Preserve Environment, Getting Threats On A Daily Basis
Protection and upkeep of free gift of nature has been a matter of collective responsibility for all of us.Needless to say, threats of varied nature keep emerging in the shape of global warming, sudden volcanic eruptions, drying of river basins, melting of glaciers & ice bergs,landslides, flash floods, degradation of soil etc.
The World Environment Day observed on 5th June with a good deal of pomp and show is a global platform for enhancing the tempo of environmental awareness and education and taking suitable corrective action.
Led by United Nations Environment Programme since 1973, it is supposed to involve millions of people across the world.
One can take up cleaning of hill sides,foot paths, beaches, be part of grass root movements, plant trees, organize meetings & awareness drives, and take environmental relevant decisions.
Ahead of main event at Stockholm, Sweden, I.Anderson,the Executive Director of UNEP has emphasized that
” Today as we look to a……. future of heatwaves, droughts,floods, wildfires, pandemics,dirty air, wars and plastic ridden oceans,action is more important than ever “.
In addition the U.N.Secretary General has also aptly added-” we can no longer ignore the alarm bells that ring louder every day.The only way forward is to work with nature, not against it”.
THEME OF 2022 World Environment Day -ONLY ONE EARTH
The theme of this year’s day was supposed to stress living in harmony with nature on earth in a sustainable way, as earth is only home for the entire humanity. It may be noted that this theme was chosen for the first conference at Stockholm in 1972 also.The humble beginning made therein has now spread to 150 countries.
Single use plastic products are supposed to be discarded after one time use. But in actual reality, it is not so any where in the World. As a result, India alone generates around 3.5 million tonnes of such a ‘difficult’ or clumsy waste on an annual basis. Situation has become alarming even after banning it in many states of the country. Sikkim figures in the list of early banners ,having done it in 1997.
Even fresh banning initiatives and the loud campaign of “Reduce, Reuse & Recycle” and reduction in consumption of animal products is not succeeding.
Coming to municipal solid waste, it continues to be a cause of greater worry.
The whole world according to an estimate,generates 2.01 Billion tonnes and 34% of that is generated alone by high income countries.Only one third of it is ‘managed’ in hazardous ways.By 2050, it is expected to grow to 3.50 Billion tonnes.
Rise In Heat Wave
Irritating and painful heatwaves are showing an upward trend this year in India despite arrival of Monsoon ahead of schedule in Andamans and Kerala.
The emission level of Carbon Dioxide too is expected to rise.Also high demand for electricity in such a situation is bound to increase the consumption of fossil fuel against which we have committed ourselves in COP- 26 summit at Glasgow in 2021.
Electric two and four wheelers & buses also are being popularised and introduced as well but incidents of fires in their batteries are also being experienced, time and again.
ADDRESS OF PRIME MINISTER
Talking of actions taken at the central government level, the Prime Minister at an event organized by Isha Foundation, in the presence of spiritual leader Sadhguru has informed that all his policies over eight years have enabled protection of environment in some way.
Be it Swachh Bharat Mission or Programme on Waste to wealth, Modern sewerage treatment plants in cities,Campaign to get rid of single use plastic or Ganga Cleanliness Campaign. He. also later launched a Global initiative called “LiFE Movement”. Its vision is to ensure a lifestyle that is in tune with planet and does not harm it.In the words of P.M., “it borrows from past, operates in the present and focuses on the future.”
Giving his unique slogan of “ONE EARTH”.
Aaloc Srivastav,
Ex-C.S,Sikkim