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HKCYAA Writing Competition 2023 (ii) 2nd Runner-up Topic: Protect the earth
2D Law Chui Ping
More effort to protect the Earth
It seems we all have some understanding that the earth is not well and we need to do something to make it healthy again, However, according to many studies, both the global temperature and the amount of waste the world produces are on the rise. In this regard, some news reports may shed some light. In fact, while we are initiating some effort to reduce our negative impact on the earth, we are picking up some undesirable habits which offsets our force to reduce waste and mitigate the ailing situation.
It is therefore imminent we should know what we are doing right and stop the harm we impose on the environment. For example, according to the 2021 United Nations Climate Change Conference, 85 percent of people surveyed indicate that they have shifted their purchase behavior towards being more sustainable in the past five years , which is more than 20% growth of awareness statistically compared to a similar survey five years ago. They shared that they now ask for less plastic shopping bags and consume less electricity in appliances such as air conditioners and turn off the appliances before sleeping. A local survey conducted by Green Queen in 2022 showed that more than 40% of Hong Kong people are shifting towards vegan, vegetarian and flexitarian dietary habits and some deliberately do so for environmental concerns. Overall, there is a commendable rise in awareness of individual commitment towards the environmental protection. However, our individual effort does not translate into the betterment of the environment.
A report of the environmental protection department of Hong Kong disclosed that the average daily quantity of municipal solid waste (MSW), was actually 5% more than the previous year and is rising steadily every year. As Jane Goodall, an environmental expert, pointed out, waste reduction is a reliable indicator of how we reduce our impact on the environment. We know we should use less and consume less but in fact, we still use more and consume more than before. What is going on? The report of international polling at Kantar Public issued in 2021 may shed some light. Despite our awareness of ‘less is more’, more than 42 % of the surveyed do not plan to change their lifestyle to pursuit materialistic pleasures and are proud of their commitment. The respondents admitted that they are reluctant to shift to thrift shopping and most still consume disposable cutlery and it is not uncommon that while they buy more environmentally -friendly products, they tend to buy more than before. Most do not plan to change their lifestyle claiming that they are more committed than their government and the business enterprises in terms of environmental protection. Now that we know where the evil lies and in order to bring substantial environmental benefits, we ought to encourage the good old principles of ‘reduce, reuse and recycle’ and that ‘less is more’.
In terms of daily practices, we should not take our own shopping bags to buy more. On the contrary, we try not to buy what is not necessary. If we really need something, we may consider secondhand goods or reuse what is available around us.
All in all, we need to admit that we are not doing enough to reduce waste and contain global warming, let alone turn it around and save the earth. We ought to cultivate more aggressive practices if protecting the earth is really our priority.