Day #14: Environmental Literacy

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Do you believe that everyone should be given the knowledge and tools to make environmentally responsible decisions throughout life? Environmental literacy means providing the next generation with the science and knowledge necessary to build more sustainable societies. Raising awareness and deepening understanding of environmental issues is key to inspiring civic engagement and problem-solving.

2022 Billion Acts Awardees Zainab Bie and Elliott Lancaster are both actively involved in increasing environmental literacy within and beyond their communities. From a young age, Zainab Bie has been working to educate her community about the ties between sustainability and economic opportunity. Her educational campaigns made her an instrumental part of her school becoming one of the first Single-Use Plastic Free Zones in New Delhi, India. Her newest project, the Global Economic and Sustainability Alliance is a Global youth-led think and do tank for climate action and sustainable development by the Youth of the global south.

Elliott Lancaster is a young entrepreneur who created his own social enterprise and app, Utter Rubbish, to address the issue of illegal waste dumping in the United Kingdom and elsewhere. The app connects residents, local authorities and community organizations to educational campaigns, public announcements, and resources to reduce waste in a more cost effective and efficient way.

Action:

• Join Zainab Bie and the GESA for their Earth Day Bingo challenge!
• Show your support for environmental literacy by signing one of Earthday.org’s letters to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change or Global Environmental Facility.
• Join Elliott in raising awareness for trash pollution. Keep track of all the plastics, foods, and other materials that you throw-out today. Take an inventory at the end of the day and reflect on how you can reduce your daily usage.
• Learn more about environmental literacy then go ahead and test yourself!