How can Myanmar Youth protect the Environment?

What can Myanmar youth do to help protect the environment and natural resources? Plenty! In developing countries, there are many ways that you can make a difference, and every little bit helps. In Myanmar, the youth have started to become more aware of the importance of protecting the environment. They are realizing that it is not only their responsibility, but also their opportunity to make a difference for sustainable development. The international community is addressing natural conservation and development projects of the public and private sector. By working together, we can keep Myanmar beautiful for years to come! Here we go:

Reduce your transport carbon footprint

Youth are active persons and mostly enjoy their time outside. They have a lot of reasons to go outside;  jobs, shopping, evening out, etc. That’s why youth can help to stop climate change and reduce their carbon footprint by using public transportation or biking instead of driving. Switching to alternative transportation is easy and convenient, and it's good for the environment too! So next time you're planning a trip, think about using public transportation like trains, buses or biking instead of driving. It's a great way to reduce your carbon footprint, address climate change and help preserve our planet for future generations. Thanks for doing your part!

Choose reusable things for environmental protection

Do you know how much plastic waste you create in a day? How much does it affect climate change? According to the Environmental Protection Agency, the average American creates 4.4 pounds of trash per day, and only about 30% of that is recycled. Imagine if every person did their part to reduce the amount of trash they produce. According to the French Chamber of Commerce in Myanmar, 80 million plastic bags are used every day. It revealed that 119 tons of plastic enter the ocean every day from the mouths of the Ayeyarwady, with 56% coming from people in the delta region of Ayeyarwady Region (32 tons), according to a recent study. Plastic production in Yangon is expected to add up to 29 tons each day. One way to start is by choosing reusable items over single-use items. Nowadays, single-use products like plastic take away containers and plastic utensils become popular among the youths because they are attractive and easy to use. They love to try new things. There are so many reusable items available now, like water bottles, shopping bags, and cutlery. By choosing these items over disposable ones, we can reduce our waste and help preserve our planet!  So the next time you need to buy something new, think about going reusable. You'll be doing your part for the environment, and you might even save some money in the process!

Do Recycle things properly for sustainable development

Another thing that we should focus on is recycling almost everything for sustainable development. We all know that recycling is important for waste reduction and preventing pollution , but sometimes it can be confusing to know how to recycle properly and do proper waste management in your home, school or business. Here are some great examples for recycling already done by  the youths in Myanmar.  :

Recycling post-consumer plastic film waste (plastic bags, wrap and light packaging)

Using grocery bags at the supermarkets

Choosing rigid plastics which are recyclable

Buy local products

Local Products that are organic and authentic are great to help with nature conservation. It also can boost the local  economic growth, and make your community more sustainable. According to the current moment of Myanmar as a developing country, the young people must surely buy  local things rather than products made in other countries. In this way, we can reduce our transport pollution, foreign exchange risk and support each other. On the other hand, we will try to give technical support for local product improvement. You can see some ideas and ways for your local shopping:

• Go to the farmer market
• Grow your own food
• Connect with local product producers
• Reduce your travel cost
• Spend less on foreign made things 
• Support to improve the local products

Wood handicrafts in Myanmar

Shop the secondhand products

After the unstable political situation of Myanmar, the secondhand market became more popular in Myanmar. The main reason is that the Myanmar economy goes down and people can’t afford  expensive things. But it can also help the protection of the environment, pollution and natural resources. We can see other benefits like cost saving, local business support, reducing environmental issues, no packaging, etc.

In Myanmar, Phone, Cloths, Automobile, Electronic second hand markets are very popular among the youth. E.g  Thrift Event for community inclusion and sustainable waste management project. Try to buy this and let it start as a zero-waste lifestyle. 

Conserve water and electricity for environmental management

All of the youth know the importance of water and electricity in their life. Small changes in daily routines that reduce water and energy use at home may help households save money while conserving the environment. It is a very effective help for climate change, water pollution and air pollution. When not in use, turn off all electrical equipment completely and unplug the power adapters and battery chargers. 

Water Sense and Energy Star labeled products that meet water sense EPA criteria assist customers in conserving water and power. Saving Water and Switching Off Toilets, water heaters, and home electronics all save water and electricity. Toilets, water heaters, and consumer electronics are the largest consumers of water and electricity, but using washing machines, dryers, dishwashers, and other appliances more effectively also saves water and money. 

If we conclude, learning about sustainable practices is not only beneficial for the environment, but also helps contribute to a healthier society overall for sustainable development. You can encourage a difference in your community by getting involved in local environmental protection initiatives. We will speak up our voice on the global environment. Furthermore, choose your favorite leaders who support environmental policies.

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