World Environment Day 2018: What Does It Take To #BeatPlasticPollution? Actor Dia Mirza Explains

New Delhi: ‘I am so proud that India is hosting the 45th World Environment Day and we are championing the cause to become the part of the movement to beat plastic pollution,’ says actor, UN Environment Goodwill Ambassador, Dia Mirza at IIFA press conference in Delhi on May 17. Explaining what it means to beat plastic pollution, the actor said, “It means, unfortunately, there are over 50% of single-used-plastics that we use in our everyday life that have nowhere to go. And they find themselves being burnt on the waste side, in dumps, or in landfills, or they reach our oceans, thereby polluting our very fragile ecosystem and destroying our health – your health and my health.”

Asking people to support the ‘Beat Plastic Pollution‘ campaign, which is also the theme of this years’ World Environment Day, Dia Mirza said,

So the effort of World Environment Day and every day is to help more people understand that we need to discontinue the use of single used plastics and find a way if we can’t reuse plastics, we should refuse it.

Sharing examples of how people can ditch plastics from their everyday life, Dia added,

We can all learn to refuse plastic bags, the use of plastic straws, the use of plastic cutlery, crockery, cups, and mugs. It is so easy to do, you must try.

Also Read: 5 Ways To Replace Plastic Cutlery In Your Daily Life

Taking a step further, Dia also convinced her friends in the film fraternity – Karan Johar, Shahid Kapoor, Ranbir Kapoor and Kartik Aaryan, to give up the use of plastic bottles.

See Picture: Ranbir Kapoor, Shahid Kapoor, Kartik Aaryan and filmmaker Karan Johar supporting beat plastic pollution campaign at IIFA conference

Also Read: Dia Mirza’s Appeal To Break Up With Plastics Find Favour With Celebrities

Watch Full Video Of Dia Mirza Speaking About World Environment Day

The actor feels that this move by her friends will help in influencing and inspiring millions of followers that these stars have.

World Environment Day: What India Is Doing

From pan-Indian plastic clean-up drives in public areas, national reserves and forests to simultaneous beach clean-up activities and the launch of plastic ban policy, the government this year will take series of steps to set an example for other countries.

So far the Ministry of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change has taken the following actions:

– Banned plastics in all protected areas around the country, and declared them “plastic free zones”
– Formed 19 teams involving school and college students, and local communities and have undertaken cleaning of 24 beaches and an equal number of polluted riverfronts and lakes across India
– To spread awareness on proper utilisation of plastic, the ministry will also be organising a mini-marathon in New Delhi, Bengaluru, Ahmedabad, Gangtok, Bhopal and Bhubaneswar on June 3

Also Read: Dia Mirza Pens Heartfelt Poem On Earth Day Urging People To Invest In Caring For The Environment