26
Feb, 2021

The Rio Declaration

There is no doubt that earth has suffered a lot due to several harmful human activities. However, in 1992, the United Nations finally acknowledged the problem of global warming and came up with the Rio Declaration. In this article, we will look at the UN conference and the measure taken in the conference.

The Earth Summit

File:United Nations Headquarters, Geneva.jpg - Wikimedia Commons

In June 2012, a conference was held by the United Nations in Rio de Janeiro, which is called the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development or the Earth Summit. It was a conference created to unite the member states to cooperate together internationally and address urgent problems of environmental protection and socio-economic development. It was known as the largest gathering of leaders worldwide, with 117 heads of state and 178 representatives of different nations. It was a platform where some treaties and important documents were signed and where different countries committed themselves to the pursuit of economic and sustainable development.

The following issues were addressed during the Rio de Janeiro Earth Summit:

  • A systematic analysis of certain production patterns such as the production of toxic components like lead in gasoline or poisonous waste includes radioactive chemicals.

     

  • Find alternative sources of energy to replace the use of fossil fuels.

     

  • A change in the public transportation systems to reduce vehicle emissions, traffic congestion in cities and the health conditions caused by pollutants and dirt particles.

     

  • The rise in water consumption and its insufficient supply.

This conference was considered a remarkable achievement for both the United Nations and the whole world as it helped answer the most important questions faced by human civilisation. However, now we will shift our focus to the Rio Declaration, which is one of the most important documents that resulted from the summit.

Rio Declaration on Environment and Development

The Rio Declaration on Environment and Development, also known as the Rio Declaration, was composed during the 1992 United Nations Conference on Environment and Development. But what is the document about? It compiles 27 principles that emphasise on the importance of preserving the environment and achieving sustainable development. The principles serve as guidelines and a path to a more green and sustainable world.

The Stockholm Declaration on the Human Environment was the predecessor of the Rio Declaration that was created in 1972 during another United Nations Conference on the Human Environment. Read the following to know what was proclaimed during the conference:

“Man is both creature and moulder of his environment, which gives him physical sustenance and affords him the opportunity for intellectual, moral, social and spiritual growth. In the long and tortuous evolution of the human race on this planet a stage has been reached when, through the rapid acceleration of science and technology, man has acquired the power to transform his environment in countless ways and on an unprecedented scale. Both aspects of man’s environment, the natural and the man-made, are essential to his well-being and to the enjoyment of basic human rights the right to life itself.

However, we see around us growing evidence of man-made harm in many regions of the earth: dangerous levels of pollution in water, air, earth and living beings; major and undesirable disturbances to the ecological balance of the biosphere; destruction and depletion of irreplaceable resources; and gross deficiencies, harmful to the physical, mental and social health of man, in the man-made environment, particularly in the living and working environment.

Hence, the protection and improvement of the human environment is a major issue which affects the well-being of peoples and economic development throughout the world; it is the urgent desire of the peoples of the whole world and the duty of all Governments.”

Now let us come back to the Rio Declaration. Did you know that it was subjected to much criticism? Like me, you must wonder why this declaration was met with disappointment. Thing is according to Maurice Strong, a Canadian businessman that was also served as Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations, the Rio Declaration did not met his expectations of producing an “Earth Charter.”

However, what are your views about the Rio declaration? Please share your comments!

Options for Plastic-free Shopping

One of the simplest ways to be more sustainable is to green your home, office, and travel. For example, taking a set of reusable cutlery prevents thousands of plastic forks and knives from ending up in landfills. Imagine the collective impact we could all have with these small changes.
While it hasn’t always been easy to find zero or low garbage stores, some stores help us live a greener, cleaner lives. Even today, when in-store shopping is not possible everywhere, these online stores encourage us to adopt a sustainable lifestyle (starting with plastic-free packaging, of course). In general, the hardest to recycle the plastics are the softest, those that can easily be crumpled in hand, such as food packaging (think of pasta packets or individually wrapped portions of food). Polystyrene is another ubiquitous culprit that is never recycled in the waste stream.

So let’s take the next step in this dynamic of minimal waste and no plastic. Start small, take your time, and develop your good habits one by one.
1. BYO bag

Always take your shopping bags to the supermarket or stores. They don’t have to be made of canvas, the eco-friendly kind if you don’t have one. Even the simple reuse of plastic bags from your kitchen cupboard can help reduce waste.

2. Use a thermos or KeepCup

If you regularly find yourself buying coffee to go, take your clean thermos and avoid adding to the pile of Styrofoam and plastic-coated cardboard waste. Coffee makers generally appreciate not having to buy their cups to dispense and the environmental values being taken care of. Some coffee shops even give you a discount!

3. Avoid individually wrapped products

Don’t buy food in pre-portioned packages. Buy in bulk instead! Instead of buying 15 mini-packs of cookies or potato chips for school lunches, buy a sizeable individual box and put it in portions in containers. Apply this theory to yogurt, blanks, and anything else that can be purchased in larger quantities. Every little bit counts!

4. Don’t buy fruits and vegetables that are wrapped in plastic!

As with bulk packaged foods, avoid buying pre-packaged or pre-weighed fruits and vegetables. You know that bananas packed on foam trays and the like are useless and waste money. Instead, choose bulk bananas and put them directly in the fruit basket or refrigerator when you get home. In fact, why does a banana need more packaging than nature has already provided?

5. Replace the Gladwrap with beeswax wrappers or containers.

Invest in good, airtight storage containers used both in the microwave and in the freezer. It’s a good idea to have several different sized containers for the different types of foods you’ll be storing, as well as snack-sized containers for lunch boxes and for storing liquids, dressings, etc. The phthalates in the plastic film are very harmful to your health, which will benefit you, your friends, and your family.

6. Buy your meat or cheese at the delicatessen and ask to use your container.

Pre-packaged meat and cheese are usually sold in plastic or polystyrene trays, but if you buy directly from the deli, you can bring your container to carry your treats.

7. Have a bottle on hand

Plastic water bottles are one of the most common items in the world. Don’t help perpetuate the market for this ridiculously wasteful product; take your water bottle when you’re on the go. Water comes out of the tap for free, so why the hell pays for it!

8. Refuse the straw! Use your lips.

They may seem small and harmless, but they build up incredibly fast for a night of drinking. If you have to drink through a straw, try using it again overnight. Better yet, invest in a reusable straw, such as the stainless steel or glass straws. We’ve found that stainless steel straws are a little stronger because glass is not the thing.

Sustainable Grocery Stores – the Change in the World of Grocery

The world is changing, and, at the same time, people are increasingly aware of the importance of purchasing and the environment. 80% of consumers would prefer to reduce their environmental impact and find a way to improve their contribution to the fight for a better planet. There are many things we can do and choices we can make to reduce our impact on the environment. Well, we’re not alone in making this change; grocery stores also play an essential role in their supply chain and their interaction with consumers, so their impact on the planet is less. This company is beginning to adopt sustainable practices, where reusable water bottles are available instead of disposable ones, and eating vegetables reduces the carbon footprint.

1. Buy in bulk with reusable bags – You may have noticed that many vending machines and containers are filled with food. So instead of buying pre-packaged food, you package your food as much as you want. They even offer reusable bags for purchasing these items in bulk. Grocery stores should sell all food because they would eliminate the need for a plethora of plastic and cardboard packaging. Imagine all the cereal boxes and fruit containers that would no longer be needed. The cashiers would weigh the items you buy and charge you according to their weight.

2. Offer reusable fruit and vegetable cartons – Even if a raspberry container is small, plastic waste accumulates. Rather than continually throwing away or recycling these containers, stores should offer reusable plastic or glass cartons that customers can take with them. This also allows consumers to choose the amount of product they want instead of buying a particular size container. This will eliminate food waste. The cashier will weigh the products, and customers will only be charged for what they eat. To motivate customers to bring in their reusable cartons, stores should charge customers for each disposable container needed.

3. Charging customers for the use of disposable bags – Several states have proposed laws that would charge customers for the benefit of plastic bags. The purpose of these laws is to motivate customers to bring their reusable bags to the grocery store. The U.S. uses approximately 100 billion plastic bags per year, each taking up to 1,000 years to decompose in landfills. Replace the small plastic grocery bags, which are easy to tear, with larger, more durable reusable bags. Plastic waste will undoubtedly be reduced.

4. Sell only organic food – Grocery stores should try to sell only organic food. Conventional agriculture uses many pesticides, which then seep into the soil and kill the Earth and everything that lives. Your dollar is your vote. The more organic food you buy, the more popular and profitable organic farming will become. As consumer demand increases, more farmers will choose to grow organic food, and more companies will want to invest in organic farming.

5. Buying “ugly” fruit – Many farmers know that people won’t buy products that don’t look perfect. That’s why tons of high-quality products are never picked, and even when they are, they are not purchased or consumed simply because of their appearance. By buying tasty fruit that doesn’t look as appetizing, you’re eliminating food waste and sending the message that it’s okay to eat less attractive fruits and vegetables. These solutions are not incredibly challenging to implement. If you want to see positive changes to ensure a long future for the Earth, you can make a few simple lifestyle changes. As a consumer, you should buy in bulk, use reusable grocery bags, buy more organic food, and avoid purchasing ugly products.

 

So the next time, you are shopping do know that the bio-products are the best when it comes to the environment. This is your support for the environment!