ECO-HERO ESSAY WRITING 2020/2021

This competition (The Eco Future essay) is operated and promoted by the International Eco Hero Awards Nigeria, a company registered in Nigeria with Corporate Affairs Commission, Abuja (registration number: 142106…). By entering the competition, you agree to this terms and conditions and confirm that you are telling us your real name, age, educational background, and other related information required from you.

2020 WRITING CONTEST

 Our essay competition for young people              

• THE ECO-HERO’’s Eco Future initiative begun years back to make the case for political, economic and social freedoms at a time when these values are under assault. We want this exploration of ideas to involve our critics as well as our supporters.

• As part of the initiative we are holding an essay contest. It is open to people between 8 -16 years old. Essays should be no longer than 1,000 words. The deadline for submissions is November 30^th 2020. Please read the formal terms of the competition.

• Essayists should answer the question by taking a stance and making a case based on arguments and facts. We will select the best essays based on the quality of their arguments, not the extent to which they align with our views. Though good writing is important, judges will make allowances for those for whom English is not their first language.

• Essayists should email their submissions latest by November 30^th 2020, with the subject “Open Eco- Future essay contest” to…………………………………………………………………………. Please send only one, final submission, and place the text in the body of the email: we cannot accept attachments. Please indicate your age and country.

• Again, please do read the termsof the competition. We are a global organization and we operate a strict privacy policy around the world. How we will use your personal data is spelled out in the terms of the competition, and how we handle personal data more generally is in our privacy policy.

• By entering the competition, you agree to the terms of the competition, and you agree to us processing and using your personal data for the purposes described in the terms including administering the contest, to attribute winning entries and runners-up publicly and for promotional purposes. We will not use your details to market other services to you unless you specifically give us permission to do so.

We encourage you to read more and do more research on environmental issues around the globe. THANK YOU. Good luck!

The competition

• The Eco Future Essay Competition is an International based competition that runs in Nigeria with vision focuses on improving students’ thinking ability, communication logistics and fight possible pandemic including Corona Virus by adding voice to help safe the planet Earth which all lives depends and as such rewarding the amazing essayists.

• ALL COMPETITIORS ARE EQUAL BEFORE THE COMPETITION EVEN AS WE REMAIN EVERLY FAIR IN OUR PROMOTIONAL ETHICS AND PANEL DECISIONS.

• Registration fee to participate may be required.

• There is one essay contest, associated with an ‘Eco-Future’ theme (ie, the environment). The contest has a specific question categorically and description to be answered. Details of the contest will be published by the ‘Eco-Future’ on ‘Eco-Future’ online hub at ecoheronigeria.com.

THE UPCOMING QUESTION FOR THE UPCOMING ESSAY CONTEST ARE:

• FOR THE UNDERGRADUATE CATEGORY:

“What Key Economic And Political Reforms, If Any, Is Needed To Be Issued For An Effective Action To Air Pollution?”

(Not More than 1000 words)

(B) FOR THE SENIOR SECONDARY SCHOOL CATEGORY:

       (SSS1-SSS3)

    “If Negligence Of The Planet Earth Is Discovered To Be The Cause Of The Corona Virus Outbreak, How Do We Change Our Attitude”

(Not more than 500 words).

(C)  FOR THE JUNIOR SECONDARY SCHOOL CATEGORY:

(JSS1-JSS3)                                          

“The Need For The World To Officially Introduce The World Lockdown Day To Help Beat The Possible Future Global Pandemic”

(Not more than 400 words).

(D)  FOR THE PRIMARY (ELEMENTARY) SCHOOLS CATEGORY:

(PRY 4-6)

“The Usefulness Of Clean Water To Man’’

(Not less 100 words)

• Essays should take a side, analyze the situation and build a case base on argument and facts.

• Elegant writing is important but the judges will make allowances for those whom English is not their native language. The winners will be based on the subjective decision of the judging panel.

• There would be only 20 winners comprising overall 20 best, overall best 10, and the 1^st , 2^nd, 3^rd, positions in the primary and secondary school categories Nationwide.

• All the winning entries will be published online by the ‘Eco-Future’.

FOR THE TRAVELLING PRIZE:

There will be only one (1) or two (2) winner(s) for the travelling prize.

• The prize would be merited by one (1) or two (2) of the overall winner(s) within the primary and secondary categories, it will include invitation to one of the ‘Eco-Hero‘s-Eco-Future’ event of its interest to be held in Nigeria or in any environmental related events around the world, this will include an economy – class flight for the winner(s) (if required) to get to the relevant event destination and hotel accommodation for at least two nights. The Eco-Future will determine in its sole discretion which ‘Eco-Future’ event location to award the winner(s).

The Prizes

• The prize for the winner(s) (overall) best pupil primary school category and (overall) best student secondary school category will include invitation to one of the environmental events which is of the interest of the Eco-Hero locally or internationally.

STAR PRIZE

 1^st position  – $1000 (US Dollars), Certificate of recognition, Environmental book, Dictionary, Souvenirs

2^nd position  –  $500 (US Dollars), Certificate of recognition, Environmental book, Dictionary, Souvenirs

3^rd position  – $350 (US Dollars), Certificate of recognition, Environmental book, Dictionary Souvenirs

• PRIZE FOR THE BEST 10    Certificate of recognition, Environmental book, Dictionary Souvenirs
• PRIZE FOR THE BEST 20   Certificate of recognition, Environmental book, Dictionary Souvenirs
• CONSOLATION PRIZES       (for all other participants)  Certificate of participation and Souvenirs

NOTE: Incase of hindrances and related challenges affecting any stage described as final stage of the competition, management decision will outline the next stage of outfits.

• For instance, the 2019 postponement of the final essay event in some region/state due to the COVID 19 situation around the World. A new date will be given as we beat the situation and by God’s grace we will all beat it together.

FOR THE TRAVELLING PRIZE:

• Please, note that if you win and you are under 18 at the time of the relevant ‘Eco-Future’ event, a person with parental responsibility or some other responsible adult must accompany you.

The ‘Eco-Future’ will also provide an economy – class ticket and hotel accommodation for this person.

The prizes do not include any items other than those expressly stated. (For the travelling prize) They do not include, for example, insurance costs, the cost of transfers to and from airports, food and drinks other than meals provided by the economist, taxes or personal expenses. Any such costs, or other cost incidental to the fulfillment of the prize, are the responsibility of the winner.

• If the travelling is outside the Country of your residence, you will be responsible for ensuring that you are available to travel and hold valid passports, any necessary visas and other travels documents for the prize in question on the travel dates specified.

ONLINE ENTRY

How to enter

• The online entries must be received by 11:59 pm latest Nigeria time on the closing date of the competition which will be communicated, only entries that are duly received by us by the closing date will be eligible for the competition. We cannot accept responsibility for entries that are lost, delayed or damaged and proof of sending an online entry is not proof that we receive it.

• Entries must be submitted as plaintext in the body of an email addressed to ‘Eco –Future’ @ecoheronigeria.com, with the subject line: “Eco-Future Essay Competition’’. Note; file attachment are not allowed and will not be opened.

• Entries cannot be returned so please remember to retain a copy.

• All entries must be the original work of the entrant and must not infringe the rights of any other party. The International Eco-Hero Awards Nigeria accepts no responsibility if entrants ignore these terms and conditions and entrant agrees to indemnify the “Eco-Hero Nigeria” against any claim by any third party for any breach of these terms and conditions.

• Entries must not contain defamatory, obscene, offensive, or any other unsuitable material; the Eco-Future reserves the right to disqualify entries containing such matter. Entries must be suitable to be published by the ‘Eco-Hero Magazine” for audiences of all ages.

Intellectual property

• Each entrant retains the copyright in his or her entry but grants to the ‘Eco-Future’ a perpetual non –exclusive royalty – free license to publish, broadcast (across all media) and post the entry online or on any other platforms yet to be envisaged, together with his or her name, age, and country of residence. This license will be deemed to include all the necessary rights and permission to enable such use by the ‘Eco-Future’, to fulfill the prizes and to complete the administration of this competition.

• By submitting an entry, you agree that the ‘Eco-Future’ may at its sole discretion edit, adapt, abridge or translate the entry for the purpose listed in these terms and conditions ( even if you don’t win we may, for example, publish your essay or excerpts from it as a runner- up in the competition).you granted permission to the ‘Eco-Future’, and to those acting under the ‘Eco-Future’s authority, to use your name, picture, likeness, voice, biography information and statements for promotional purposes without additional compensation, in all media now known or hereafter discovered, worldwide and on the internet and world wide web, without notice, review or approval. You agree that the ‘Eco-Future’ may use your entry for creation of derivative products and that the ‘Eco-Future’ shall own the copyright in such derivative products, shall accordingly be free to use them at it wishes and not be obliged to acknowledge you as a source or author of such products or of underlying elements thereof.

Eligibility

• The competition is open to person between the ages of 8-16 inclusive, except for employees of the ‘Eco-Hero’ or its affiliated companies and professional advisors, their immediate families, and anyone professionally connected with the competition and even if they eventually participated, it will be categorized for purpose of contribution, the writer(s) does so without target to key prizes but may be given ONLY official recognition for purpose of honor and advertorial in the Eco Future Magazine, if such entry deserves so.

• If you are under the age of 18 or classed as a minor wherever you reside, you must obtain written parental or guardian consent to enter and to claim your prize. The ‘Eco- Future’ may ask the winner to provide proof of age/or parental consent.

• In entering the competition, you confirm that you are eligible to do so and you are eligible to claim the prize you may win. The ‘Eco-Future’ may require you to provide proof that you are eligible or qualify to enter the competition.

• Only one entry per person is permitted. Entry via third parties and automated entries are not permitted.

• Entries not submitted in accordance with these terms and all other rules and directions given by the ‘Eco-Future’, or entries that are incomplete or illegible (as determined in our sole discretion) will not be eligible.

Prize and judging   

• A judging panel of at least seven (7) people will be established, comprising a number of Eco Future journalists as well as other persons. A subset of that panel will be responsible for short listing what it judges in its discretion to be the best entries, and the panel will then choose.

• The decision of the judging panel is final, and at its sole discretion. No correspondence or discussion will be entered into by us in relation to that decision.

• Winners will be announced in the year of the competition or a year after.

• The winner will be notified (by email, post or phone, using contact details provided with the entry) at least 45 days before the grand finale/ award day.

• We will make all reasonable efforts to contact the winners. If any winner cannot be contacted or is not available, or has not claim his or her prize within stipulated days in the announcement date. The ‘Eco-Future’ reserves the right to offer the prize to the next eligible entrant selected from the correct entries that were received before the closing date.

• We may ask you to provide your passport photograph, documentary proof or your identity, proof of your registration for participation, and / or address before award of the prize.

NOTE: The use of a false name, false declaration of required information, and related information by such competitor will render the entry void.

Use of your information  

• We will use any personal information that you gave us in accordance with the law and our privacy policy at: http://www.ecoherogpoup.com/privacy, for the purpose of the competition, in the way described in these terms and conditions, and for any marketing or other purposes you may indicate your consent to. We may also share your details with our service providers and competition partners involved in the competition.

• We will disclose the names and countries of the winner on request of the third party. Their names, age, Countries, and countries will be available from the ‘Eco- Future’ at the address provided above on the receipt of a stamped, addressed envelope for a period of three month after the date winner are first announce.

• If you have any questions or concerns about the use of your personal information please contact us by email at dataprivacy@ecohero.com.

General

• We are not liable for any damage, loss or disappointment suffered by you taking part or not being able to take part in this competition either in the events of civil unrest, Government law against social gathering, outbreak of global pandemic, etc or from being unable to claim your prize or otherwise participate in the relevant ‘Eco-Future’ event.

• In so far as permitted by law, the Eco-Future, its agents, partners, sponsors or distributors will not in any circumstance be responsible or liable to compensate the winner or accept any liability for any loss, damage, dissatisfaction, personal injury or death occurring as a result of taking part or taking up a prize except where it is caused by the negligence of the Eco Future, its agents, partners, sponsors, distributors or that of their employees. Your statutory rights are not affected.

• In the event of unforeseen circumstances, we may alter, amend, postpone, reschedule or foreclose the competition without prior notice. We reserve the right to change these terms at any time. The competition is void wherever prohibited by law.

• These terms are governed by English law you submit to the jurisdiction of the English courts.

RELATEDLY, THE UPCOMING ECO-FUTURE YOUTH ESSAY COMPETITION

• The Eco-Hero’s-Eco-Future is designed around environmental related events, projects, in Africa, Europe, USA, Asia and other part of the globe) i.e. particularly The Youth climate change, World Water Day, World Environmental Day, World Environmental Sustainability Day, Greenbuild Expo, Green Homes, Future City, Energy, Gas Emission e.tc.

• THE Eco-Hero’s -Eco-Future Initiative begun years back to make the case for political, economic and social freedoms at a time when these values are under assault. We want this exploration of ideas to involve our critics as well as our supporters.

OFFLINE CONTEST

• As part of the initiative we are holding an essay contest. It is open to children between 8-16 and persons between 17-25 years old, all in the school age categorically.

• Details for deadline for submissions will be published by the Eco-Future online hub.

The Eco Hero Essay Competition In The Meantime

• There is one essay contest, associated with an Eco-Future theme (i.e. the environment). The contest has specific questions and descriptions categorically for primary, secondary and higher Institutions to be answered. Details of the contest will always be published by the International Eco Future online hub or Eco-Future Magazine.

• As such, other essay contests may be introduced subsequently which will be focusing on Food and Agriculture, Health, Education, (Sports: Wellbeing), Netzero, Carbon Energy, Building and Technology, etc.

• Essays should take a side, analyze the situation and build a case based on argument and facts. Elegant writing is important but the judges will make allowances for those whom English is not their native language. The winners will be based on the subjective decision of the judging panel.

• The winning entries will be published online or by the Eco-Future magazine.

How to enter

• All Eco-Future entries must be received by 11:59pm Nigeria time on the closing date of the Competition as stipulated by the. Only entries that are duly received by us by the closing date will be eligible for the competition. We cannot accept responsibility for entries that are lost, delayed or damaged and proof of sending an online entry is not proof that we received it.

• Entries must be submitted as plain text in the body of an email addressed to Eco-Future @ecoheronigeria.com, with the subject line: “Eco-Future Essay Competition”. Note: File attachments are not allowed and will not be opened. 

• Entries cannot be returned so please remember to retain a copy.

 

• All entries must be the original work of the entrant and must not infringe the rights of any other party. The Eco-Hero accepts no responsibility if entrants ignore these terms and conditions and entrants agree to indemnify the International Eco-Hero Awards Nigeria against any claim by any third party from any breach of these terms and conditions.

• For More Information:

Visit the Official Webpage of the Eco-Hero’s Open Future Youth Essay Competition 2020.

Writing contest our essay competition for young people

• What fundamental and economic and political change, if any, is needed for an effective response to climate change?

• The vision and mission of the international Eco-Hero ‘Eco-future essay initiative begun years back to make the case for political, economic and social freedoms at a time when these values are under assault.

 

• We want this exploration of ideas to involve our critics as well as our supporters in other to help boost the quality of our magazine content (Eco-Future Magazine).

 

• As part of the initiative we are holding an essay contest. It is open to people between 8-15 and 16-25 years old of the school age. Essays should not be more than 1000 words (incase of the under graduate).

 

• The deadline for 2020 essay submission will be communicated. Please read the formal terms of competition.

 

DESCRIPTION: for decades the world has been aware that human activity is heating up the planet to dangerous levels, with potentially calamitous consequences. Despite efforts by government, NGOs, business and individual to curtail the trend, carbon emissions are still rising. Perhaps new thinking is needed, since previous attempts to deal with the problem have failed. So what might be done?

• The winning essay will be published on the ‘Eco-Hero’ ‘Eco Future’ website and the winner will be invited to attend one of the ‘Eco Future’ festivals events, to be held in Nigeria, or any other part of the world that is of interest of the international Eco-Hero Awards Nigeria. The ‘Eco-future’ will pay for travel and accommodation; if the winner is under the age of 18, we will pay for the guardian to accompany the winner as well. The names of the 20 long-listed finalists will be published online; each will also receive a one- year digital subscription to the ‘Eco-Future Magazine’.

 

• Also, the winner (overall best in primary/secondary category) will be invited to attend the travel around the world or related environmental Expo, hotel accommodation (if required) will be provided by the office of the International Eco Hero Awards.

 

• Essayist should answer the question by taking a stance and making a case based on arguments and facts. We will select the best essay based on the quality of their arguments, not the extent to which they align with our views. Though good writing is important, judges will make allowances for those whom English is not their first language.

 

• Essayists should email their submission as in line with international Eco-Hero’s instruction with subject to ‘’Eco-Future Essay Contest’’ to ‘Eco-Future @ecoheronigeria.com. Please send only one final Submission, and place the text in the body of the email: we cannot accept attachments. Please indicate your age and country.

 

• Again, please read the terms of the competition carefully. We are global organization and we operate a strict privacy policy around the world. How we will use your personal data is spelled out in the terms of the competition, and how we handle personal data more generally is in our privacy policy.

 

• By entering the competition, you agree to the terms of the competition and you agree to us processing and using your personal data for the purpose described in the terms. Including to administer the contest, to attribute winning entries and runners –up publicly and for promotional purposes. We will not use your detail to market other services to you unless you specifically give us permission to do so.

 

• Competitors from various schools should submit their first stage script to the ‘Eco-Future’ official agents on an appointed time with the school management. And as such, the ‘Eco-Future’ agents will bring back the results /invitation of the shortlisted candidates for the final / awards, depending on the program arrangement of the Eco-Hero organization.

 

• The invitation for the final stage will state the date of the final, venue of the final, time, the essay writing duration, Awards stage/Grand finale and other related information of the Educational and Events programs that are part of the features of the Awards/Grand finale.

 

‘Eco- future’ competition writing to right climate change

• The ‘Eco-Future’ youth essay contest received nearly 2,400 entries from 115 countries.

THE MERCURY is rising, carbon- dioxide levels are increasing and a 16 year old girl is leading a global movement to call attention to and demand action on an existential threat.

• Global warming threatens economies and the stability of societies. Political leaders have negotiated several climate related accords over the years: the Kyoto protocol, which came into effect in 2005; the Paris agreement in 2016. But they are proving ineffective. Can a new generation come up with better ideas?

 

• It is in this context that the eco future is holding an essay contest for people aged between 8 and 16 and above inclusive.

 

• What fundamental economic and political change, if any, is needed for an effective response to climate change?

 

• The essays have offered a variety of responses to climate change, from declaring war against it to ‘’greening’’ GDP by including the value of the climate in the national accounts. Some have called for elevating the votes of vulnerable countries in international forums and for empowering local government to set environmental standards.

 

• Essayist found inspiration from figures like Greta Thunberg, a 16 year old climate activist, and initiatives such as Bhutan’s development of gross national happiness index. But no dominant themes have emerged. Entries have argued both for and against capitalism, for instance. Some blame consumers; other find fault with corporations. Those responsible for the mess should fix it, most essayists concluded, be they polluters, governments or the people.

 

• The essay competition is part of ‘Eco-Future’, an editorial initiative to remark the case for the newspaper’s commitment to individual dignity, open markets, limited government and a faith in human progress brought about by debate and reform, at a time when these values are under assault.

 

• Apart from cash prizes, gift items and certificates of recognition, a jury of internal and external judges will evaluate the submissions. The winner (Two best candidates) will be invited to attend one of the ‘Eco- Future’ festival events around the World that is related to environment locally or around the World. The winning essays will be published on Eco-HeroNigeria.com. The 20 long-listed finalist will also win a one year digital subscription to the ‘Eco-Future’.

 

• “Last year’s winning essays – on competition, immigration, free speech, political correctness and artificial intelligence- are available here”.

A bevy of ideas to climate change

Excerpts from essay’s entries to our youth essay contest

• Recently, the International Eco-Hero has came across nearly 2,400 open entries from cities and countries around the world. They came from entrants as young as seven(7) and as old as 71 who said they felt compelled to add their voice, even though the rules specified that only those aged 7-18 were eligible to win.

 

The essays advocated everything from Eco-authoritarianism to anarchy to artificial intelligence. Common themes included treating climate change as a new “world war” and replacing subsidies that contribute to pollution with ones that mitigate it. A “green index” to track the extent of the problem was put forward, as was the idea of a “green GDP” to price the value of the environment in national accounts. Many writers pressed for abolishing capitalism, while others argued that the free market would solve the problem.

 

A number of essays called for local governments to set environmental standards, as well as to elevate the voting power of vulnerable countries in International forums. Some advocated a form of “Eco-consumption”, that is, a youth national service to combat climate change and many opined that the global Covid19 pandemic called for compulsory introduction of essay writing to schools especially for the younger generation as to raise voice on how we could learn from the effects and prevent the reoccurrence.

 

• Among the shortest amazing essays were that of a Chicagoan, 24, who simply wrote: “Eat the rich”.

 

• Stop! Don’t Sue China! What if humans are the cause of the virus? This is another masterpiece, amazing essay by one of the community dwellers in Sango Ota, Nigeria.

 

Change our Mentality

Nargiz Ahmadova, 22, Sumgayit, Azerbaijan

• “By saying to his grandchildren, ‘this river passing our house was too wide to swim in my childhood, but now it is too small to swim’, my grandfather indeed touched the point that today scientists are talking about. If even a man who has never been educated, and who has been living in the far corner of the world, far away from the media, is aware of climate change, then why the world does not give enough attention to this issue? I cannot blame anyone for the climate change but only myself. I need to change my mindset so that it does not solely focus on my self-interest, but also the interest of all.”

 

Mohammad Shaheer Qatech, 25, Kabul, Afghanistan

• “This is a cancer that is seizing humans’ and the Earth’s wellbeing. To easily understand it, let’s use a simple example. Daily, we are advised that smoking cigarettes causes lung cancer. To decrease the chances of cancer, doctors say that one should quit or decrease smoking, but we still smoke. We can’t stop it, why? The answer is addiction. In the same way, we are addicted to extracting and using resources to produce things and feel satisfied with having a large number of products. They are not improving us. We say that we are more intelligent than our ancestors, but our ancestors’ minds were tied to wisdom, not things.”

Daniel Alcock, 23, Sunderland, Britain

• “Perhaps the answer to our future is found in our past. With a bit of irony, the answer can be excavated from an old coal-mining community. Childhood in the northeast of England is polluted with anecdotes from the elderly as to how things ‘used to be’. Community was at the heart of everything. Whereas a church goer would have attended three times a week, now three times a month will suffice for the title of ‘regular’. Shared garden allotments and community meals are replaced with soup kitchens and food-banks. As for family, in some areas a teenager is more likely to own a Smartphone than have a father living at home. To respond to climate change, take a step back from modernity and call back community.”

 

The Public Sector

Aarav Leekha, 12, New York, United States

• “Even though the majority of people in the United States believe climate change is real, conservative parties around the world are giving voice to climate deniers. They take advantage of a disenfranchised electorate to push denialist talking points-ill-informed at best and ridiculously untrue at worst. Convincing disenfranchised voters of the benefits of climate change solutions is required to unify the entire electorate behind climate action. The transition from a carbon economy to a green economy, in the long run, will economically boost the disenfranchised. A World Climate Accord is needed.”

 

Awor Deng, 23, Juba, South Sudan

• “While the inventions and ingenuity of man have given him a giant leap beyond the moon, it is the harm he has caused his original home that will define his fate. Mother nature has become the inevitable victim of humanity’s quest for progress. The menace is caused partly by a tendency of nations to sacrifice the environment at the earlier stages of their economic development, creating the notion that economic progress and environmental protection are mutually exclusive. The menace of plastic waste is a ‘thorn in the flesh’ for humanity and the ecosystem. We must redirect our capital to clean up our polymeric mess. Mankind must rethink the use of capital; we must give it a new purpose, one that will ultimately enable us to save and make peace with our planet.”

 

The Private Sector

Johannes Stupperich, 19, German in Nancy, France

• “GDP is not functional for measuring the sustainability of an economy, which is why a “climate chit” should be introduced, whose negative equivalent is 1 tonne of CO₂, making it desirable to have a GGDP (or Green Gross Domestic Product) equaling or being superior to, because that would indicate that the harm done to the environment equals or is inferior to the measures in favor of the environment. Climate chits could be traded in exchanges against currencies. Companies with a positive GGDP can trade their climate chits to make further (and hopefully further green) investments, while companies with a negative balance must pay a fine.”

Eduardo Magalhaes, 22, Albergaria-a-Velha, Portugal

• “The ‘polluter pays’ principle is dramatically outdated. In some cases, the damage done can have irreparable costs to nature and wildlife. In other situations the damage looks affordable by the polluter, especially if the cost is associated with policies like taxes or subsidies. A possible solution is to turn the principle to a sort of ‘polluter rebuilds’ principle, in which damage can only be rectified by a large investment to recover what was lost and to expand the injured area (for example, if it was a forest, to reforest more).”

 

Rethinking the Economy

Audrey Herrera-Lim, 16, Muntinlupa City, Phlippines

• “As a kid, my cues for growth or happiness were closely associated with buying material products: Ipads, toys and video games. This has become the measure of our self-worth. It sustains the idea that consumption is a measure of how far we have come, whether it be as teenagers, a community, a country or a planet. That has to change. But how can it? All the measures that we broadly agree on –GDP, production, output, growth­­­ are based on the idea of production and consumption. The fundamental change needed for an effective response to climate change is to redefine the way we measure progress as a society.”

 

Htet Myat Aung, 16, Yangon, Myanmar

• “In developing countries, many researchers working on solutions for the environment find it very difficult to live, because organizations and governments there do not support them so they need international organizations and governments. Only developed countries can save the world, not the developing countries. Raw materials should not be produced without the permission of those governments, so a black market for natural resources can be reduced. In addition, production should use raw materials from local sources so they do not need transportation.”

New voices needed

Juan Gutierrez, 21, Armenia, Colombia

• “Historically, it has been the loudest voices that have been heard the farthest. The only way our political systems will combat climate change is by turning the current cacophony of cries and complaints into a unified narrative. Our economic and political systems need to hear the voices of small states and need the co-operation of the largest ones—if not from principle then from pressure. As long as the economic interests of the few are placed ahead of the needs of the world, the planet will keep heating up until the destruction is so harsh that unilateral action is the only choice left. By the time we run out of choices we might already have run out of time.” 

Kenneth Ryu, 18, Hoengseong, South Korea

• “One of my classmates persuaded her parents to use Eco-bags at grocery stores. Granted, they might have done it not for the environment but because their daughter asked for it. However, this kind of parental love is key to amplifying the impact of grassroots movements. The young have shown that they care about the world as much as the adults, if not more. They have proven to possess a responsibility that the adults should have shown. Most importantly, they have the right to decide their future. They are already making major decisions in life such as colleges, careers and places to live. They deserve the right to choose policies and leaders that could shape their future or destroy it.”

The view of developing Economies

Shania Robinson, 21, San Fernando, Trinidad and Tobago

• “Shifting the entire basis of the global economy is no easy task. A transition to a “steady-state economy”, while entirely feasible, would conflict with several dominant interests. Major extractive industries in the global south would be negatively affected by the shift toward ecological taxation. Products with longer durability would prove detrimental to manufacturers worldwide. A fluid model based on each individual society means that there will no longer be a clear, albeit flawed, standard of development; the very concept of what the term means will have to be redefined.”

 

Okechi Okeke, 24, Oyigbo, Nigeria

• “My parents’ happiness died recently with the death of their crops. My parents are farmers in the small town of Oyigbo, in the oil-producing Rivers state. But their happiness was cut short after a pipeline explosion in May 2019. It was devastating. It roasted hundreds of heads, burnt huge trees and a few houses. But no one realized that the explosion had deposited toxins in the air until an unusual weather change occurred. Acid rain fell, with no significant effort to curb it. After it happened, when I stood before those crops that had turned ashes, I asked, ‘Who is responsible for this change?’ The environment is becoming ambiguous and volatile, and political leaders are like a good dancer who even if the music’s rhythm changes, instantaneously devises a step to continue dancing flawlessly.”

 

Mazvita Chikomo, 20, Harare, Zimbabwe

• “As a young Zimbabwean girl, I came to understand the effects of climate change at an early age not from books but from the cobwebbed box that I stumbled across. This box was full of thick winter jackets I had packed away during the summer. In the middle of July, when it used to be dreadfully cold, I was wearing tights and a long-sleeved shirt, something I would have worn on a mild day. I realized we might all have different terms for this, but surely I was not the only one who had experienced this change. As I got older, I realized that this was not ending soon. Efforts to address climate change have not been effective because people say they understand climate change but they do not realize what it means. Until people understand that climate change is an ‘us’ problem and not a ‘me’ problem, no policy will ever be effective.”

 

Puthtipong Thunyatada, 17, Bangkok, Thailand

• “Eight years ago, the streets of Bangkok flooded such that my village becomes a virtual canal where, for a time, the primary means of transport was to row boats through the streets. The economic damage was immense: as much as $46bn, according to the World Bank. Yet this could happen again. Unchecked urbanization and climate change means Bangkok could be mostly submerged by its own weight by 2030. But little more than ad hoc fixes have been enacted in response. This is replicated on a larger scale in the rest of the world, where the flowery promises of politicians to combat climate change do not match their actions. It is time the politicians took a backseat and gave the upcoming Eco-billionaires a chance at the steering wheel, as dangerous as it may be.”

 

Potential Solutions

MarwaneAboulfaouz, 23, Moroccan in Paris, France

• “In terms of international policies, one question is: why isn’t there a ‘World Waste Organization?’ Regulating the flows of waste and trading it as a classic commodity should be considered. For instance, Rome risks being swamped by its urban waste, due to economic and social factors. The city used to rely on Austrian and Chinese markets, which imported industrial scrap for waste-to-energy purposes. However, since an environmental backlash in the city, the imports couldn’t meet the huge supply leading to unsanitary treatment and an international grey economy. Regulating waste flows should be a priority.”

 

Henry Sahdala, 24, Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic

• “A ‘sponsorship model’ would consist of a developed country being liable for all or a percentage of the climate-related damages that a sponsored country suffers. This would make developed countries bigger stakeholders in the wellbeing of the sponsored, developing countries. To define who sponsors whom, we could take into account two main criteria. The first would be capacity, measured in budget-capacity of the developed country relative to the potential damages suffered by the developing countries. The second would be historical relationship, measured by the long historical ties some developed countries have with developing countries. The aim is for developed countries to forge closer ties to the countries that are most vulnerable to the effects of climate change.”

 

Alishba Imran, 16, Toronto, Canada

• “Nanotechnology may be one way to help reduce levels of carbon dioxide in a cost effective way. We can use tiny powerhouse materials called nanomaterials to capture CO₂ from our water, air and land. We can then use the captured CO₂ to creates useful products. It’s not easy but if it worked, it could be revolutionary. Photosynthesis is the process by which plants make food. Carbon dioxide can be converted into useful fuels through ‘artificial photosynthesis’. Plants are terrific at using energy from the sun to convert carbon dioxide and water. We can try to replicate this process.”

 

Looking for Answers

Mashael Alzaid, 24, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

• “I live in the middle of a huge desert that –to keep pace with the times-blew away the dust from its land, decorated itself with high-rise buildings and factories under a constant, busy rhythm. On my 24^th birthday, I wanted my nature to meet the nature of the earth, away from the hustle and bustle of civilization, in a fascinating spot in its depth, mystery and uniqueness: the sea that carries happy stories such as those that tell the love story of polyp and a tiny plant-like organism called Zooxanthellae; the secret behind the colorful corals that are visited by both fish and people from all over the planet. So I asked: ‘Mirror, mirror on the wall. What is the most important thing to the modern human, of them all?’ It replied: ‘Industry.’ I asked: ‘How come the sea is not the most important of them all when it is the main producer of the oxygen on which organisms live, including those that developed the industry? So I took it upon myself to look in the treasures of the sea for an answer.”

 

Second-order effects

Fabiola Scheffel, 23, Venezuelan in Dublin, Ireland

• “The global north should recognize how, in Venezuela, resource insecurity and violence can shatter a society and produce a massive displacement of people. Look carefully, because the Syrian refugee crisis that alarmed Europe and America will seem insignificant to the 143m people that the World Bank projects will be displaced by 2050 due to the effects of climate change. Such an apocalypse might swallow migrants and their receiving communities alike. And yet the difficulty lies in collaborating to prevent and mitigate climate change in an era of protectionism. I call for a temporary broadening of the number of people that each of us would consider to be one of our own, and for whom we would act, to include people hundreds of kilometers away.”

• As for the three-word essay in record, it came with a title that was eight times longer: “The Anti-Disparity Cookbook: An Evidence Based Policy Recipe to Ending World Hunger While Dismantling the Impending Socioeconomic and Ecological Threat Posed by Climate Change.”

We thank  all the environmental essayists Worldwide !