are excellent subjects that
unquestionably require media attention, numerous articles have already been written on them.
Your article must be distinctive from the competition. Select an issue from among the broad
topics. If you're writing on the endangered status of the African penguin, for instance,
concentrate your story on a nearby sanctuary or rehabilitation facility and interview the founder
or owner.
Writing about a recent environmental news incident, such as an oil spill, is also a good example
of a focused, relevant topic because environmental articles also need to be timely.
3. Conduct research
Once you've chosen your subject, learn everything you can about it. assemble the data you'll
need for your article. Long periods of desk study and interviews with subject-matter experts will
be required. To find out the most recent information about your particular environmental
concern, read research articles. Review related environmental articles from the past.
A major component of this research interview. Since you don't yet possess authority on the issue,
make sure that the statistics and quotes in your piece are from ecologists, scientists, and
environmentalists. Their insights and expertise will lend authority to your post. Advice: When
writing your paper, be sure to properly cite all sources and assign the facts to them.
Step 4: Compile research language
After conducting your research, put your article's main idea into one sentence. When writing,
keep this phrase in mind at all times. It will provide you with writing direction so that your
emphasis is always on the present. This is how a research sentence should begin: "Based on my
journalistic study, I see it this way: the Big Local Factory's pollutants in So-and-so Town makes
a significant amount of pollution of the local rivers, putting nearby people and animals in danger.
Step 5: Conduct additional research
In actuality, you will conduct research continuously as you write your piece. There can be further
material to include, a new person to speak with, or fresh scientific findings that were just
published.
Step 6: Organize your essay
Make sure your story flows by having a clear structure. An introduction, a body of text, and a
conclusion are required. Write down simply, when planning your piece, what you intend to
convey in each paragraph. An average environmental article has about 1400 words (depending
on the guidelines of publications). To create a compelling tale, make sure that each section of the
article builds on the one before it.
Step 7: Compose a strong introduction and conclusion.
As the first and last impressions that your reader will get of your essay, these two paragraphs are
the most crucial parts of it. Their interest should be piqued and piqued by your opening,
compelling them to continue reading. Your ending need to be a stunner that leaves people
thinking about the topic. The reader should be prompted to take some sort of action after reading
the entire article. Whether it's making a donation to a worthy charity, conserving water,
volunteering, or disseminating the message by sharing the article.

Step 8: Revise your essay

Always double-check your spelling. Make sure that your words and paragraphs are concise and
simple to read. To make sure you don't miss any mistakes, use Grammarly.com or another
grammar and spelling tool when typing.

DEFINITION OF ADVOCACY
Advocacy is any action that promotes, urges, justifies, defends, or pleads on behalf of another
person is referred to as advocacy.
Advocacy can be used in raising awareness, influencing policy change, and standing up for those
who might not be able to speak for themselves

MEDIA ADVOCACY
To achieve environmental change or public policy objectives, media advocacy is described as the
strategic use of mass media and community activism (CDC, 2003). This tactic is often used to
raise awareness of a problem in an effort to persuade lawmakers and achieve societal change
(American Public Health Association, 2000).
To raise local awareness of a particular public health issue and relevant remedies, media
advocacy works directly with local news channels (radio, television, newspapers, and
magazines). This is in contrast to specially created public information campaigns (Niederdeppe,
Farrelly, & Wenter, 2007). The idea is versatile and has been widely used to tobacco control and
other challenges. One important use is in response to problems with well-funded opponents who
use money to influence politics and society. Media advocacy is more concentrated on a specific
policy aim than public relations, which leads to social change. Additionally, it is more locally
focused, community-owned, and decentralized (CDC, 2003).
In order to persuade audiences to adopt more ecologically conscious behaviors and biocentric
worldviews, environmental campaigning is offering information about ecological issues. Our
planet needs all the environmental activists it can get, given the unsustainable increase in global
population, severe environmental degradation, and unrestrained consumption.
Numerous measures, some more unexpected than others, can be taken to begin living a more
ecologically friendly life. Here are some alternatives if you're interested in contributing.

COMMON WAYS TO PROTECT THE ENVIRONMENT

Recycle, reduce, and reuse have been the mantra of environmentalists for many years, and it still
holds true today. Despite the fact that systemic change is required to shift our current
direction, Daily activities can nevertheless contribute to the propagation of a more biocentric and
sustainable mindset. Thought and deed taken together have the power to change things for the
better.

1. RECYCLE
In 2018, the United States alone produced 292.4 million tons of solid garbage, or almost five
pounds per person daily. Everything from food and technology to bottles, cartons, and furniture
is included in this garbage. By recycling, giving, and using recovered energy, a significant
portion of the trash can be diverted.
A large portion of the waste was kept out of landfills in 2018 thanks to recycling and
composting, which combined for 69 million tons of waste in total. Recycling helps us make
better use of our limited resources while also reducing trash.

2. WATER CONSERVATION
The typical American household uses 80 to 100 gallons of water per person each day. The UN
estimates that the average person only requires 5.3 to 13.2 gallons of water each day. The most
valuable resource we have is probably potable water because we cannot live without it. Reduce
how frequently you shower, wash your car, do the laundry, wash the dishes, and engage in other
water-intensive activities to reduce how much water you use. Alternately, you may switch to
water-saving gadgets like a composting toilet.
3. SELECTING DRIVING ALTERNATIVES
According to the EPA, the typical passenger car emits about 4.6 metric tons of carbon dioxide
annually. Every day, more cars leave the assembly lines, and it is worrisome to think of the total
emissions of the automobiles on the road. Consider biking, walking, or taking public
transportation to get to your location if driving isn't absolutely necessary for you.

4. ENERGY EFFICIENCY
Approximately 10,649 kilowatt-hours (kWh) were used on average by American households in
2019, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration. The per capita energy use of
developing countries will increase as their economies continue to grow. By turning off lights and
appliances when not in use, purchasing energy-efficient products, and converting to renewable
energy sources, people can help preserve electricity.

5. BUYING USED
According to the World Economic Forum, the garment industry alone is responsible for 10% of
global emissions, and 85% of textiles are thrown out each year.
We could divert a sizable quantity of waste from landfills and use less energy in the manufacture
of new goods if more people choose to purchase secondhand clothing, furniture, homes, and
appliances.

6. USING REUSED BOTTLES

According to the UN, 300 million tons of plastic garbage are produced annually by people. In
addition to increasing emissions, the manufacture of plastic damages wildlife and contaminates
rivers by ending up in the oceans and streams. Think about switching to Tupperware, paper
straws, mason jars, beeswax wraps, reusable water bottles, biodegradable packaging, and other
more environmentally friendly alternatives.

There are other less obvious things to think about in addition to the more obvious approaches to
protect the environment. Here are just a handful of the more unexpected methods for improving
the environment.
1. ADOPTING A DIET BASED ON PLANTS
37% of global carbon emissions are related to food production. According to FAO, the sole
contributors are meat and dairy, which account for 14.5%. Particularly, the production of beef
generates 20 times higher emissions per calorie than the majority of plant-based proteins. The
number of individuals eating plant-based diets might greatly cut world emissions.

2. REMOTE EMPLOYMENT
Given that the transportation industry is responsible for over 25% of global emissions, commutes
to work result in significant carbon emissions. The knowledge that many people have been
affected by the Covid-19 epidemic may be one bright spot. We might observe a decrease in
commuting traffic and a reduction in emissions as a result of more professionals working from
home.

3. ESTABLISHING A SMALL FAMILY PLAN

The fact that smaller families are more sustainable is actually not all that unexpected when you
consider how many resources each member uses. Research shows that having one fewer child
can cut your carbon footprint by 58.6 tons annually, outpacing every other action on the list
above. Comparatively, the same study found that giving up travel by air would cut emissions by
1.6 tons of carbon dioxide equivalent (tCO2e) for each round-trip transatlantic flight and 0.8
tCO2e from adopting a plant-based diet. According to these figures, if you're just going to make
one change to benefit the environment, you should think about having one fewer child or, if you
can, adopting.

4. IMPROVING GIRLS' ACCESS TO EDUCATION IN THE WORLD

Working to improve girls' access to education globally is one strategy to make a more significant
global effect. It has been demonstrated that improving female education lowers reproduction
rates, which in turn helps to slow the grossly unsustainable population growth we are currently
experiencing. Additionally, educating girls has a wide range of concomitant advantages,
including enhancing the well-being of women and their families and giving them more agency to
speak up for their own sexual and reproductive health.
References

David B. Sachsman, JoAnn Myer Valenti Routledge Handbook of Environmental

Journalism Edition1st Edition 2020

Barrow, C. J. (2005). Environmental Management and Development. London and New York:
Routlegde.

Environmental Pollution. (2017). Environmental Management: 7 Basic Principles of

Environmental Management.
www.environmentalpollution.in/environmental-managent

International Organisation for Standardisation 14001 (2015). Environmental Management

System.

National Environmental Commission (2011). Environmental Management Tools and Techniques

– A Learning Material. Royal Government of Bhutan

Introduction to Advocacy Coalition for Juvenile Justice CJJ 2013 Youth Submit Power Point
https://www.juvjustice.org/sites/default/files/ckfinder/files/resource_938.pdf

Aadil Hamid Environmental science. Components of Environment 1st EVS Pdf