Nine cartoons about ecology for children and adults

Since childhood, animation helps us understand what it means to live on Earth and contribute to a sustainable planet. Trends has selected nine cartoons that will tell about current environmental issues

Waste management system in WALL E, 2009

WALL-E is a trash-compacting robot that lives alone on a deserted Earth. He cleans up trash until he meets Eve, a robotic explorer, and falls in love with her. Eve finds a sprout of life on Earth – a green plant. The cartoon tells about the relationship between the Earth and people, and offers criticism of irresponsible consumption.

What does this problem look like in real life?

By 2050, the world will produce 3,4 billion tons of solid waste. The Earth will become like a planet in a cartoon – uninhabitable, garbage everywhere.

According to the World Bank, 2 billion tons of municipal solid waste are thrown out annually in the world. In our country, 70 million tons are thrown away. Organic and food waste is 44%, paper and cardboard – 17%, plastic – 12%. All of this waste can be recycled. Greenpeace reports that 94% of waste in our country is sent to landfill.

The planet is becoming less and less favorable place for life. Plastic waste and accumulations of garbage kill plants and animals: 6 kg of plastic was removed from the stomach of a dead sperm whale in Indonesia. Scientists have found a plastic bag at the bottom of the Mariana Trench. Toxic emissions from landfills are changing the climate, increasing ocean acidification and causing forest fires. Air pollution kills 9 million people every year.

The problem of food waste in the cartoon “Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs”, 2009

A little crazy young scientist Flint Lockwood lives in a small town and wants to save its inhabitants from a lack of food. He invents a device that allows food of all kinds and shapes to fall from the sky. Due to an oversupply of food, the city quickly finds itself on the brink of an ecological disaster. After watching this cartoon, you will definitely think before throwing away a half-eaten dinner.

What does this problem look like in real life?

Every year, 1,3 billion tons of food suitable for humans is thrown away in the world. According to the World Bank, this results in economic losses of $1 trillion a year, with more than 800 million people suffering from hunger in the world.

Food loss and waste is the third largest source of greenhouse gas emissions. Resources for food production have a carbon footprint of 8% of global emissions annually.

Household garbage is 30-80% food waste. In a landfill with food waste, the same thing happens as in a compost heap in the country. At the landfill, waste does not become compost because there is no oxygen there. Due to the release of sulfur oxide, hydrogen sulfide, disgusting odors appear and a large amount of methane is produced.

The problem of water pollution in the cartoon Ponyo on the Cliff, 2008

The cartoon begins with views of the sea depths. All the animals there live in harmony with each other. Ponyo fish travels and ends up in a bay where ships sail and people live. The coast in the bay is very dirty, the fish ends up in the nets along with a bunch of garbage. The boy Soosuke helps her free herself. From this moment begins the friendship between the boy and the fish.

What does this problem look like in real life?

About 8 million tons of plastic enters the world’s oceans every year. The increase in the volume of garbage in the ocean affects the environment and the economy. Plastic accumulates in the oceans and is dangerous for marine animals – from plankton to birds and mammals. Animals can become entangled in litter or consume microplastics, leading to their death and loss of biodiversity. This serious environmental problem is becoming more urgent every day.

For example, about 20% of coral reefs have been destroyed beyond recovery. Another 24% are exposed to risks due to human activities.

According to Greenpeace in our country, 68,1% of the pollution of the shores of water bodies in our country is plastic. The found plastic fragments are parts of disposable items and packaging, among which 29,7% are cigarette butts. Plastic bags and soft packs from groceries account for 9,7%, beverage bottles 8,7%, plastic caps 7,3%, pieces of plastic, including foam rubber and wires 5,5%.

Pollution of the oceans with plastic in the cartoon “The Tale of the White Ice,” 1974

The penguin and the sperm whale live on an ice floe and pick up trash after people. People specially come to see how the penguin cleans up and each time they leave behind more and more garbage. The penguin and the sperm whale sigh sadly and continue cleaning up the ice floe.

What does this problem look like in real life?

Five garbage islands are now floating in the ocean. The largest is located in the Pacific Ocean and is equal to the area of ​​France.

This accumulation of garbage harms marine animals. The plastic particles seem to be food for jellyfish and fish. Bottle caps and rings, disposable lighters end up in the stomachs of seabirds and animals. The fish we eat becomes toxic because it feeds on plastic.

The problem of poaching in the cartoon “The Adventures of Lolo the Penguin”, 1986

Penguin chicks Lolo and Pepe face numerous enemies: skua gulls, leopard seals, killer whales and humans. The people in the film are represented by polar scientists and poachers who hunt, catch and export animals. At the end of the cartoon, the poachers will be punished, because they bring penguins more grief than predatory animals.

What does this problem look like in real life?

It is difficult for penguins to survive due to constant climate change, melting ice and environmental degradation. Of the 18 species of penguins, 13 are already endangered or seriously endangered.

While it is illegal to hunt penguins or collect eggs, it still happens in areas where penguins live close to people. For example, the legal collection of guano (a component of some manure fertilizers) in Peru and Chile poses a threat to Peruvian penguins. The accumulation of guano is important for nesting burrows, but when it is harvested the nests are destroyed leaving very little other suitable habitat for nesting birds.

Poaching is an acute problem in our country. There are problems with poaching in the Taiga, and the Taimyr population of wild reindeer is under attack. According to WWF, tigers and leopards are poached and brown bears are hunted in the Far East.

Biodiversity loss, climate change and the problem of waste management in the cartoon “Smeshariki 2D”, 2020

A collection of environmental stories with Smeshariki was created in honor of World Environment Day. Once Smeshariki collected all their garbage and sent it to swim in the open ocean. But soon they faced unexpected consequences. In the second series, they experienced for themselves what climate change is and got acquainted with the Red Book. In the third series, Krosh and the Hedgehog covered the trees with paint, and then went on an extreme hike.

What does this problem look like in real life?

Earlier, the UN declared 2011-2020 the Decade of Biodiversity. Human activities have reduced biodiversity levels and changed patterns of wildlife populations. Over the past 50 years, the population has doubled and the world economy has quadrupled. Humanity now needs 1,6 planet Earth to satisfy its needs for life.

Eco-education in the cartoon “The Boy and the Earth”, 2016

A little boy litters on the street, picks flowers, wastes electricity thoughtlessly. The Earth is tired of such behavior and appeals to the boy with a request to stop and start protecting nature, otherwise all life on the planet will die. The earth helps the boy and talks about how you can help the environment.

In the cartoon, the Earth asks the boy not to litter or burn waste, to plant trees, and to save energy. In addition, Earth asks the boy to tell other children about environmental issues so they can help the planet too.

What does this problem look like in real life?

Eco-education is a process that allows people to study environmental problems, participate in their solution and take measures to improve the environment. As a result, people develop a deeper understanding of environmental issues and acquire the skills to make decisions.

Eco-education promotes a healthy lifestyle, instills respect for nature, develops critical thinking, and teaches to be responsible.

The problem of sorting garbage in the cartoon “Bernard sorts garbage”, 2016

Cheerful bear Bernard throws out the garbage without sorting it. One day, the penguin didn’t let the bear throw out the mixed trash, but Bernard isn’t thrilled with the idea of ​​sorting the waste into many different bins. But Penguin comes to the rescue, and together they manage this case.

What does this problem look like in real life?

A person produces 35 tons of waste in 70 years of life – this is the weight of a gray whale. At the same time, 90% of waste is sent to landfills, where it decomposes for hundreds of years, releasing toxic substances. The landfill area in our country is about 4 million hectares – the territory of the Netherlands or Switzerland. Garbage can be burned, but then toxic substances are released that can accumulate in soils, animal bodies and humans. The safest way to handle waste is separate collection and recycling.

There are about 1 thousand waste processing enterprises in our country, but they are not used to their full potential. Separate waste collection will allow them to work efficiently and create new jobs, helping nature.

The problem of garbage disposal in the cartoon “Isle of Dogs”, 2018

Boy Atari Kobayashi lives in the city of Megasaki. Corrupt Mayor Kobayashi issues a decree that all pet dogs must be sent to a garbage island. Atari goes in search of his dog. On the island, a boy travels with a pack of mongrels. This journey will change the life of the entire Prefecture.

What does this problem look like in real life?

In our country, waste is disposed of through burial, incineration and partial processing. At the same time, incineration and processing account for 4-5% of all waste. Every year the area of ​​landfills in the country increases by 300 thousand hectares. Now more than 30 billion tons of garbage are placed in our country. Almost all landfills and landfills are loaded with waste for the next five years.

The Moscow region is the region with the largest amount of household waste. About 3,5 million tons of their garbage and about 4,5 million tons of Moscow’s garbage are disposed of in the region. Every year, 13-14,5% of all municipal waste in our country is stored at landfills near Moscow.

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