By Dr Prashant Sinha
Today on the occasion of World Environment Day, let us take a pledge that we will not let the greenery of the earth diminish. When there is a problem of pollution and people are yearning for pure air, then every person should promote tree plantation so that future generations can get pure air. Trees have the amazing ability to absorb carbon dioxide. Due to the lack of greenery, this carbon emission is entering into the atmosphere and disturbing the weather.
Environment Day is celebrated all over the world on 5th June. It was announced by the United Nations in the year 1972 to bring political and social awareness towards the environment globally. Each year, there is a specific theme to shed light on a particular environmental concern, from air pollution, and plastic waste to energy conservation and sustainable consumption.
The theme of World Environment Day 2024 is ‘Land restoration, desertification, and drought resilience’. The day is celebrated to raise awareness and promote environmental conservation. World Environment Day is the biggest international day for the environment.
There is no doubt that awareness increased among people in a few years, but I believe that most people just try to show themselves to be aware instead of finding concrete solutions to the environmental problem.
There is a need to find solutions with a strong determination to save the environment. By including the environment in our resolutions we benefit our communities, society, the earth and the planet.
Biodiversity should be seen as an inherently important aspect of everyone’s heritage and as a productive, sustainable resource on which we all depend for our present and future well-being. There is a need to take immediate action to protect biodiversity. Biodiversity refers to the diversity of living organisms (plant organisms) that occurs in every region, country and continent around the world.
Today the polluted environment has affected our lives. This includes humans, animals, mountains, rocks, air and weather. We should consider what impact our actions have on the environment. We should learn about nature and how to reduce harm to the environment and promote greenery. We should save trees and plants. Not only that we should take care of animals, birds and the entire earth because our future will be decided by the environment only. We have to think seriously about greenery and stop polluting the environment. This becomes important today when Covid has shaken the whole world.
The water crisis is the biggest problem today. But if we are determined we can overcome this. The government has also made clear its seriousness towards this problem. In such a situation, now it is the turn of the society. The per capita availability of water in India is 140 litres whereas according to the World Health Organization, 200 litres of water should be available per person in a day. 85-90 per cent of the villages in the country get their supply from groundwater. A permanent solution to the water crisis is water conservation. Revival of ponds is also necessary. We must resolve to collect every drop of rain and also make other people aware of the use of water.
Air pollution is reaching dangerous levels every year. The factors of increasing air pollution include the increasing number of vehicles, industries running in residential areas and nearby, building materials lying in the open, brick kilns running against the standards, plastic – polythene and garbage being burnt in the open. It is important to take a pledge to work together with government departments to stop pollution. Poor air quality is linked to heart disease, lung cancer, asthma and respiratory diseases.
Indiscriminate use of polythene and single-use plastics is rapidly destroying the environment. It has taken over our land. Villages, towns, and cities are littered with plastics which do not dissolve in the soil and slowly leach into the water and after a few days into the sea through various means. Due to this marine life gets affected. Millions of animals, birds, fish and other sea creatures, are killed by plastic every year. It is known that about 700 species, including almost all species, are affected by plastic. We must resolve not to use single-use plastic and stop others from doing so.
