Have you heard about UNESCOs’ Greening project? It aims to transform every learner into an agent of real change by equipping them with the knowledge, skills, values, and eco-friendly attitudes needed to tackle climate change. The project will work for green schools, policies, curricula, and teacher training, all with Sustainable Development Goals.
It’s an ambitious project. According to the reports, through this project, and as the UN lead agency on Education for Sustainable Development (ESD), UNESCO aims to ensure all 193 of its Member States have climate change education in their education sector policies and as core curriculum components by 2030 along with greening teacher training institutions and schools.
Children are our future, and they will be the citizens of the world. Therefore, for long-term environmental sustainability, training children in the present is a must. All the elements in our lives–the food we eat, the air we breathe, and the water we drink–are gifts of nature. Unfortunately, we are not paying attention to Mother Nature and biodiversity.
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What Is Eco-Friendly Parenting or Green Parenting?
Raising a eco-friendly children or Eco-friendly parenting means raising your kids in a way that’s good for the planet. It involves creating an environment where everything you do as a parent should create awareness about the lifestyle.
This includes:
- Using safe, eco-friendly products for your kids and the environment
- Making less trash in your home
- Using less energy and water at home and outside
- Reducing your impact on the environment
- Speaking up about environmental issues.
If you already care about the environment, this list might seem familiar. It’s the same things you’ve been doing to live a greener life, but now you can do them as a parent too.
Why is the focus on children?
The statistics show that the world population stands at 7.8 billion and about 26% of the world is less than 15 years of age. So, imagine what our world would be like if environmentally friendly practices become a reflex action of even 59% of children! Raising eco-friendly Children is our future and teaching eco–friendly living would ensure that we will not rob our children of a livable world. Home is the first school, and parents are the first teachers. We can make our planet habitable and protect it from further damage by inculcating environment-friendly habits in our children.
How do we inculcate eco-friendly habits?
We can teach our children about recycling, telling them about choosing energy-efficient appliances and saving natural resources that are a part of our everyday life such as water, electricity, food, etc. The lessons woven around them can make a big difference. Remember, we have to teach them, not preach them. Humble beginnings can yield better results.
Some of the eco-friendly habits you can teach are:
1. Water Conservation: Water is one of the scarcest resources, but we often take water for granted. So, the first lesson could be about water conservation. For a balanced ecosystem, our children should use water efficiently and avoid unnecessary water usage.
For instance, keeping the tap closed while brushing teeth, not leaving the tap running after a shower, and checking taps before leaving the house. Save leftover water in a glass or water bottle for later use. These little things will create awareness and help them to raising eco-friendly children and become responsible as they grow up.
2. Save Electricity: They say small things make a bigger difference. Children should adopt good habits of turning off the lights, fans, and air conditioners before leaving their rooms, classrooms, etc. Children leave their gadgets plugged in. Therefore, it is important to educate children on unplugging electronics such as laptops, mobile phones, etc. once they are fully charged.
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3. Avoid Food waste: It would surprise you to know that the UN estimates reveal annual global food waste at 1.3 billion tons, or around $1 trillion. A European Commission statement from 2016 said that around 88 million tonnes of food are wasted annually in the EU-28, which has an associated cost estimated at 143 billion euros.
To regulate food waste, France passed a law in 2016 that bans supermarkets from throwing away edible food by obliging them to pair up with a food waste NGO that can redistribute food that would have otherwise been thrown away. In the same year, Italy passed a law against food waste to cut one million tonnes of the estimated five million wasted every year.
These are just a few examples. We can save the world from trouble by teaching our kids at home. Some simple tips, such as serving only what they can eat, and finishing what’s on their plate could be helpful. Also, teach them to share or donate the extra food they have.
4. Avoid Plastic: According to the United Nations Environment Program, from the 1950s to the 1970s, only a small amount of plastic was produced, and as a result, plastic waste was relatively manageable. But plastic waste generation more than tripled between the 1970s and the 1990s, reflecting a similar rise in plastic production.
Today, we produce about 400 million tonnes of plastic waste every year. Plastic products dominate our surroundings. The most dangerous ones are single-use plastic products. It’s a challenge in itself to teach the children to avoid them. But we can try by teaching them to use the benefits of eco-friendly products. We can create awareness through cartoon shows, pictorial books, and giving them recyclable products.
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5. Avoid littering: Initiatives do not have to be dramatic. Set an example for your children by not littering. People throwing waste out of car windows is a common sight. Train your children to use litter bags during outings. At home, monitor them and ensure that they throw the wrappers, etc. in the bin. Show them movies on the subject to enhance environmental awareness.
6. Raising Eco-friendly children tell them to donate used items: Little kids have a lot of stuff. You can tidy up by giving away clothes, toys, and furniture they don’t need anymore. You can donate to friends, and charities like Goodwill, or Habitat for Humanity. When they’re done with their things, ask your child to pick out toys and books they want to give to others. This teaches them about being kind and helping others. Some baby brands even let you trade in old stuff for new!
Benefits of Raising Eco-Friendly Children
- Environmental Awareness: Children learn to value and protect the environment from a young age.
- Sustainable Habits: They adopt eco-friendly behaviors like recycling and reducing waste early on.
- Healthier Lifestyle: Using natural products and eating organic foods promotes better health.
- Connection to Nature: They develop a deeper appreciation for nature and its importance.
- Critical Thinking: Understanding environmental issues encourages them to think creatively and find solutions.
- Social Responsibility: They learn to consider the impact of their actions on others and future generations.
Conclusion
On World Environment Day, raising eco-friendly children is paramount. UNESCO’s Greening project emphasizes equipping kids with eco-conscious values to combat climate change. Through eco-friendly parenting, children learn sustainable habits and critical thinking, ensuring a greener future for all.
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Update: This article was last updated on 22nd March 2024 to reflect the accuracy and up-to-date information on the page.
