Several generations have now been enduring consequences brought by man’s disregard of the environment. Across borders, humans have experienced the devastation of climate change, famine, global warming, and other such issues related to the environmental crisis. It only seems that the severity of the problem has been increasing over time. Young generations of today seem to be troubled with a lot more environmental problems than ever before. 

The call for environmental justice is an urgent matter. After all, we owe a habitable Earth to the present and living generations, but even more to the generations to come. Essentially, acts towards preserving the environment are acts of looking out for fellow human beings. Therefore, as citizens of the planet, each individual should uphold their responsibility in caring for the Earth.  

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While we are doing what we can to care for the environment, we should also remind young people —the future leaders and inhabitants of the planet— to tread similar paths. It’s highly important to educate young minds about the environmental challenges and ways to combat them. Here are a few things you could counsel children to care more for the environment:

Practice Proper Waste Management

According to the World Bank research on the trends in solid waste management, about 2.01 billion tonnes of waste is generated across the globe every year. What’s worse is that only 33% of this waste is managed environmentally. The effect of improper waste disposal ranges from loss of biodiversity to ocean acidification. 

It may take time for households to learn how to minimize waste. But a good place to start is teaching and practicing the three R’s: reduce, reuse, and recycle. 

Teach children to reduce waste by lessening the consumption of materials that could produce too much waste. Here are some strategies to adopt:

• Avoid single-use containers and products
• Learn to compost
• Demonstrate how to conserve water and electricity
• Teach them to make deliberate and green-minded choices when purchasing 
• Teach children to avoid food waste
• Consider walking or biking to school
• Please encourage them to bring their packaging when grocery shopping

Rather than purchasing new materials, consider reusing the materials already disposed of in your home. Donate toys, accessories, and other materials you no longer use. Reuse clothes, accessories, or other second-hand materials. Teach children to examine the quality of products when purchasing to use them repeatedly for years rather than buying a new product every time. Consider repairing an item before deciding to throw it out.

Before throwing out any material, examine if you can put them to new use. Recycling not only teaches children to be environmentally friendly but also encourages them to be creative and innovative. Here are a few ideas on recycling:

• Classify recyclables as well as biodegradables and non-biodegradables
• Be aware of recycling rules in your neighborhood or city
• Encourage children to reuse materials for arts and crafts
• Set up a recycling station at home
• Repurpose old clothing

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Spend More Time Outside And Connect With Nature 

Various studies have presented the benefits of spending time outdoors on physical and mental health and wellbeing. A study from Aarhus University in Denmark even shows that children who grew up surrounded by nature were less likely to develop mental health issues. 

Encouraging children to do activities in the green outdoors could certainly benefit in a multitude of ways: by reducing stress, getting more physical activity, allowing inspiration by being part of a collective, among others. But outdoor activities also encourage children to hone their environmental awareness.

In being able to explore their natural surroundings, children can better create connections and care for nature. As they grow up, they may develop a sense of protection over different ecosystems, natural resources, and species. Here are some ideas:

• Go for a beach clean-up
• Do outdoor activities with children (e.g., hiking, swimming, trailing)
• Go for a picnic or a camping trip
• Suggest a school gardening or composting project
• Join a tree-planting initiative

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Talk About Environmental Issues And Consider Counseling For Eco-Anxiety 

More than allowing students to be in nature, it’s also important to engage them in discussions about environmental justice, issues, and practical ways of helping. Allow them space to process information and work together in finding sustainable ways to contribute to a better environment. 

Here are a few tips on how to prepare to talk about environmental issues with children:

• Know the facts. Educate yourself on environmental concerns through various educational resources. There are a plethora of materials on the environment to read about. Remember to fact-check and update your sources. 

• Entertain questions. Teach children where and how to access truthful information.  

• Consult experts. Consider visiting an environmental organization, activist, or researcher to learn more. This way, you can encourage children to verify the information and learn first-hand from the experience of others. 

• Spend more time outdoors. Consider volunteering. 

• Be empathetic. Learning about environmental crises may induce stress and arouse feelings of frustration or helplessness. Younger generations are burdened with fear over an uncertain world plagued by environmental problems and disasters. More and more people have developed eco-anxiety with the growing awareness of the problems with the environment. 

Therefore, it is important to approach the subject with empathy as it may be a difficult issue to deal with. If you notice it takes too much toll on a child’s physical and mental well-being, consider asking them to take counseling for eco-anxiety and other related concerns. Of course, this would not solve the environmental problems, but children need to express, process, and feel their thoughts and emotions.  

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Be A Role Model

Ultimately, the best way to teach children to care about the environment is to lead by example. Make your home environmentally friendly and sustainable. Encourage other parents and educators to make schools value nature and focus on environment preservation. Engage children in issues regarding environmental crises and environmental justice. Allow them to express what they feel and think. Then, please support them in their cause and continually empower them to care for Mother Nature.

The world — and your life — can feel overwhelming. Between the news, personal problems, professional issues, and everything else you have to deal with, it can easily fall into negativity. But there are people you can approach — not just when it gets too much, but also if you want to shore up your mental strength so you can be ready for whatever comes.

In times of mental stress, counselors are present to lend a helping hand. They can help you cope and recover from your problems more healthily. On top of that, they can guide you through self-exploration and self-understanding.

Here are some of the things you can get from undergoing counseling. Read on and learn more about how you can build a positive mindset! 

Know What Needs To Be Changed

The first step in handling problems is to identify where the issues are coming from. You can only start building a positive mindset once you know which areas of your life needed to be changed.

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If you’re having problems with your relationship with others, you can first focus on that area. Next, it’s helpful to identify the things you need to solve. While that sounds obvious, the main idea is to dig deep and figure out the real reason behind your problems  — sometimes, what you think is a problem actually isn’t. Next, identify the friction’s origin. Maybe it’s stress, misunderstandings between you and your friends, or other factors.

Your counselor’s role is to help you streamline your thoughts. However, it’s always helpful to have a guide that will accompany you in the process. Together, you can develop ways to approach the areas in your life that need some change. 

Manage and Accept Your Emotions

Probably one of the handiest and most important things that counseling can leave you is the ability to regulate your emotions. So many people tend to think negatively about feelings; that’s why most of them suppress them. Rather than facing their feelings, they would rather avoid them or hide them away.

Having the ability to manage your emotions is vital in many aspects of your life. Whether it’s about your relationship with others or your decisions every day, your feelings have something to do with them.

Through counseling sessions, you’ll learn how to be not overwhelmed by your emotions. You’ll also realize how your emotions can affect your relationships with others. 

More importantly, the goal here is to regulate your emotions and not suppress them. Suppressing your feelings would only lead to more internal stress and turmoil. 

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Set Time Aside For Introspection

Building a positive mindset through counseling entails creating a better relationship with yourself. First, you must be comfortable with your mind and thoughts.

As part of your counseling, your therapist will push to dedicate a portion of your time only for yourself. During this period, you can probe your feelings, thoughts, and apprehensions. Think of this time as an opportunity to know yourself better.

You must be comfortable being alone with your thoughts. If you notice that your thoughts are negative, your therapist can help you start reframing them. Try to find a better and positive way to approach these thoughts.

One thing you can do while introspecting is to recount the things you’re most grateful for. This practice makes you remember that there are always good things that happen in your life. Focusing on these things will aid you in developing a healthier and more positive mindset in life. 

Do Positive Self-Talk

An integral part of developing a positive mindset is how you speak to yourself. It’s easy to focus on the things that you lack and say negative things about yourself. However, that’s not the ideal way of living.

Negative self-talk can be in the forms of:

• “I can’t do this.”
• “This is too difficult for me.”
• “I’m not good enough.”

You might not be aware of it, but you may be using these kinds of words too much. In return, these words affect how you see yourself. 

Your counselor will help you create a better mindset that includes speaking to yourself positively. They may guide you through replacing the negative words with more optimistic ones. For example, rather than saying things are too difficult, you can look at things like a challenge needed to be overcome. Words like “I can do it” and “I’m proud of my progress” are samples of positive self-talk.

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Practice a Healthy Lifestyle

Having a positive mindset is not only about the things that happen in your mind. Your physical body also plays a role in creating and living a positive lifestyle. Your counselor might recommend you to do physical activities that will keep you active and moving. 

Staying active will help you manage your emotions better. Research has proven that doing even a 30-minute exercise every day massively affects your mood. Accompany your change in lifestyle with eating nutritious foods and staying hydrated throughout the day.

Be Forgiving to Yourself

One factor that might keep you from having a positive mindset is your inability to forgive yourself. You may be putting yourself under a lot of pressure by not giving yourself some space for mistakes. 

There are things outside of your control, but the goal of counseling is to remind you of the things you have power over. There are many things that you can do beyond your limitations and failures.

Clinging to your failures and limitations will only hold you back from becoming better. Instead, undergoing counseling sessions will help you accept your limitations and failures. You can begin forming a more positive outlook in life when you can let go of your emotional burdens. 

Life comes with negativity. While you can’t avoid it, you can affect how you deal with it. You have more agency over your life than you might expect. And if you need help, receiving counseling is always a valuable step to live a healthier and more positive life. You don’t have to wait for hard times; visit your counselor if you feel like building a healthier, positive mindset.

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Anxiety is closely connected with fear and worry that is out of proportion for daily triggers. Many people who suffer from an anxiety disorder will frequently be quick-tempered, but the connection between anxiety and anger is often overlooked or neglected.

Anxiety is often linked to an over-activation from a stressful place or a harmful stimulus, combined with the supposed inability to cope with certain stimuli. On the other hand, anger is frequently linked to frustration. Frequently, when anxiety is left unrecognized and unexpressed, it could potentially lead to frustration, which, in turn, leads to anger. When anxiety becomes anger, a person who shows anger will have an existing fear about something that happened in his life.

When people are afraid or apprehensive about something, they usually opt to get angry, unintentionally, to feel as if they control the situation and their anxiety.

Unprocessed Anger

Anxiety not only manifests as shortness of breath, a pounding heart, racing thoughts, and clammy hands, but anxiety could also manifest in more delicate ways like frustration or anger. People who have undiagnosed anxiety may soon lash out in anger, feeling more frustrated over daily occurrences that typically do not deserve an emotional response.

A perfect example of this is road rage. Crowds and traffic jams are frequent triggers of anxiety, resulting in people getting mad while driving in the street. Perhaps they woke up in a bad mood, they’re stressed thinking about their upcoming deadline, or they’re going to be so late for an important meeting. Being stuck in the middle of a chaotic street only adds fuel to their flame.

Consequently, these individuals become enraged at other vehicles when, in truth, they are simply anxious about the stressful situation and other personal problems that they‘re going through in their life.

Surrendering to anger can destroy relationships and reap unpleasant effects on all aspects of a person’s life. This then results in lashing out, engaging in harmful behaviors, and making impulsive decisions.

When people feel exposed and defenseless, their fight and flight reaction are activated, and they become defensive, which sometimes means they will fight.

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Below is a list of frequently asked questions and their corresponding answers about anxiety and anger.

Is anger a symptom of anxiety?  

Psychologists have associated both anger and anxiety with the loss of control. Meaning that you feel that you cannot deal with stress and tension when faced with stress, and you may get worried and anxious. If you feel that the situation is more threatening, that anxiety can transform into anger so quickly. 

Can anxiety cause anger and irritability?  

When you are anxious and don’t acknowledge or express it, your anxiety can transform into frustration, resulting in anger or rage. When this happens, the person develops an underlying fear of an event, person, or thing in their life. 

How can I stop anxiety and anger?

Muscle relaxation, slow breathing, and mindfulness are effective ways to try and stop anxiety. Additionally, there are apps online that you can subscribe to help you learn how to meditate. However, do not expect all these to alter your emotions when you are already experiencing anger or anxiety. Consider them as exercise. Do them regularly. 

What mental illness is associated with anger?  

Anger is associated with several mental health disorders, including:

• Anxiety disorder
• Bipolar disorder
• Conduct disorder
• ADHD
• Antisocial personality disorder
• Intermittent explosive disorder
• Depression
• Borderline personality disorder

Why am I so easily angered?

Anger is triggered by personal problems like getting fired or not making a promotion, problems caused by another individual, or events like car accidents or traffic jams. 

What is the bipolar rage?  

Bipolar anger is extreme, impulsive, explosive, and unpredictable. It is when a person is asked a simple question and responds with illogical anger or irritation. The person lashes out for no valid reason on people who care for him and love him. 

How do you calm down a bipolar person?  

Spending short periods with the person definitely helps them feel less alone. If he is hyperactive and is full of energy, encourage him to walk with you so that he can be active while being with you where he is safe. If he asks questions, answer them honestly but not debate with him, especially if he experiences a manic episode.

What is a rage attack?

A rage attack is an abrupt, out-of-control surge of anger. These intense outbursts can present without any warning. They may also appear to be outrageous as to what caused the episode. A rage attack is not the same as a tantrum.

How do you calm a manic episode?

To calm yourself from a manic episode, you should limit your tasks and daily activities to not more than six hours daily. Do not tire yourself and engage in relaxing activities to keep you from exhaustion, anger, and irritation. Keep away from stimulating surroundings, drinks, and food that might cause a manic episode. Finally, get sufficient amounts of sleep daily, at least 10 hours.

What triggers mania?

Potential causes of mania or hypomania include erratic sleep patterns, drug or alcohol abuse, and high-stress levels. 

How do you know if you’re manic?  

In mania, it is common to have feelings of increased energy, euphoria, and creativity. If you are experiencing mania, you may be talking a mile per minute, hyperactive, and sleeping very little. You may also feel that you are invincible, all-powerful, or made for greatness. 

How long can mania last?  

The first bout of mania lasts for about two to four months and a depressive bout for eight months or longer. However, there can be a lot of variations. If an individual does not get treated, episodes are more recurrent and last longer through time. 

How do you sleep when manic?

Stay away from alcohol and drinks containing caffeine before going to bed, as well as consuming large meals. It’s also great if you could keep several hours of difference between physical activity and bedtime. Working out can make a manic person sleep better, but it heightens one’s energy as well, so it can make sleep difficult. 

Can bipolar people tell they are bipolar?

Not everyone with bipolar disorder is aware that they have it. There are several reasons why a person diagnosed with bipolar disorder may not know it – or why he might deny why he has it if he does.

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Help For Anxiety And Anger 

Anxiety and anger can be a deadly combination. Finding the right treatment for anxiety disorder can help a person unravel the reasons for his anger. When he recognizes his anger outbursts by writing on a journal and spending time reflecting on why he is angry, this could help him discover his triggers for anxiety. Then he will find healthy measures to deal with these triggers.

Eco-anxiety is nothing new. However, not everyone is open to discussing it in detail. Some of them are still trying to figure out whether it is relevant or not, especially now that people worldwide are pretty much adapting to environmental changes. However, those who are far more concerned about what is happening on the planet are dealing with eco-anxiety. They quite have a different level of stress, panic, and sadness that often gets uncontrolled. Some may say that their deliberating fear is overacting because they only talk about the planet’s future. And even if they entirely have a point, the majority of people just do not care about how they feel.

With a lot of stuff going on about the world, such as politics, entertainment, health issues, etc., people feel overwhelmed. There is not enough time to think about future problems such as climate change because everyone focuses on everybody’s present needs. But for the ones who are consumed with feelings about the environment’s future, they often question the uncertainty of everything. They usually think of what would happen if humans don’t exert any effort to save the planet.

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But most of the time, these people’s eco-anxiety does not just pop out instantly. Usually, it gets triggered by devastating information they dig up from social media and hyped news headlines. Some of it causes catastrophic mental and emotional breakdown to those who are genuinely trying their best to make a difference. Some news information is entirely upsetting that it can make concern individuals question their roles and responsibility to the environment. In some unfortunate instances, it flares up so many negative emotions. Fortunately, there are better ways to manage people’s eco-anxiety. Here are a few.

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Acceptance – For individuals who are too concerned about the planet, they somehow feel it is impossible to deal with environmental change. Others just feel upset and angry because not everyone is working on the same page in saving the ecosystem. Well, it is an exhausting battle because no one can force someone to do things they are not concerned about. Thus, people must accept that others will never care for the planet the way they do. They need to realize that some individuals are not caring enough to understand the planet’s needs. They should not feel sad and angry just because others do not share the same sentiments, such as committing to helping and saving the planet. Thus, instead of forcing other people to follow them or contribute something to their advocacy, they must accept that individuals think and react differently.

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Face Reality – Despite some people’s will to save the planet, the reality stays as is that a small percentage of individuals cannot instantly change anything. It is entirely essential to set the appropriate distinction of what the minority can do and what the majority should do. There is a significant distinction between trying to save the planet and trying to make it livable. They should understand that not everything is in their control. The entire assurance of the planet’s health does not rest on their shoulders. They should not feel sorry for themselves just because they can’t seem to change a more significant part of the world. People need to face the reality that something terrible might soon happen, and they have to be okay with it. But it does not mean they shouldn’t try and give their best to change it.

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Change Perception – The problem with people’s eco-anxiety is its reliance on post-apocalyptic imagery of the world. The fear of these individuals comes from the idea of the “end of the world” phrase. However, we can’t blame them. As mentioned above, there are triggering factors involved in this. There is the unflattering depiction of climate change in the media, the anxiety-induced representation in books and films, as well as the unnerving stories from people who assume they know what could happen in the future. Thus, when these people try and think about the planet after picturing out the possibility of a dystopian outlook, their emotional and mental health deteriorates. To avoid that from happening, why not consider looking at things the other way around? What if people start using renewable energy? What if people begin to plant more trees as much as they build roads and houses? That particular change in point of view makes a huge difference.

When people think about the chaos and suffering that the planet is experiencing right now, they only consider two things. First is the best way to contribute to the world’s betterment by advocating zero waste materials, and second, just trying to live and use what is left of the environment. If you were to choose between these two options, where do you think you belong?

Global warming – It is one of the most serious issues affecting our world today. That is because of the modern society that became so wasteful and environmentally careless. There are too many toxins everywhere that contribute to climate change, particularly on the planetary destruction. With humanity’s insensitive agenda and selfish habits, the Earth’s life is in danger. So how can we save the planet? Here are a few simple ways you and your family can do to help stop and reduce global warming.

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Cut Down Waste – Landfills are the primary contributors of waste toxins in the world. It is where methane and other greenhouse gases piled up. As we all know, wastes from these locations are burned because that is the most convenient way to diminish the massive amount of trash. But doing so, the process releases toxic chemicals in the air, which results in global warming. To avoid that, it is much better that we try and cut down our waste by reducing, reusing, and recycling.

Reduce The Use Of Unnecessary Products – We are in a world where all of us want to live life with convenience. That explains why we often buy products regardless of our knowledge of waste contribution. The best example of it is purchasing single-used items wrapped in plastic sachets and bottles. Most of these plastic wastes are non-degradable, and our continued purchase only adds to the billions of trash that damage the environment.

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Reuse And Recycle – In line with buying products that contribute to the undeniably large amount of environmental waste, one of the things we can do to help the planet is by reusing and recycling gadgets. These include plastic bottles, containers, boxes, cups, cans, jars, and some other items from the grocery store. It would be best if we use these disposable products to fulfill the same function instead of buying new ones. Also, it would be much recognized if we consider buying eco-friendly products. And instead of putting everything in a plastic or paper bag, we should consider using washable materials.

Consider Driving A Fuel-Efficient Car – As we all know, automobiles are one of the most known contributors to this global environmental crisis. It emits tons of toxins in the air in the form of carbon dioxide pollutions. To top it up, not only the production of a single car is wasteful, but the consumption of particular oil, fuels, and electricity is way too uneconomical. But when you and your family choose to drive a fuel-efficient car, you will contribute less to the environment’s toxins.

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Drive Less Or Walk – Trying to help the planet requires determination and dedication. As for us individuals, we are more inclined to the convenience that our cars are giving us. But if our goal is to save the planet from global warming, one of the best things we can do is consider using our car less. Understandably, our vehicles are necessities these days, so using it less often might end up quite a hassle. Fortunately, we can always look for alternatives. If the distance is not that far, we can at least consider walking. If in case we need to go a couple of miles, we can ride a bicycle.

Reduce Fossil Fuel Use – Coal-burning power plants are the ones responsible for increasing the levels of greenhouse gases in the planet’s atmosphere. Fortunately, there are two ways we can reduce its use. That is by using less energy or considering an alternative. One of the best options is a non-polluting energy source such as solar and wind power. With these two natural resources does not only cater to the lesser contribution of toxins but also helps us save electricity.

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Plant A Tree – Trees are the most significant factor that can help the Earth and humanity from the damage of global warming than any other method. Plants take in carbon dioxide and use it to build their own tissues as it returns some of the nutrients to the soil in the process of sequestration. But that is not all. Plants take the toxins away from the air and release oxygen, which is beneficial for the human brain and body development. Thus, it would be highly appreciated when all of us at least try and plant one not only for the benefit of the planet but to our life’s existence as well.

Insight

Saving the planet from global warming is not easy, especially if it requires a considerable amount of lifestyle sacrifices. But we do not own the Earth, and it is our sole responsibility to take care of it up to the next thousands of generations. Therefore, we need to try our best to spread awareness. We need to educate people about the damaging effects of global warming and how we can help stop it from ruining everything. Let us all work together in doing our part.

It’s hard to see anything good come out of the COVID-19 pandemic. However, the coronavirus outbreak caused people to remain indoors and to stop non-essential activities. As business slowed down and transportation dwindled, many areas saw lower air pollution and clearer skies. It seems that COVID-19 is good for the environment, but is this true? Regardless, the pandemic can teach us valuable lessons about air pollution affects our lives.

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Air Pollution Weakens Defenses

A significant cause of air pollution is the vehicles that people use to move around and transport items. Most engines produce nitrogen oxides and sulfur oxides, which are toxic gases that can harm your airways and lungs.

Vehicles also produce particular matter, which are notably tiny particles of soot and ash. These particles can become lodged into your lungs, causing inflammation and directly damaging the delicate respiratory tissues.

Together, gaseous emissions and particulate matter comprise most of the air pollution in urban areas. While trees and other plants can help provide cleaner air, they can’t remove all of the pollutants in the air. Mainly, they don’t absorb particulates, which are left suspended in the air. 

It also turns out that air pollution can make COVID-19 worse. People exposed to air pollution have higher death rates and are more likely to catch the infection in the first place. This observation is expected, since dirty air damages the tissues of the respiratory system. Weakened by injury, your lungs become a prime target for pathogens such as the novel coronavirus.

Air pollution directly damages your body and also makes you more likely to catch diseases. Hence, communities need to do even more to ensure that everyone has access to a clean atmosphere.

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Everything Is Interconnected

COVID-19 uses the respiratory system to invade the human body and infect other people. The virus can remain suspended in respiratory droplets, spread for several feet, and cause infection once a person inhales them. The coronavirus can also survive for hours on surfaces, allowing people to pick them up. When these people touch their eyes, nose, or mouth, the virus can enter the body and cause illness.

To slow down transmission rates, communities implemented social distancing rules that limited the activities that people can do to essential ones. Leisure activities that require people to go outside and meet people were made off-limits. Everyone started to wear personal protective equipment, such as face masks and face shields, to protect themselves and others from the virus.

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Anything that affects daily activity is bound to change many aspects of our environment, and COVID-19 is no exception. Within weeks of implementing community quarantine, pollution levels dropped. In some heavily polluted areas, it became easier to see clear blue skies.

Aside from the drop in particulate matter and toxic gases, the rate at which the world releases carbon dioxide also decreased. Many areas experienced a reduction in electricity demand, prompting many power plants that depend on fossil fuels to pause operations temporarily. As carbon emissions cause climate change, many people acknowledged the environmental impact of COVID-19. 

The pandemic shows us how everything is interconnected. While COVID-19 is a public health issue, it changed human behavior so much that it even had an impact on the physical environment. As Steve Taylor, Ph.D., remarked, “we are not islands, but part of the ocean. We don’t live in separateness, but in connectedness.”

This interconnectedness means that there can be multiple approaches that authorities can use to fight air pollution. At the same time, it highlights the necessity of meticulous planning; any plan might have unexpected consequences.

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We Need To Take Action

While many people are relieved to know that the virus outbreaks led to cleaner air, you should know that this change is temporary. Any improvements in air quality were only because of reduced human activity. Once lockdowns ease and regular operations return, air pollution will go back to pre-COVID levels.

There’s a real possibility that air quality will deteriorate even further. As companies and governments scramble to recover, they might become less strict with environmental regulations to favor economic growth. For example, factories might run overtime, causing more emissions. If we don’t take action, we might end up with even bleaker skies than before.

The time for action is now. Air pollution makes people prone to illnesses. However, it is a problem that has multiple multidisciplinary approaches. COVID-19 shows us that communities need to be proactive if we want to have clean air that lasts.

In the 2019 pollution control event, some topics took longer hours to discuss. It is the impact of the environment on people’s health. Around the world, there have been more than millions of people that die every from a particular disease. And nearly a quarter of those reported cases are directly caused by environmental factors.

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How Unhealthy Environment Contributes To The World

An unhealthy environment where people live, work, and play can cause a lot of problems. Unfortunately, families in the low and middle-income states are the ones that get genuinely affected. And the young kids and the elderly get severely affected. That is because more than half of the world’s population living in urban areas experiences lots of stress-inducing environmental scenarios. These include heavy bumper-to-bumper traffic, poor housing constructions, air pollution, as well as limited access to clean drinking water and sanitation. Aside from that, data shows that a lot of individuals in low-income families work in an informal sector under dangerous and dirty conditions. That means a lot of individuals tend to expose themselves to poisons, radiation, chemicals, and poor hygiene practices. With all that, people obtain illness.

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With all the damages people get from the environment, it is essential to take immediate and straightforward measures to protect it so that we can protect our health. For a start, we can reduce air pollution by using sustainable fuels. It would be much better if we chose to walk or ride a bike for a couple of distances instead of driving with our cars. If we try and manage proper waste disposal, it could save our water resources. And if we consider using solar energy technology, we won’t have to suffer from our massive electric bills.

Things can continue getting worst, but we can work together to improve our world.

It only takes one glimpse into the empty streets to see just how much COVID-19 has impacted everyday life. One notable impact that a lot of people observe right now is the more transparent sky, likely due to fewer vehicles running and belching emissions. As people limited their activities and confined themselves indoors, it seems like the environment is starting to recover from human impact.

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However, don’t be fooled. Arguing that the current pandemic is healthy for the world is insensitive, considering the thousands of lives at risk due to the novel coronavirus. Any impacts will be short-lived, and the world will remain on track towards catastrophic climate change unless we do something about it. Studying the link between COVID-19 and the environment should help us learn valuable lessons on how to take care of our environment properly.

Temporary Relief

COVID-19 spreads through physical contacts, such as by inhaling droplets that infected people release whenever they cough or sneeze. To slow down transmission, communities imposed social distancing measures that reduce unnecessary contact among people. Many companies required employees to undergo remote work, reducing the use of transportation systems. Lower business activity also means lower demand for utilities such as water and electricity.

Source: wikipedia.org

Air pollution levels usually dropped in areas where people were no longer required to report to their workplaces. People also drastically reduced their need to travel. Many countries banned non-essential flights, further reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

Many businesses whose income streams were affected had to lay off employees, establish pay cuts, or postpone promotions. The uncertainty, as well as lower revenues, forced many households to cut spending. As the economy slowed down, environmental impacts such as pollution also diminished.

The threat of a global recession has a silver lining: lower greenhouse gas emissions. The world only has around a few years left to reduce emissions. Otherwise, we will face the worst effects of climate change, which include severe weather patterns, food insecurity, and escalating tensions.

Barriers And Consequences

However, all the positive impacts of COVID-19 on the environment aren’t permanent. Once lockdowns end and the economy jumpstarts, emission rates will rise again. The air will become laden again with dust and fumes as people resume their commutes. Fossil fuel power plants will belch out carbon dioxide, worsening global warming.

The effects of social distancing measures may lead to even more environmental destruction. Governments and companies will feel the pressure to catch up with missed economic growth at any cost. To accomplish this goal, they might choose to halt environmental protections. For example, they might lift carbon taxes on fossil fuels to encourage consumption.

At worst, attempting to recover lost economic growth can offset any environmental benefits due to the global pandemic.

It’s important to note also that the response to COVID-19 clearly shows the link between the current economy and the environmental burden that humans impose on the planet. It took large-scale lockdowns and economic slowdowns to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. It would take an equally momentous effort to make the same impact on our environment.

The Availability Heuristic

If the current pandemic has minimal long-term impacts on environmental sustainability, then why do people keep on insisting that COVID-19 is beneficial for nature? The short-term positive results, like cleaner air, are easy to observe. People tend to put more weight on evidence that is easy to recall, so they conclude that the environment is healing due to the coronavirus outbreaks.

This tendency is called the availability heuristic. Daniel Kahneman, Ph.D., states that “people tend to assess the relative importance of issues by the ease with which they are retrieved from memory.” Unfortunately, this heuristic is a source of bias. It makes people discount the bigger picture: that any positive impacts of a pandemic aren’t likely to persist in the long term.

Moving Forward

What can we do? Dispel the notion that COVID-19 helps the planet. It is a disease that is actively disrupting our lives. The current pandemic needs to end as soon as possible, and we all need to cooperate.

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Society should also move towards a more environmentally-conscious future. We don’t have to make things as they were before COVID-19 appeared. As we start to rebuild, the world should take steps to establish new economic policies that tackle programs like renewable energy transitions and sustainable growth.

Remember that COVID-19 is not the savior of the environment. We need to be accountable to our duty towards nature. The responsibility of environmental stewardship rests on the human race.

In the last 2018 pollution summit, a lot of people are wondering. How come all of us on the planet knows a lot about the damage we bring in it, but doesn’t seem to care? The problem is not about knowing what is happening. The issue here is the less and less effort we put into saving the Earth. Are we that insensitive to ignore the fact that our planet is dying?

I do not want to sound hypocrite at all, but that is the point. All of us complain about the pollution in our surroundings. We want to live in a safe and clean area, but we contribute mostly to physical trash everywhere. We love purchasing single-used items wrapped in plastic because it is more convenient. We feel comfortable using toxic chemicals for almost everything we do because that means sanitation. We ignore using our physical energy because we love riding in our not-so-eco-friendly vehicles. We want to eat healthy food, but we buy products that get manufactured by air-polluting machines from industries. We try our best to inform people about the real situation of the world, but there’s no stopping us from purchasing new phones every year. How ironic, isn’t it? We, humans, are causing damage to the planet, and we know that. But because we are more attached to convenience and instant survival, we do not care.

Yes, all of us are guilty of not caring for the planet. All of us think about the same thing. For us, what matters is the current world we are living in. We believe that future generations will have to suck up to what’s left for them. The majority of people in this world are telling everyone that they care. But in reality, no one bothers making a constant and sincere change.

Much has been said about global warming but does everyone really know what it is? We know that it’s one of the most important issues in the world today and we should know its fundamentals – what causes it, what makes it worse, and what we can actually do in our little ways.

Global Warming Defined

Global warming is the overall increase in the earth’s ocean and air temperatures. As mentioned above, it remains to be one of the most pressing mattes that the world is dealing with, especially in this era of increased industrial expansion.

Greenhouse gases keep the earth warm, and they also keep the air from getting out of the planet. However, activities like deforestation and burning fossil fuels cause these atmospheric greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide to be released into the environment. Typically, the process called short-wave radiation causes heat to enter the atmosphere. As this type of radiation heats the surface of the planet, it leaks out of the planet now in the form of long-wave radiation, which is much harder to go through the atmosphere. Atmospheric gases that escape into the air are what cause these long-wave radiations to increase. Consequently, the heat is sealed inside the earth, resulting in a universal warming effect.

What Causes Global Warming?

Some of the most common causes include the use of artificial fertilizers in farming, nitric acid production, burning of organic substances that cause the release of greenhouse gases.

What Are The Effects Of Global Warming?

When Polar Ice Melts. When ice caps melt, this will result in the desalinization of the oceans, destroying the natural ocean currents. Since these ocean currents are responsible for regulating temperatures by sending warm currents to the cooler areas and vice versa, a disruption of this process might cause severe climate change.

Wildlife Practices. The polar bear is in the list of the most endangered species today. This may be caused by a reduction of sea ice habitat due to global warming. When ice melts, these bears are stuck and often sink and die. As the melting of the ice persists, more species will add to the list of the endangered.

Famines And Floods. The heavy rains all over America can also be attributed to global warming, as warm air is more capable of pulling in more water vapor compared to cooler air. These calamities have caused the United States to lose over $25 billion. Global warming has put the economy and ultimately, our safety at risk.

What Can We Do?

Simple things like using the bicycle and purchasing biofuel for your cars will go a long way. Recycling has helped prevent global warming in more ways than one. It tremendously decreases the energy required to make new products.

Global warming is a continuous phenomenon that will progressively deplete our natural resources. It will cause more animal extinctions and further melting of the ice caps. Floods, droughts, coral damage, disease and illness, and economic blows will continue to happen. As we have no choice but to live and try our best to thrive, we must be able to learn how to slow down the process of global warming in our planet by doing those strategies mentioned above. The least we can do is start in our homes and striving to keep a balance between economic progress and environmental protection.