World Environment Day on June 5th was a good reminder to us all about raising awareness and fostering action for environmental protection in our local eco-system as well as the world in general. The theme this year was ‘Ending Plastic Pollution’ which underscored the urgent need to address the escalating plastic waste crisis that affects nearly all ecosystems worldwide, countless numbers of wildlife along with unknown implications to our own health.
“World Environment Day in 2025 will be a watershed moment for the conservation of the global environment as we expect to have concluded the global plastic agreement. As the host country of the 2025 World Environment Day, the Republic of Korea will lead international efforts to prevent plastic pollution,” said Republic of Korea Environment Minister Han Wha-jin, on his country’s role in leading the global campaign.
In alignment to this global campaign, Sydney’s local councils and communities and even schools organised a series of events to engage residents and students in sustainable practices, all doing their bit as part of #GenerationRestoration. The City of Ryde Council, for instance, hosted a month-long program featuring workshops on recycling, sustainable living, and urban greening, alongside interactive eco-activities, hands-on events and expert talks designed to inspire and empower the community to live more sustainably and to care for the local environment.
Lane Cove and North Sydney Councils focused on collaborative environmental stewardship in the way of clean-up activities and a number of educational sessions on sustainable practices. Their community-driven initiatives exemplified the collective effort to combat plastic pollution and restore bushland, as seen at the Berry’s Creek event in Wollstonecraft on June 7. Attendees were taken on a guided walk through the peaceful rainforest around Berry’s Creek, an urban green corridor that supports a variety of native wildlife including the majestic Powerful Owl. Afterwards, efforts were made to restore bushland with rubbish cleaned away and new native seedlings being planted.
Schools across Sydney implemented various activities to instil environmental consciousness among students. Activities included litter clean-ups and discussions on the impacts of plastic pollution in an attempt to foster a generation of eco-conscious individuals. Native gardens were also planted at some schools, along with mini compost stations, upcycling art projects, adopting class trees, ‘waste-free’ lunch days, and even classroom energy audits, all of which were designed to facilitate students learning more about sustainability and the protection of the environment as future custodians.
These local initiatives aligned with the global call to action for reducing plastic pollution and Sydney residents contributed fantastically well to this collective effort to protect the environment and promote a more sustainable future. Every little bit helps, even if it’s just a conscious effort at home to reduce waste, recycle and generally care about the health of your local environment.
