Every year on this day, the world celebrates “World Environment Day” where people encourage world wide awareness and actions for the protection of the environment. It all began in 1973 as an initiative by the United Nations Environment Programme and has gained worldwide popularity.

World Environment Day Activities

Variety activities are planned and performed to celebrate WED in various countries all over the world to encourage participation towards the celebration. News channels all over the world take part actively to cover the news and distribute messages about the celebration among common public through their news publications to bring effective and positive changes towards the environment to solve all the environmental issues. Some of the national and international level activities include street rallies, tree plantation, garbage recycling, surrounding areas clean-up, parades and so many activities in order to draw people attention towards wide range of environmental issues as well as bring a difference.

People of all age groups actively involve during the celebration to save their planet in original form as gifted by the nature. Especially modern day youths hugely take part in the celebration through many activities such as clean up campaigns, art exhibitions, motivating people for afforestation, dance activities, recycling garbage, film festivals, community events, essays writing, poster competitions, social media campaigns and lot more. Many awareness campaigns are also run at schools, colleges and other educational institutions to motivate students towards their environmental safety. The celebration takes by organizing various activities in the public places to aware common public about the real causes of environment status degradation as well as let them know what steps should be taken to solve such environmental issues.

World Environment Day Activities in Nepal

Even in Nepal, various events are carried out in organizations. In schools/colleges, students are asked to write essays regarding environment which helps them learn about the environment as well as ways to improve the environment in small ways from the ground level. Similarly, there are various events such as speech competitions, debate competitions, painting competition that focus on the environment. In this way, the students learn regarding the environment and this helps nurture them in learning environmental safety. There are additional programs organized where the students are taken out to various places for tree plantation and clean up campaigns.

World Environment Day 2016, Cycle Rally

Cycle Rally to Celebrate World Environment Day 2016 and raise awareness regarding environment. The Rally will start from Jawlakhel Ground at 7 in the morning and end at Nepal Tourism Board, Bhrikutimandap.

Facebook Event Page: https://www.facebook.com/events/244958312539038/

Hosted by: Kathmandu Cycle City 2020, Cycle City Network Nepal

How we can help with the environment?

The environmental situation in Nepal has not been too good in the past years. The number of vehicles have been increasing rapidly in the country capital. With the rapid urbanization in the capital city, the number of houses have increased, which easily leads to higher pollution and wastage. This leads to increased pollution in the rivers though there are various campaigns running such as Bagmati Safai Maha Abhiyan. Besides that there are various ways how we can contribute to the environment in small ways. We have listed some ways below:

• Reuse, Reduce and Recycle
• Minimal use of plastic bags
• Plant a tree
• Save electricity
• Save water
• Respect planet Earth

Alternatives to Fuel (Air Pollution)

The use of electric vehicles such as electric scooters and cars. Besides private vehicles, riding on electric tempo can help with the reduction of pollution. Terra Motors Nepal supplies various models of electric scooters and tempos that run completely on electricity. Public vehicles such as Safa Tempo started in 1996 have been added in various routes that run on electricity and promote clean energy at a cheaper cost. Additionally, private car manufacturers such as Mahindra have come up with electric cars that can run on electricity.

Terra Motors: https://www.facebook.com/terramotorsnepal

Mahindra Electric: http://mahindrareva.com/

Alternative to LPG

Nepal Biogas Promotion Association

Nepal Biogas Promotion Association (NBPA) is a non-profit organization which has been established as an umbrella organization by and for the Nepalese biogas construction companies in 1994. Its aim is the sustainability of the biogas development programme in Nepal. NBPA is active in the promotion, coordination, R&D, and training of biogas technology in Nepal. At present NBPA represents more than 114 biogas construction companies and 17 aplliances workshops. NBPA has one central office in Kathmandu and seven regional offices throughout Nepal.

Alternate to Electricity

We do get an irregular supply of electricity, so we need to rely on petorleum sources such as generators which have to run for more than 8 hrs per day in average. This in turn has a negative impact on the environment producing smoke leading to air pollution as well as noise pollution. Various alternatives can be used such as solar, wind, thermal, etc. Though there are many alternatives, only solar energy can be harvested in Nepal at a reasonable cost.

Gham Power – Offgrid solar for home and community
Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/ghampower

Rain Water Harvesting

Rainwater Harvesting is the collection and utilization of the rain that falls on rooftops and other surfaces for immediate and future use. This is done either by using storage tanks or recharging the rainwater into underground sources such as tube wells.

SmartPaani’s Team creates custom solutions based on customers’ needs and situation. Solutions range from tank-based storage for all uses during the rainy season, groundwater recharge for year-round water supply, or tank storage for year-round drinking and cooking uses.

In conclusion, we have tried our best to highlight the various ways how we can help the environment in the smallest ways also catering to our basic needs such as water, cooking and transportation. There are various other ways that we can use to help minimize pollution in our environment. But even the small changes can help better the environment. And as Captain Planet always said, “THE POWER IS YOURS”.