The Role of Students in Caring for the Environment

Author : Ms. Risma

Climate change has been an issue for the world for a very long time. It can be seen from the environmental problems we face through the water scarcity in rivers and oceans, as well as trash piling up wherever you look, not only in industrial and residential areas but also in schools. 

We know that parents play an important part as they sort out the trash in their homes. In many countries, governments have introduced regulations to handle the collection of rubbish. The private sector contributes by reducing their plastic products and use of other chemicals that may damage the ecosystem. Everybody has an important and necessary role to play. Indeed, sustainability needs to be supported!

What about the students? They are responsible for continuing the previous generation and for growing and spreading information to their new homes and societies about the necessity of caring for the environment. And so, they become our foundation for a sustainable community. As students, they spend most of their days at school, the main place for education and awareness training to be done. As educators and teachers, we include them in the implementation of preserving plants, oceans and the environment in general. There are many other examples of school activities that incorporate the world-wide 3R slogan - Reduce, Reuse, Recycle. 

But wait! Many students think that if they put a waste product into a recycling bin, they have done what they can for the environment. Of course this is not the case. We take materials from the Earth, make and use products made from these materials and then we throw it away as waste. It’s just not sustainable!

There are 3 more R-words that are equally important: Repurpose, Repair, and Rethink. If we keep and use all the reusable components and raw materials from products that we have already used once, we can recirculate products and materials and nothing becomes new waste. Finally, we can return the valuable nutrients to the soil. Everything in the ecosystem can be reused or repurposed and materials never become waste so nature is regenerated. Hence, we rethink what we have done by following the 6Rs to keep taking care of the environment. It starts at school by introducing the 6 R’s for Students so that the world can be a better, more sustainable place.

Now remember, the 6 R’s: Repurpose, Repair, Rethink, Reduce, Reuse and Recycle.