BANDUNG, unpas.ac.id – Commemoration of World Environment Day becomes an important moment to rebuild our awareness on environment. Societies should also start to reduce the habit and lifestyle which is potential to contaminate the environment.
This year, World Environment Day brings the theme of Ecosystem Restoration. Teacher of Unpas Faculty of Environmental Engineering, Dr. Yonik Meilawati, S.T., M.T considered that the theme is interesting, especially if young generation also take hands in being the pioneer of ecosystem restoration.
“There are many simple steps to do to protect the environment. Young generation has their own crucial role in forming the habit and giving the impact to the continuity of environment in the future,” she said on Saturday (June 5th, 2021).
Efforts to take care of the environment should include all aspects, namely from the air, water and soil. To reduce the air pollution emission, the simplest steps to do by our very own is to change our riding-habit, by taking public transportation or cycling/biking, for example.
And so is water. Before disposing liquid waste, both from household, office and industry, it should be well-maintained in order not to contaminate the river. It can be started from the smallest neighborhood; that every household should have their own septic tank so that it will not contaminate the cleanness of groundwater.
“It should also be done with the soil. The 3R efforts (reduce, reuse, recycle) need to strengthened. Do not dispose your waste freely. If you use something, try to complete it in one-go, so that it will not contaminate the environment. If you cannot reduce, try to recycle it to be new stuff,” she explained.
Dr. Yonik thinks that due to current condition which requires an online activity, it could reduce the emission process, especially because of the movement. Although the use of paper tended to decreased, we still need to pay attention of the electricity energy.
Therefore, she also appreciates young generation who are now starting to use the solar panel to substitute electricity energy. Although it is quite expensive, it is a good step to reduce environmental impact.
“I see that there are lots of millennials’ business starting to move on to environment-friendly. Their mindset is very good to be carried out in the long-term process, so it will not depend on fossil energy, but also consider the impact for environment,” she continued.
She also said that the World Environment Day should not be a ceremonial only, but also a reminder to do real action. There should be a generation who are willing to sacrifice for the environmental continuity.
“If we just think and put it off, who would want to even start it? So, this is the right time for real practice. For young generation, be the pioneer of ecosystem restoration, keep fighting to actualize better and continuous condition,” she ended.