ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION in UK

As explained by the UK Government (2024), this plan rests on “the principle of net gain, and the idea of natural capital, we can improve the country’s health through the choices government, businesses and individuals make. These range from multi billion-pound investments in green infrastructure and procurement, to healthy choices such as walking and cycling to work, or putting in place property level resilience to reduce the disruption caused by flooding, which is known to have significant mental health impacts” (p. 1). The ultimate goal of this plan is to support sustainable development of the country.While the UK has done a lot to address environmental issues, there is still a long road ahead. The country is, for example, recommended to increase the use of green technology (GT) as a part of its developmental strategy. It is important to stress that GT is an umbrella term for all technologies and sciences utilized to create environmentally friendly products and services. The sources of GT include, but are not limited to, solar, wind, and steam energy. Moreover, it is recommended to define GT through the environmental and social lenses which means that the energy generation process does not harm the environment and is socially acceptable. Finally, we should keep in mind that GT rests on four pillars, namely, energy, economy, environment, and social. This means that the implementation of GT in different sectors of economy involves an interplay of factors, some of which might be challenging to control. Another recommendation would be to educate the community so they engage in resource conservation and environmental protection efforts. For example, it is important to teach people on the importance of recycling. It is also critical to teach them effectively use available resources and replace them with alternative whenever possible, for example, to buy electric vehicles instead of gas cars.ConclusionIn summary, the UK faces a plethora of environmental problems, including the most significant of air pollution, waste, flooding, ineffective energy consumption, and biodiversity loss. The country has already done a lot to address these problems and promote sustainable living philosophy. Some noteworthy efforts include the launch of the Environment Agency and adoption of the 25 Year Environment Plan. However, the country is further recommended to invest in the green technology spread and outreach interventions aimed to increase public awareness of sustainable initiatives.ReferencesClimate UK (2017). A summary of climate change risks for London, https://climatelondon.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/CCRA-London.pdfEarth (2024). Top 5 environmental challenges in London and how the city is addressing them, https://earth.org/environmental-problems-in-london/Transport for London (2024). Air quality, https://tfl.gov.uk/corporate/about-tfl/air-qualityU.K. Government (2018). 25 year environment plan, https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/25-year-environment-planU.K. Government (2024). State of the environment: Health, people and the environment, https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/state-of-the-environment/state-of-the-environment-health-people-and-the-environment