Best Of 2019: Here Are 10 Ways We Tried To Make The Environment Better

We are all busy with our daily routines and don't give a second thought about the environment or the impact we have on it, on a daily basis. But all is not lost, as this year saw many initiatives to conserve the planet. Climate change warriors helped to bring to light the urgency of climate change, and how we need to make the environment a priority.

2019, has been a defining year calling for action for environmental protection against deforestation, climate change and loss of species.

This year saw a lot of effort from individuals and organisations to help protect our planet.

Here is a look at some of these environmental heroes internationally and closer home.

1. Greta Thunberg reminded us that this is the final call for the fight against climate change.

When she saw big leaders not caring about the environment, this 16-year-old decided to take matters in her own hands. Speaking at at the U.N. Climate Action Summit, she said, "You have stolen my dreams and my childhood with your empty words. People are suffering. People are dying. Entire ecosystems are collapsing. We are in [sic] the beginning of mass extinction. And all you can talk about is money and fairy tales of eternal economic growth. How dare you!"

Greta Thunberg speaking at United Nations.

2. Countries changed the rules to make the environment a priority.

Switzerland makes sure it uses its renewable energy. Its aggressive action against urban sprawl is why it is ranked number 1 in the 2018 Environmental Performance Index.

On the other hand, Italy made climate change study mandatory for schools. Lorenzo Fioramonti, education minister of Italy said all state schools would dedicate 33 hours per year, almost one hour per school week, to climate change issues from the start of the next academic year in September.

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Closer home, the change has been exceptional too.

3. These people are planting trees to save the environment.

The Rajasthan government ordered a plantation drive under which every new student in state-run engineering colleges will have to plant a tree on the campus at the start of every academic session.

Representational image/Twitter

4. Environment enthusiasts from Mumbai cleaned 10,000 kg of trash from waterfalls around the city.

Dharmesh Barai, along with a core team of environment enthusiast volunteers collected garbage from these waterfalls that were getting destroyed with time.

5. Environment-friendly buses no more have range anxiety.

Mumbai Central ST bus depot has now launched the country¡¯s first inter-city electric bus. A 43-seater electric bus named 'Shivai'claims a range of 300 km on a single charge. Good enough for a trip from Mumbai to Pune.

Shivai electric bus, Shiv Sena/Twitter

6. Kids around the world took charge of saving the environment.

Valentina Elangbam, a nine-year-old girl from Manipur, who was seen crying in a viral video after two trees that she had planted and nurtured for years, were cut, has now been appointed as the first 'Green Ambassador' of Manipur.

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7. 'Indian Greta', Licypriya Kangujam urged PM Modi to make climate change a compulsory subject.

An 8-year-old activist from Manipur, Licypriya Kangujam, also called India's Greta Thunberg, urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to include climate change as a compulsory subject in the school curriculum.

8. Big companies have pitched in to keep the environment clean.

There is an increasing awareness of the ill-effects of plastic pollution in India and companies realise it too. From PepsiCo India to Adidas, many big companies are trying to undo the damage to the environment.

PepsiCo India partnered with waste management firm Nepra to collect over 8,00,000 kgs of multi-layered plastic in West Bengal by end of this year. Adidas held the second Run For The Oceans which brought together over 87,000 runners from across India.

9. Even lawyers want political parties to actually care about the environment before it's too late.

Lawyer Ritwick Dutta touched upon issues that are critical to the environment's cause and what political parties can do so that there is no further damage to our natural resources. He said, "Environment is there in the manifesto but like a footnote. Are they serious about it? If you look at it, it is not there. Nothing about prevention. When it is about rivers and forests, the government says they will put in so much money to clean it. No one says we will ensure no further pollution will occur, no further deforestation occurs, no mining takes place that is avoidable. None of them are saying this."

10. Zomato is using good old bicycles for delivery keeping the environment in mind.

The food delivery app has switched to bicycles. It is now introducing mechanical and electric bikes into its last-mile delivery fleet. Those using e-cycles will make short distance deliveries of 2.5 kilometers on average.

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