World Environment Day is more than just a date on the calendar – it is an essential reminder of our shared responsibility to protect nature. Celebrated in many countries worldwide, this day draws attention to pressing environmental issues and inspires individuals and communities to take meaningful action.
Air, water, and soil pollution, deforestation, and species extinction are no longer isolated concerns – they are global challenges. Each of us affects the environment daily, from the resources we consume to the waste we generate. Environment Day is an opportunity to reflect on our behaviors, reconsider our choices, and adopt more sustainable habits.
The Faculty of Chemical and Biopharmaceutical Technologies of Kyiv National University of Technologies and Design has many events to raise environmental awareness among the younger generation.
On April 16, Hanna Yakimenko, an environmental protection expert from NEK Ukrenergo, held an ecological simulation game “Youth Makes Decisions” (https://en.knutd.edu.ua/events-and-publications/news/18304/). The primary goal of the game is to engage young people in simulating decision-making processes on environmental and social issues, enabling participants to experience responsibility for their actions and decisions while developing critical thinking and teamwork skills.
On April 24, the Faculty students joined the traditional Environment Day celebration at Kyiv National University of Technologies and Design. Junior students cleaned up the area assigned to the Faculty. They tidied up the area, raking, sweeping, and removing the rubbish. They were joined by the Dean of the Faculty, Tetiana Derkach, and Deputy Dean, Oksana Butenko, the curators of the first-year students Olha Kyslova and Olena Okhmat, and the teachers Olena Kryukova and Halyna Kuryshko. Collaborative work brings students together, as they come to understand that by contributing to meaningful and necessary efforts, they form a team capable of driving positive change for the planet. For example, today they may clean up a small area but tomorrow, they could propose a project aimed at preventing an environmental disaster.
The initiative was also supported in Dormitory No. 6, where many Faculty students reside. As this place has become their home for several years, they are motivated to make it comfortable and welcoming. Dormitory manager Volodymyr Kulikovskyi skillfully organized the cleaning of rooms, common areas, and corridors. Flowerbeds were arranged, and the trees surrounding the dormitory were watered and cared for. The students encouraged one another and eagerly took on every task, demonstrating a shared commitment to creating a pleasant and environmentally friendly living space.
In conclusion, on April 29, Hanna Yakimenko, an environmental protection expert from NEK Ukrenergo, as a practising professional, gave a public lecture (https://en.knutd.edu.ua/events-and-publications/news/18429/). The lecturer introduced the audience to the fundamental principles of nature conservation and environmental protection, illustrating these concepts with examples of successfully implemented biodiversity conservation programmes.
World Environment Day is both a celebration and a call to action. It offers a chance to join the global environmental movement and recognize that each of us has the power to help make the world cleaner and better. Only by uniting our efforts can we preserve the planet for future generations!
12.05.2025
