Opinion by J1 Reporter Alida Farrens

As I get older, I am realizing the impact I have had on the environment and how it impacts me. When people think of the environment, their thoughts automatically go to going green, the sky, the sea, pollution, and recycling. Although these things are true, there is so much more that we don’t realize.

As more and more people have become aware of the environmental downfall, they have started organizations to help create change. It has become so easy to help out, whether it be cleaning beaches, recycling water bottles, spreading awareness, using metal straws, or reusing plastic bags. If people of all ages don’t help contribute to improve the environment and advertise for change, then our planet Earth will become less and less of a home.

The importance of nature is something that we take for granted every day. The gifts we get from the environment provide us with the material to create and build. Keeping nature alive is incredibly important to our survival.

Increased population, growing cities, and huge amounts of energy use have put a strain on the planets resources. Living Planet, a comprehensive study of trends in global biodiversity and the health of the planet, reported in 2018, “By 2030, it will take the equivalent of two planets to meet the current demand for resources.” Nature is incredibly important so it is alarming to see it decrease at such fast rates.

Teenagers have grown up in a society that wastes so much and takes no sustainable action. Renewing resources and creating long term alternatives is important to teach to the younger generations. I have seen my grade school and the ones around my area take environmental awareness seriously. Many teachers have made young kids aware of basic acts that they can do to help the environment. It can be as simple as throwing their paper and water bottles in a recycling bin or reusing their grocery bags. Getting people in this type of routine starting at a young age could really have an impact on the environment.

Along with nature, biodiversity has become one of the biggest supporters of life on earth. It forms the building blocks for modern society. Although it is a global priority, it is also disappearing rapidly. The huge loss of species and resources on Earth seems to not have gotten the attention of the world’s leaders enough to influence the change necessary. The fact is, if our environment continues as it has been for years, then our future generations will be in trouble. The choice is ours.