Trilok Singh
Every year on April 22nd, celebrated as “World Earth Day”, The day is dedicated to the betterment of our environment related issues at large. Today is not just the 50th anniversary of Earth Day, but it also the anniversary of the signing of the ‘Paris Agreement’ to take ‘climate action’.
However, ‘Climate change’ represents the top issues to the future of mankind and the life-support systems that make our globe habitable. Today we are facing many environmental changes due to changing view of people. Irony is that, we are finding the ‘artificial solutions’ of environmental problem but it is known that, global environmental issues is completely scientific.
According to the many environmentalist if the ongoing environmental conditions doesn’t change the temperature of earth may increased 4°C and because of this temperature many countries is going to be under water. Many Coastal States like “Andaman and Nicobar Islands” and “Lakshadweep Island” is going to very hard to leave because of it’s hot weather.
So, We have to understand the relevancy of climate change by this fact is that, the old civilization is first existed aside the ‘Indus river’. We should be proud on our Indian culture and we should follow that. This is a normal question that why people considered environment in not a serious manner?
Since thousand of years India is worshiping the forest, river, air, sea etc. We have to keep in mind the thing worship we should not misuse it. Significantly, There was a time when people had a very good relation with the environment and people used to see environment as a living things. But because of “capital economy” the environment is in danger now.
It is obvious that, “Consumerism Culture” will target the nature and the natural resources. Because the foundation of capitalism is based on the misuse of natural resources. As you know that, we have a very big issue of “ozone layer or ozone shield” which is getting defective day by day due to pollution on earth, we have many path to protect ozone layer but we have to work in a collaboration of the entire universe.
Importantly, The theme for Earth Day 2020 is “climate action”. The enormous challenge – but also the vast opportunities – of action on climate change have distinguished the issue as the most pressing topic for the 50th anniversary. According to the United Nations Environment Programme’s (UNEP) Emission Gap Report 2019, By the end of 2020, global CO2 emissions need to have dropped by 7.6% and continue to fall by 7.6% each year for us to have keep global heating under 1.5°C.
Meanwhile, UN Secretary-General António Guterres stated that, “We must act decisively to protect our planet from both the coronavirus and the existential threat of climate disruption”. As per the official attribution, Mother Earth is clearly urging a call to action. Nature is suffering. Australian fires, heat records and the worst locust invasion in Kenya. Now we face COVID -19, a worldwide health pandemic link to the health of our ecosystem.
The COVID-19 pandemic is a stark reminder of the vulnerability of humans and the planet in the face of global scale threats. Unchecked damage to our environment must be addressed. In his response to the socio-economic impacts of COVID-19, United Nations Secretary-General, António Guterres noted that, “Had we been further advanced in meeting the Sustainable Development Goals and the Paris Agreement on Climate Change, we could better face this challenge.”
Climate change, man-made changes to nature as well as crimes that disrupt biodiversity, such as deforestation, land-use change, intensified agriculture and livestock production or the growing illegal wildlife trade, can increase contact and the transmission of infectious diseases from animals to humans (zoonotic diseases) like COVID-19, it said.
It poses huge public health and global economy at risk, but biological diversity as well. However, biodiversity can be part of the solution since this diversity of species would make difficult to pathogens to spread rapidly. This Mother Earth Day, coinciding with the Super Year of Biodiversity, is focused in its role as an indicator of the Earth’s health. There is growing concern about the health consequences of biodiversity loss and change.
Biodiversity changes affect ecosystem functioning and significant disruptions of ecosystems can result in life sustaining ecosystem goods and services. With this big picture, and the coronavirus scenario, our immediate priority is to prevent the spread of COVID-19, but in long-term, it is important to tackle habitat and biodiversity loss. We are in this fight together with our Mother Earth, UN remarked.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, On International Day of Mother Earth 2020 stated that, we all express gratitude to our planet for the abundance of care & compassion. Let us pledge to work towards a cleaner, healthier and more prosperous planet. A shout out to all those working at the forefront to defeat COVID-19.
Vice President M. Venkaiah Naidu stated that, let us all renew our commitment to shape our collective future on this planet by preserving and replenishing earth’s valuable resources. Minister of Environment, Forest & Climate Change; Information & Broadcasting; Prakash Javadekar asserted that, Mahatma Gandhi said “The world has enough for everyone’s need, but not greed”. PM Narendra Modi brought “lifestyle” issue into the Climate Change discourse. On #EarthDay today let us pledge to shed greed and adopt sustainable lifestyle, he stated.
Historically, On 22nd April 2009 the United Nation general assembly adopted a resolution declaring 22nd April as the “International Mother Earth Day”. Notably, The resolution was introduced by the unitary plurinational state of bolivia and it was supported by 50 other member states of the United Nations.
The founder of the Earth Day named, Gaylord Nelson, has chosen this day to increase the awareness among common public, especially among youngsters to get full effect of the campaign of environmental safety. Thus, “International Mother Earth Day” is aimed at sharing responsibilities and setting agendas for a peaceful coexistence with nature. There is reason behind the title of this celebration as “Earth Day”.
Mahatma Gandhi also believed that, “Earth provides enough to satisfy every man’s needs, but not every man’s greed”. The way Gandhi Ji mentioned of industrialization was handicraft Industry and rural Industries and these two industries were appreciated by Dr. Ram Manohar Lohia as well.
Gandhi Ji also mentioned if we promote handicraft industries people will not leave their hometown and we may finish the pollution which is created by heavy machines and we will able to promote sustainable development. While Vedic Rishi Pray that earth, water and generic medicines are very useful for having a peaceful life. These maybe a source of peace only when we protect natural resources.
Consequently, It is known that global environmental problem is completely scientific. We have to leave the greediness and we will have to take an oath to protect the environment then we will able to find the solution of environmental problems. For protecting the earth we should have Intolerance to un-justice and un-scientific view. We have Science to protect Indian Philosophy, Culture and living traditions.
Until we don’t accept the Indian Living Culture of India we will not have solutions of environmental problems, therefore we will have to think again about the “traditions and culture of India”. In this age, World have three major problems one is ‘COVID-19 pandemic’, second is ‘terrorism’ and third is ‘changing nature of environment’. Such menace would requires mutual cooperation, generosity, solidarity worldwide.
Jai Hind.
Author: Trilok Singh, Currently Studies Masters in Mass Communication & Journalism at International School of Media and Entertainment Studies, News 24 Campus. MA in Political Science, Kirori Mal College, University of Delhi. Currently, CEO at Youth Darpan Media. First Published at India’s Journal.
