Our planet is our home, the place that【小题1】us; but are we living in harmony with nature? It seems like we humans have embraced a path of self-destruction, 【小题2】the very home that shelters us. From rising carbon emissions, to deforestation and land degradation, anthropogenic activities are having detrimental effects on our【小题3】and environmental biodiversity. Not many are aware that the United Nations General Assembly had declared the period of 2011-2020, as the “Decade for Biodiversity”. We have just gone through the final period of this【小题4】decade, and despite several strategic plans and initiatives to mobilize people at different levels, we are【小题5】behind in achieving the stipulated targets. The negative trends in biodiversity and ecosystems conservation, indicate that we need to do a lot more.

As teenagers, sometimes we feel helpless and powerless, unable to take action, or do things that really【小题6】to us, since governments and large corporations are the ones taking vital decisions. While major changes are only possible if countries and corporations alter their policies and actions, we as individuals also have the potential to make a difference, whether through small actions, or larger initiatives. Let’s not forget that consumers dictate markets, and they can【小题7】impact the way goods are produced and traded if they decide to change their consumption habits.

Recycling is a simple, yet【小题8】way of conserving resources and reducing your individual carbon footprint. Rather than throwing everything in the trash, separate your plastic, paper, and metal waste, and deposit it in a recycling bin. Recycling helps reduce landfill pollution, raw materials and fossil fuel consumption, and【小题9】a circular economy.

Lastly, think about your purchasing habits. As natural resources are limited, our excessive consumption can be counter-productive, and undermine our planet’s biodiversity.

The hopes of the world【小题10】on young people.

How sustainable are your sneakers?

Over the last five years the sneaker industry has grown rapidly and shows no sign of slowing down. The global athletic footwear market is expected to exceed 95 billion (USD) by 2025. According to the World Footwear Yearbook, over 24 billion pairs of shoes are produced annually. Among them sneakers account for the largest 【小题1】. What are the environmental impacts of the rapidly growing sneaker industry?

Sneaker production is very 【小题2】. A typical pair of running shoes produces about 13.6 kilograms of CO₂ emissions which is unusually high for a product that does not use electricity or require power-driving components.

These emissions mainly come from 【小题3】. The majority of sneakers are made from plastic and/or plastic-like materials. All these petroleum-derived plastics produce a(n) 【小题4】 number of carbon dioxide.

Then why don’t we move away from the use of plastic? Since sneakers have to endure much more than a regular pair of shoes, the aspect of their 【小题5】 is very important when it comes to their overall performance. Unfortunately, 【小题6】 materials hold up better than natural ones. Plastic has made shoes better, lighter, faster, more comfortable, and more accessible to everyone worldwide. Another issue with sneakers today is that most of them are made by using a combination of different plastics 【小题7】 in a very complicated way, making them very hard to 【小题8】.

The footwear industry is at least 10 years behind the rest of fashion in terms of environmental standards. Seven out of ten brands are having discussions on sustainability, yet only 40% of companies have a sustainability program in place. Big industry players (such as Adidas and Nike) and some smaller 【小题9】 are trying to reduce their carbon footprint in different ways.

Considering that close to 25 billion pairs of shoes were produced worldwide in the last year, it is clear that immediate action is very important. It is my hope that we consumers will 【小题10】 our relationship with fashion and think about the environmental impact of our shopping habits.

Liu Mei has almost completed her degree in Environmental Science. When she graduates she is hoping to 【小题1】 called Young People for the Planet. 【小题2】, she aims to become 【小题3】 on environmental care. She also plans to educate 【小题4】who comes to her organisation on how to take better care of the environment. She is 【小题5】 to making the world a better place for everyone.