The global community has been warning for years about the catastrophic consequences of modern environmental problems that need to be addressed immediately. Air and water pollution, global warming, degradation of natural resources, deforestation are all the result of human activity. Solving these problems will require considerable effort in many areas, while they are of concern to everyone. What is eco-activism, and what simple steps can each person take to make a small (or large) contribution to the environment?

What is eco-activism?

Eco-activism is generally considered to be a form of engagement in social or political campaigns to prevent environmental damage.

"It is not necessary to be a part of any organization in order to take care of the environment," says Ilya Eremenko.
Eco-activists can be considered any people who do something extra to preserve nature from the destructive impact of human activity and care about raising awareness of this topic, explains Ilya Eremenko, head of the Ukrainian Climate Network and project coordinator of the NGO Ecoclub, in a commentary to Radio Liberty.

"Waste collection, tree planting, animal protection, and volunteering in shelters are just a few examples of modern eco-activism.

Maybe I am an eco-activist too?

You don't have to be part of an organization to care about the environment.

"Eco-activism is a matter of identity. If someone holds a clean-up day once a month and just collects garbage in their yard, it can already be considered eco-activism. This can be linked to what is called civic consciousness. If you think about the consequences of your actions, it's actually very easy to become an eco-activist," explains 30-year-old Eremenko.

He is convinced that by caring about the environment, you can consider yourself an eco-activist, but you can also just consider yourself an informed person.

Start with yourself: what can I do?

If a person wants to make a contribution to environmental protection, there are many opportunities. It is advisable, but not necessary, to join organizations or plant trees. In today's digital world, even a repost on social media can have a significant impact.

One of the easiest ways to help nature is to refuse plastic bags. It would seem that many people are aware of their harm. Nevertheless, most people continue to buy them at supermarket checkouts.

But to solve the problem, it's enough to just have your own bags that you can use over and over again, emphasizes Eremenko, who has been a part of the Eco Club for eight years.

"We shouldn't forget that it takes a lot of energy to make plastic bags, and that the plastic ends up in a landfill. And if there was a system for recycling this plastic, it would not be so bad, but it will remain in nature for an unknown amount of time and, ultimately, harm the environment and, therefore, ourselves.

Support for public transportation
It is equally important to pay attention to the development of public transportation in your city, adds Eremenko. In this case, using a bicycle or trolleybus will also have significantly more positive environmental impact.

Crowdfunding
Many people may not be ready to do something on their own, whether it's cleaning up garbage or defending the city's interests in court. In Ukraine, there are many environmental organizations that deal with various aspects of environmental protection, but they usually need financial support to operate.

According to Eremenko, very often small Ukrainian environmental groups "work on fanatical enthusiasm," which is quite important, because few people are willing to devote their time, resources, and lives to protecting nature. But they need to be supported.

This support can also be non-financial: activists emphasize that eco-clubs can always be helped in other ways: if you are an accountant or know how to draw, this will also come in handy.

Waste sorting
According to various estimates, 4-7% of Ukraine's territory is covered with garbage. Since January 1, according to the Law on Waste, everyone has been obliged to sort garbage. As environmentalist Oleksandr Sokolenko previously explained to Radio Liberty, everyone is required by law to do so, but new legislation is also needed to establish the very mechanism of waste collection, classification, recycling, and safe disposal.

The Internet also plays a significant role in disseminating information.
According to Solonenko, Ukrainians are increasingly ready to sort their waste, but they just don't know where to send it.

To do this, they can turn to eco-activists for help. For example, the Ukrainian organization Ecoltava, which operates throughout Ukraine, has been helping to build communities where waste is sorted and recycled since 2013.

Demand for eco-friendly goods
According to Ilya Eremenko, it is also important to purchase and create demand for environmentally friendly goods, including organic products.

Social networks
Environmental activists often emphasize that the Internet also plays a significant role in helping to disseminate information. This way, awareness of other people will increase.

Supporting political parties that care about the environment
You can support political parties that take care of the environment in their programs, or, on the contrary, not support those who aim to harm the environment through their actions, advises Eremenko.

How aware are Ukrainians?

Waste sorting is a European way and European values
On the one hand, Ukrainians are aware of potential environmental hazards, but on the other hand, the question is what they are willing to do to prevent the environment from getting worse. This includes the willingness of Ukrainians to spend their own money and sacrifice their own comfort, explains Eremenko.

In a commentary to Radio Liberty, Margarita Mostova, communications manager of the Ecoltava NGO, noted that today Ukrainians are increasingly traveling abroad to European countries and seeing how environmental issues are being addressed there.

As a result, more and more people are beginning to demand that the Ukrainian government introduce conditions, for example, for waste sorting. This is the European way and the European values that Ukrainians have chosen, Mostova said.

How widespread is eco-activism in Ukraine?

Ecology in Ukraine is increasingly seen as a separate priority
Margarita Mostova also notes that more and more organizations have been appearing in Ukraine recently that are involved in environmental protection and raising public awareness of important issues such as waste sorting.

Eremenko notes that there are a lot of environmental organizations in Ukraine, they are present in almost every city, but their drawback is that they rarely have a clear identity and are engaged in one thing, and very rarely do they have the resources and capacity to constantly deal with one issue and achieve noticeable results in it, explains Eremenko.

As for the Ukrainian government, the activist believes that the new Minister of Ecology is doing a lot to ensure that ecology is no longer a "non-native daughter" of politics. In his opinion, the Ministry of Ecology is becoming politically stronger, and the environment in Ukraine is increasingly seen as a separate priority. Nevertheless, he emphasized that the environment should be "woven" into the country's economic development: for example, the transportation system should be built in a way that does not harm the environment. An additional problem, he said, is the lack of effective control bodies in this area.

But the future of the environment depends on everyone, and the sooner people start taking "small steps" to help nature, the more chances there will be to create a decent environment for humanity to develop and enjoy life in.