Plastic Straws Are One Of The Most Useless Inventions, Ditch Them, Says UN Environment Head Erik Solheim As He Takes The #BeatPlasticPollution Challenge

New Delhi: “On this World Environment Day, I will do whatever it takes to beat plastic pollution,” with this as his motto, UN Environment Head Erik Solheim takes the #BeatPlasticPollution challenge which has been initiated by UN Environment ahead of 45th World Environment Day celebrations in India. Accepting the challenge, Erik Solheim through a short video message, appeals everyone to ditch one of the most littered items – plastic straws completely and go for greener alternatives.

We all throw away millions of the plastic straws every single day and we all know where they end up – in the stomach of fish, turtles and whales. This is one of the most useless inventions ever made. I urge everyone to ditch the use of plastic straws completely and switch to eco-friendly alternatives like steel straws, said Erik Solheim.

Also Read: No Straws Please! Five Alternatives You Can Go For To Sip Your Beverages

He further tags Union Environment Minister of India Dr Harsh Vardhan, Director General of the World Health Organisation Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus and Executive Secretary of UN Climate Change Patricia Espinosa C.

Watch Full Message

Thank you @UNEnvironment for the tag! For #WorldEnvironmentDay I'm getting rid of plastic straws to #BeatPlasticPollution @drharshvardhan @DrTedros and @PEspinosaC Tag, you're it! pic.twitter.com/01JscQHUn7

— Erik Solheim (@ErikSolheim) May 28, 2018

Also Read: Alia Bhatt Accepts Dia Mirza’s #BeatPlasticPollution Challenge, Gives Up The Use Of Plastic Bottles

Erik Solheim is currently in the country to celebrate World Environment Day as India has been chosen as the global host. He has been part of the mass clean-up at Versova beach in Mumbai on May 27, has travelled to Cochin to see Cochin International Airport which is completely solar-powered and Kerala to discuss the collaboration between UN Environment and the Kerala state government on waste management, river pollution and climate technology. Moreover, has signed ‘Letter Of Intent’ for the partnership between BCCI and UN Environment to promote green cricket in India.

During the mass clean-up at Versova, speaking to NDTV, Erik said

Mahatma Gandhi said cleanliness is godliness – God didn’t create this beautiful planet for us to litter it with plastic. We need to do our bit for the environment.

We need pioneers to step up to deliver the change our environment needs. @ErikSolheim visited @KochiAirport in Kerala India, which is powered by the sun, & encouraged Kerala's young environmentalists to pursue their passion for a better planet. @moefcc @drharshvardhan pic.twitter.com/kH4SReeEdg

— UN Environment Programme (@UNEP) May 28, 2018

People Who Have Taken #BeatPlasticPollution Challenge

Along with Erik, Hollywood actor Tom Felton has also taken the #BeatPlasticPollution challenge and has pledged to ditch the use of plastic straws.

I am here to help beat plastic pollution with you all. We all have been using quite a few of these bad boys – plastic straws. Nearly half a billion of these are used every day in the United States and even more worrying then this is the fact that these things which we use for mere 2 minutes in our life, takes upto 200 years to decompose completely. This will not stand – how can you help? There is a simple way, all we have to do is simply say no to these and opt for greener alternatives like bamboo and glass straws. Both are reusable, both are refreshing. The simple formula is – if you cannot reuse, refuse it, said Tom Felton in a video message, challenging J.K. Rowling, author Tom Fletcher, and actor Matthew Lewis.

Watch Tom Felton’s Message

@hackerfemo this is inspirational! Thanks for the tag – I’m going join in by giving up #plasticstraws too! @jk_rowling @TomFletcher @mattdavelewis fancy having a go to #BeatPlasticPollution then? TAG! #WorldEnvironmentDay @UNEnvironment pic.twitter.com/kbfMeKgJJw

— Tom Felton (@TomFelton) May 28, 2018

Actor James Cromwell has also taken the challenge, pledging to ditch the plastic bottles, he said,

Our earth is in crisis because human activities are destroying the environment. We are addicted to fossil fuels and most of us are blissfully unaware of what happens to these plastic bottles once we throw them away. Worldwide a million of these things are sold every minute – think of it! So, what can be done – it is easy, just shift to an eco-friendly alternative and make a better choice. Join me and take the pledge to replace any and all single-use plastic items with its reusable alternatives.

TAG-I'm it! Thanks for tagging me Leo @BsweetRT & thank you 4 the challenge @UNEnvironment & @footagefilmsinc – I’m pledging 2 give up #singleuseplastic -@EPAScottPruitt @exxonmobil @stevenmnuchin1 How r u going 2 help #BeatPlasticPollution ? Do the right thing. TAG – You're it! pic.twitter.com/d2betCBXYZ

— James Cromwell ???? (@jamesocromwell) May 29, 2018

James Cromwell has nominated Administrator of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Scott Pruitt, Exxon Mobil Corporation and United States Secretary of the Treasury Steven Mnuchin.

Also Read: Actor Dia Mirza Appeals Women To Give Up The Use Of Plastic Sanitary Napkins And Instead Opt For Eco-Friendly Alternatives