INTRODUCTION

Global Citizenship Education (GCED) was launched on 12 September 2012 by the

UN Secretary -General, Mr. Ban Ki Moon, in collaboration with UNESCO. GCED was created
to produce the next generation of young people who are more critical and innovative in order to
improve their skills and abilities in doing things more effectively. In addition, 21st century global
citizenship education is important for students so that they can be responsible and act rationally
in tackling future global problems.

The objective of GCED is to produce students to have respect for all, as well as
responsible and active. In addition, GCED also aims to produce a generation that has an attitude
of caring for each other while creating empathy towards others and a shared environment.
Furthermore, GCED is also important in nurturing students to be smart and play a role in solving
global challenges so that they are more proactive to achieve a more just, safe and sustainable
world (UNESCO 14).

Therefore, this assignment is written to discuss the benefits of global citizenship

education for future generations to be more sensitive to the world as well as master 21st century
skills to face the various challenges that lie ahead. In addition, this task also examines the issue
of environmental sustainability to be given deep attention to resolve environmental issues. The
next section also discusses more about the concept of the 3 main dimensions in global citizenship
education as well as states the steps to address these issues.

Briefly, in this assignment I will discuss further about the benefits of Education Global
Citizenship (GCED) to the community to resolve its global environmental issues faced for the
sake of sustainable development.
 In pursuit of national progress and improving the living standards of the population,
economic activities and development projects of a country inevitably people often ignore the
environmental problems that arise due to the implementation of economic activities and
development projects. Negative effects due to development and modernization process all of
these negative effects are increasingly threatening human health, economic resources and the
survival of the earth. To reduce the negative effects of development on the environment, every
economic and development activity must be balanced with effort. Nature management and
conservation. Pollution can be defined as the dumping of objects or materials resulting from
human activities into the environment causing disruption of comfort.

Plastic pollution is an inevitable global issue. This is in view of the plastic widely used in
various daily activities around the world. Because of its use rampant has caused plastics to be a
major contributor to pollution in the oceans. The results of global statistics found that five trillion
plastic bags are used each year and 13 million tons of it are dumped into the sea. Meanwhile, an
estimated one million plastic bottles are bought every minute and 100,000 marine life are killed
due to plastic each year. In Malaysia, an estimated average of nine billion plastics are used by
Malaysians every year, and most of them also end up in the ocean. The situation is so worrying
because plastic is a component that does not decompose easily.

Plastic will only break down into small particles and decompose when exposed to
radiation ultraviolet, oxygen, high temperature and activity of microorganisms over a period of
time. Plastic which breaks and decomposes in the sea will become micro plastic (plastic
particles measuring between five millimeters and 0.1 micrometers) and nanoplastics (their size is
smaller than micro plastics i.e.0.00000000009) which would invite danger to the diversity of
marine life. These plastic particles are not only a direct danger when eaten by animals in the
ocean, on the other hand the chemicals found in the plastic will also absorb into the tissues of the
animal concerned. This situation will certainly pose a major threat to survival marine and human
health when consuming seafood sources contaminated by microplastics and nanoplastics. Not
only small plastic particles that have remained in the ocean for centuries threatening marine life,
but also polluting the entire marine ecosystem at once disrupting as well as inhibiting the food
chain system in the oceans.
The findings from these studies certainly upset many parties. Especially when Microplastics are
also associated with heavy metals such as cadmium, lead and chromium harmful to human
health. Chemicals such as heavy metals can causes cancer, endometriosis, damage to the nervous
system, disorders of the endocrine system, effects on infant growth, reproductive system damage
and immune system disorders. Information from the results of studies that have been conducted
indicate that plastic pollution so widespread around the world and quite difficult to deal with. In
fact, the Secretary General of the Organization The United Nations (UN), Antonio Guterres once
warned that the oceans are expected to be contains more plastic than fish by 2050. This
expectation will certainly present greater challenges to communities around the world and
Malaysia in particular, especially in addressing and addressing the issue of plastic waste
management and plastic pollution that is a burden to the ecosystem now and also in the future. In
this context, the cooperation of all parties is necessary in mobilizing proactive efforts towards
reducing the use of plastics in daily life and the burden of plastics on ecosystems and
environment. The use of plastic needs to be fought thoroughly and think carefully before choose
to use this material whether necessary or otherwise.