Today it is crucial that we work together to achieve environmental sustainability. As evidenced by the devastating fires currently happening in the western United States and the increase in tropical storms around the world, we must protect our planet from climate change, pollution, waste production and other environmental issues. This blog outlines what key organizations like Greenpeace, WWF and the UN have accomplished for the environment and what their goals are for the future.
Greenpeace:
Greenpeace is an environmental organization, founded in 1971 by Irving and Dorothy Stowe. Its goal is to “ensure the ability of the Earth to nurture life in all its diversity.”
Greenpeace focuses its campaigning on worldwide issues such as climate change and deforestation and achieves its goals through direct action such as marches and protest movements as well as through research projects. Through their extensive efforts these vital issues have been successfully brought to light and have raised the public’s awareness.
What has Greenpeace achieved?
It is estimated that up to 12 million metric tons of plastic enter our ocean each year. Plastic is now entering every level of the ocean food chain and is even ending up in the seafood on our plates. Greenpeace believes that recycling alone is simply never going to solve this problem.
Greenpeace believes it’s up to us to demand better – to let large corporations know that we will no longer tolerate the plastics they force upon us. Greenpeace has encouraged companies such as Coca Cola, Starbucks, Unilever, Nestlé and Pepsi to embrace a better model and redesign their packaging.
According to its website: “Our world deserves better…together, we can do better. We can bring about a simpler life without endless waste. A life where people and the planet flourish.”
World Wildlife Fund for Nature (WWF):
The WWF is an international environmental organization founded in 1961 that works in the field of wilderness preservation and the reduction of human impact on the environment. WWF’s work addresses direct and indirect threats – and the forces that drive them – to conserve biodiversity and reduce humanity’s ecological footprint.
How is WWF helping?
Illegal fishing, for example, is threatening marine ecosystems and putting food security and regional stability at risk. It is also threatening the food supply of coastal communities as fish populations decline.
By addressing this issue, WWF believes it will positively contribute to the empowerment of the people who rely on oceans for food and income. WWF is working to engage key government stakeholders to develop a U.S. policy that clearly details a system of legality and traceability to prevent illegal fish from entering the U.S. marketplace.
Furthermore, WWF has found an inexpensive and effective way to retrace the routes and activities of fishing vessels. For example, it can reveal where illegal fishing may be taking place. Traceability – the ability to track seafood from bait to plate – is important in order to combat illegal and unreported fishing. WWF is collaborating with FishWise, Future of Fish and other organizations to move this forward.
UN Environment Programme:
The United Nations Environment Programme is the leading global organization, setting an environmental agenda that promotes the implementation of worldwide sustainable development and serves as an authoritative advocate for the environment.
Its aims:
Its goal is to provide leadership and encourage partnership in caring for the environment by inspiring, informing and enabling nations to improve their quality of life without compromising that of future generations.
To improve air quality in order to protect the environment and human health
To support the world to transition to a low-carbon, sustainable future
To support the protection of forests for social, economic and environmental benefits
To promote gender equality and women’s empowerment in conservation and sustainable development
References:
Further reading: