The quality of the environment is closely linked to human life, work, destiny, and the future.
Today, the Earth's environmental quality is worrying. With the development of society and the progress of human technology, environmental degradation has become increasingly prominent, and environmental pressures are growing. This is an undeniable and unavoidable fact.
The acceleration of urbanization and the rapid development of factories have sped up the discharge of pollutants. Factory wastewater and exhaust gases, as well as car emissions on the roads, pollute water sources and air, leading to further deterioration. The heat released by air conditioners also raises temperatures.
The living environment of humans and the trend of global warming are becoming more evident each day. The frequency of various natural disasters, such as floods, droughts, and wildfires, is gradually increasing. The frequent occurrence of these disasters and the poor environmental quality are directly related to humans' excessive demands on the Earth and overconsumption of its resources.
In fact, many enlightened individuals have long recognized the close connection between environmental quality and human survival. Some have taken measures to address these issues, but unfortunately, the results have not been significant.
The world’s population is large, economic development is uneven, and there are clear disparities in living standards. These are facts that everyone can observe and cannot be denied. A larger population means greater consumption, and greater consumption means more demands on the Earth. More demands lead to increased emissions of wastewater and exhaust gases, which in turn cause more pollution. This pollution ultimately poses a significant threat to human survival. This contradiction has been a long-standing challenge for human development. However, the question remains: is development more important, or is environmental protection more important? We must make a clear distinction.
Indeed, our living environment is deteriorating, and the Earth—the home we rely on—is being damaged. Can we still enjoy the pleasures brought by delicious food without concern? Can we continue to be content with luxurious living without feeling uneasy? The answer is no! We must sound the alarm and continue our environmental protection efforts, ensuring they are solid and effective. Only then will clean air, a blue sky, and pure water sources accompany us.
How Can We Improve Environmental Quality?
The only way we can contribute to positive change in environmental quality is by starting with ourselves:
Use Air Conditioning Less or Not at All, Turn off air conditioning when possible, or reduce its usage.
Advocate for green travel by avoiding driving to work. Instead, take the subway or bus, or ride a bicycle.
Conserve Water and Electricity, Reduce water and electricity usage.
Avoid eating barbecue foods, and minimize the use of disposable packaging and plastic bags (eco-friendly bags can be used as replacements). Reuse products where possible, reducing consumption at the source, and striving to save costs.
Reduce Wasteful Construction Practices, Excessive and wasteful construction projects—tearing down and rebuilding—are damaging both to the environment and to the economy, causing unnecessary harm to people and resources.
Mind the Use of Pesticides, The indiscriminate use of pesticides on farmland and fruit trees is also harmful to the environment. While pesticides kill harmful insects, they also harm beneficial ones. The entire food chain is disrupted, and water sources become polluted, which disrupts the natural balance of ecosystems.
Avoid Frequent Replacement of Goods, Frequent replacement of items like clothing, shoes, mobile phones, computers, washing machines, fans, and furniture leads to the depletion of resources. This is a form of resource exploitation and waste.
The examples above all contribute to the erosion and destruction of the environment. Over time, these small actions add up, resulting in an immeasurable consumption of energy. With the consumption of energy comes the discharge of pollutants, which further impacts the quality of the environment. Therefore, focusing on small details is crucial.
Although individual efforts may seem insignificant, if everyone fulfills their responsibilities and refrains from harmful activities that negatively impact the environment, the "battle" for environmental protection will be won. When people align their thoughts and actions, it creates a powerful collective force. Our energy consumption will fundamentally change, the discharge of wastewater and exhaust gases will be effectively curbed, and environmental governance will achieve significant results.
Of course, environmental protection is a global responsibility that belongs to all of humanity. It is not something that one person or one country can accomplish in a short period of time. It requires collaboration and unity among all people to achieve success.
Should we reach the consensus that protecting the environment means protecting ourselves?