Antigua and Barbuda joins the rest of the world in observing World Environment
Day today, June 5, 2023.
This year, the theme for World Environment Day will focus on solutions to plastic
pollution under the campaign #BeatPlasticPollution.
The world is being inundated by plastic. More than 400 million tonnes of plastic is
produced every year, half of which is designed to be used only once. Of that, less
than 10 percent is recycled. An estimated 19-23 million tonnes end up in lakes,
rivers, and seas. Today, plastic clogs our landfills, leaches into the ocean, and is
combusted into toxic smoke, making it one of the gravest threats to the planet.
Also, what is less known is that microplastics find their way into the food we eat,
the water we drink, and even the air we breathe. Many plastic products contain
hazardous additives, which may pose a threat to our health.
Meanwhile, at least one civil society group, the Environmental Awareness Group
(EAG) will engage many of the nation’s youth in an activity designed to deepen
their understanding of environmental issues, as well as help them to be better
students overall.
The EAG announced that in celebration of World Environment Day today, it will
be having an Exam Energizer in preparation for the Grade 6 National Assessment.
“The goal of this session is to ensure that students are exam ready, by reinforcing
key topics covered during the science component of their school curricula over the
past year, with a special focus on the Environmental Science component. We
strongly believe that science should not just be interesting but also fun, and the
Energizer will be a very interactive session, strengthening environmental concepts
and encouraging and rewarding students when they participate and apply their
knowledge,” said a spokesman for the group.
Four primary schools – Christian Union Primary, St. Nicholas Primary, Newfield
Primary, and Grace Christian Academy – will be hosted concurrently throughout
the day.