In 2025, the Earth's resources are facing an unprecedented crisis. Global forest cover has fallen to less than 20 per cent, biodiversity has plummeted and nearly a million species are on the brink of extinction. Freshwater resources are becoming increasingly scarce, with some 3.5 billion people around the world facing water stress, while non-renewable energy sources such as oil and coal can only last for a few decades. The balance of the Earth's ecosystems is in jeopardy as the Arctic ice cap continues to melt, rising sea levels threaten coastal cities, and extreme weather events occur frequently.
Humanity's demand for natural resources far exceeds the Earth's carrying capacity, with the annual consumption of resources equal to the regeneration capacity of 1.7 Earths. Plastic pollution is spreading all over the oceans, and microplastics are even entering the human body; carbon emissions are exacerbating the greenhouse effect, and global temperatures continue to climb. Maldives and other island countries are forced to relocate due to rising sea levels, the degradation of the Amazon rainforest affects global climate regulation, and drought in Africa exacerbates the food crisis. These are not sci-fi scenarios, but a reality that is happening.
Protecting the environment is a matter of urgency. Reducing the use of single-use plastics, promoting clean energy, and practicing a low-carbon lifestyle, everyone's actions are crucial. We are not only the inhabitants of the earth, but also its guardians. The choices we make today will determine whether the future will be green mountains and green water or devastation. Only by taking immediate action can we leave a sustainable home for future generations. Protecting the environment is a responsibility we cannot shirk.
