New ISO ESG Implementation Principles provide int’l guidance to streamline ESG practices
New ESG Implementation Principles launched the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) at the 29th United Nations ...
UN “ACT NOW” campaign to encourage individual climate action in Egypt
The United Nations Development Program (UNDP) backed the United Nations’ “ACT NOW” to encourage individual climate action in Egypt as the world is marking the Environment Day 2021.
Under the campaign, the UNDP offered ten simple tips to exhort people to take action in the face of climate change.
It said that people can cut water consumption by limiting their shower time to only five minutes as water is a limited and valuable resource. UNICEF and the World Health Organization (WHO) estimate that 1 in 3 people worldwide do not have access to safe drinking water.
The second tip is that people can help reduce use of plastic waste by bringing one’s own reusable bag during shopping as Egypt uses around 12 billion plastic bags every year according to the Ministry of Environment. In a bid to protect the environment, Egypt’s Red Sea governorate has already banned the use of single-use plastics in the area. By bringing one’s own reusable bag, people can also help reduce emissions, save water, and cut down on plastic waste.
As for cutting greenhouse gas emissions from the transport sector, people can carpool, cycle or walk. The transportation sector is one of the country’s biggest sources of greenhouse gas emissions and air pollution. Through UNDP Egypt’s Sustainable Transport project, in cooperation with the Ministry of Environment and the Global Environment Facility; a high-quality bus service project and a bike sharing scheme in Fayoum governorate were launched
The fourth tip is to rationalize electricity consumption which will consequently reduce both the amount of fuel needed to generate electricity, and hence cut the amount of greenhouse gases emitted as a result.
Also, unplugging computers, chargers, printers & TVs would contribute to cutting electricity consumption.
The sixth tip is to encourage local production of food to cut carbon foot print. Buying local Egyptian produce does not only support its economy, strengthen the local workforce and businesses, and provides a healthy meal; it also reduces the climate impact of food production.
The seventh tip is plastic recycling. Egypt produces more than 5 million metric tons of plastic every year according to the American Chamber of Commerce in Egypt. It can take up to 500 years for plastic to decompose and even then, plastic turns into microplastics that affect food, water, and ecosystem. Recycling plastic not only saves the environment, but saves energy helping combat climate change.
The eighth tip is to limit use of refillable coffee cups. Billions of disposable coffee-cups are thrown away each year globally. That is both paper and plastic littering the planet and taking years to decompose. To limit waste and its detrimental effects on people and the planet, save CO2 emissions and water, carry a reusable coffee cup wherever one goes.
The ninth tip is recycling one’s own clothes, swapping with friends, creating new clothes from old ones and shopping second hand. This would help protecting the environment. The fashion industry is the second highest user of water worldwide. It takes 10,000 liters of water to make one pair of jeans. This is equivalent to the amount of water a person drinks in 10 years.
The tenth tip is limiting one’s meat intake and eating more plant-based meals such as vegetables and whole grains reduces greenhouse gas emissions while saving water and land.
People around the world are engaged to make a difference, be part of the solution to a more sustainable future and combat critical issue facing our times. By registering and sharing one’s actions, a message is sent to individuals to take similar climate action.
اترك تعليقا