A lot of attention has been drawn recently to microplastics in freshwater and marine environments, and the threat they pose to ecosystems and people’s health.

From food packaging in shops to straws in bars, single-use plastics are so ubiquitous in modern society that they can be hard to avoid while navigating through daily life. As a result, plastic waste is now reaching sites that were either pristine or, if contaminated by other means, untouched by plastic pollution.

Picking up trash is not thought of as fun, let alone cool. Yet, Yassine Zegzouti, a young sustainability expert from Marrakech, Morocco, has found a way to make it trendy. Founder of the environmental non-profit organization Association Mawarid, he is working with UN Environment and the One Planet network on promoting sustainable living in Morrocco.

Florida in the United States of America recently declared a state of emergency as a red tide of toxic algae bloomed along its western coastline killing marine animals, disrupting tourism and causing respiratory problems.

Sometimes you can’t even see it, but air pollution is everywhere.

During almost two decades, participating countries of the Acid Deposition Monitoring Network in East Asia (EANET) have been working closely to tackle the adverse impact of acid deposition and air pollution. In particular, they have been conducting training, research and awareness-raising workshops to strengthen the capacity of the network’s stakeholders.

The Montreal Protocol, the international treaty that protects the ozone layer, has been also keeping our planet cooler for years: it helped phase out ozone-depleting substances that are also potent warming gases.

Ben Morison’s epiphany came early one morning as he set out for a swim on Kenya’s Indian Ocean coast. The Kenyan tour operator counted 13 pieces of plastic, including bottles and flip flops, as he walked to the sea. With a jolt, he realized how degraded the coastline he loved – and marketed as a dream destination – had become. He had to act.

The environment is oftentimes a casualty in conflict. Destruction of natural resources, contamination and land use pressure are all potential conflict consequences. In Central African Republic, the Kolongo landfill was constructed by the Bangui municipality in 2013 to cater for the waste management needs of city residents.

Arpit Dhupar is one of two Young Champions of the Earth for Asia and the Pacific. The Young Champions of the Earth Prize is powered by Covestro.