The environment includes the places and living systems that support life. Clean air, safe water, healthy soil and diverse plants and animals all matter to our well-being. Pollution, habitat loss and the overuse of resources can damage these systems and the communities that depend on them.
Why it matters
Environmental harm is not shared equally. People who have less power over land use or public decisions may face greater risks. Indigenous communities have distinct rights, knowledge and relationships with their lands and waters. Their leadership matters in decisions about conservation and resource use. The United Nations Environment Programme explores these connected challenges.
Take action
Choose a local issue you can investigate, such as water quality, waste or loss of green space. Find out who is affected and what is already being done. You could support a community project, reduce waste at school or ask decision-makers how they will protect a valued place.
We do not inherit the earth from our ancestors; we borrow it from our children