Scouts commit to Sustainable Developments Goals

Plastic has been with us for ages due to its affordability and durability. However, the use of plastics over time has led for it to pile up in our landfills – due to its slow disintegration – and eventually our seas and oceans. With the campaign of #Scouts4SDGs, we try to combat it with measures towards the progression of Sustainable Development Goals: Life on water, Life on land, and Partnership for the goals.

Scouts from Scouts Australia try to step up their efforts in achieving these three SDGs by attending Australia’s Federal Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment’s Plastic Summit held at the Parliament House, Canberra on 2 March 2020, which was attended by around 200 leaders, including 14 Scouts who were invited by the said federal department.

A night before the Summit, they already discussed the issues surrounding plastic waste crisis and possible solutions at the Parliament House and Museum of Australian Democracy. The Summit was also graced by Governor-General and Chief Scout of Australia, HE David Hurley and Mrs. Hurley – who are both staunch supporters of Scouting.

Cobalt Walsh from New South Wales shared a personal experience with excitement “about taking action to encourage others to reduce their plastic waste” like having more recycling bins in the community along with “plastic straw and plastic bottle bans and a waste-free Wednesday”.

Cobalt is not alone with this endeavor as other Scouts come back to their hometowns with ideas and renewed esprit de corps they got from the Summit as they solve plastic waste crises in their communities and schools, contributing towards the achievement of the SDGs under the campaign #Scouts4SDGs and #MessengersOfPeace.

-- with reports from Scouts Australia