Speaking in Climatic Action Summit 2019 Prime Minister Sri Narendra Modi laid stress on the clean environment and said "Need not greed" has been our guiding principle. We used to take only the required and replenish it thereafter. It should be the motto of all of us to have the environment clean and healthy.
Recently, scientific research has shown that the increase in global temperature is on a steep rise without a sign of reaching capstone. An increase in the temperature by up to 03 degrees Celcius has been recorded in the winter of the Arctic region. The impact of a depleting environment and increasing temperature is seen in rising sea levels, dying coral reefs, heatwave conditions, drought and irregular monsoons. It not only causes hardships but causes an irreparable loss to the ecosystems and its components as well. It is a great cause of concern. To discuss the threat and suggest the means to contain the rising temperature resulting from the depleting environment the United Nations called for a summit wherein the participating countries were requested to come up with the idea to mitigate the environmental loss and steps taken by them in this regard.
"I want to hear about how we are going to stop the increase in emissions by 2020, and dramatically reduce emissions to reach net-zero emissions by mid-century", UN Secretary-General António Guterres appealed to the world leaders. Among all senior luminaries, a 16-year-old girl from Sweden Greta Thunberg also spoke on the occasion. Speaking from this platform, Greta - an environmental crusader - expressed her anguish on the pathetic condition of the environment. Admonishing the world leaders she puts her bonafide question, "How dare you?"
World leaders met in Kyoto to discuss the dismal scenario of the environment. The Kyoto Protocol came to existence wherein despite being the party to the Protocol, the developing nations were not mandated to bring down the emission level. Later in 2015, a comprehensive and legally binding Paris Agreement was adopted. About 200 nations reached a consensus to keep the global temperature 'Well below' 2 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial times. This agreement laid down certain norms to mitigate environmental degradation and rising temperatures. It mandated the rich countries for 'Climate finance' to the poorer nations to help them cope with the situation. Later, on June 01, 2017, U.S. President Mr Donald Trump announced to withdraw from the Paris Agreement. "The Paris accord is very unfair at the highest level to the United States" and "puts us at a permanent disadvantage", Mr Trump had said. This gave a setback to the cause as it made a lopsided balance.
A developed and conscious society guarantees its members decent living and surroundings. It is incumbent upon the government to provide roads, hospitals, schools, housing and food to the people. To fulfil these basics, energy is needed. The increasing energy consumption demands more powerhouses, dams, mines, and automobiles to run and contribute to building a developed society. This puts extra pressure on natural resources. Fast-decreasing forest covers, indiscriminate industrialization, and heavy dependency on fossil fuels for energy requirements are constantly pumping obnoxious materials into the air, water and soil causing them to be polluted heavily. The old and obsolete methods of agriculture, burning of stubbles, and archaic methods of cooking compound the vicious cycle and add poisonous gases to the environment. Humanity is gasping for fresh and clean air, water and the environment.
The Single-use plastic and polyethene bags add more poison to the environment. Virtually non-destructible, the polytene remains intact in the soil for a very long period making the soil unproductive and barren. Taking cognizance of the yawning problem, recently the government has banned single-use plastic and polythene. Though certain plastic products like PET bottles for water packaging, and polythene packaging for milk and food packaging have been temporarily exempted from the ban, the ban will positively affect controlling the plastic menace. Conventional cooking methods are being gradually replaced by clean cooking gas or electricity. About 150 million families are now using clean gas for cooking.
A clean mode of transportation is the prerequisite for a clean atmosphere. The use of fossil fuels adds poisonous gases like carbon monoxide and nitrous oxide in addition to carbon and sulphur. The use of fossil fuels is being lowered and comparatively clean and less harmful biofuels are being used now in a mixture with conventional fuel. Besides, e-vehicles are being promoted. These steps would help in diluting the obnoxious gases in the atmosphere.
One of the important aspects is the carbon footprint which is on the increase. To curb its further growth, the process of biotic carbon sequestration is an important step. Development and revival of carbon sinks is the need of time. Indiscriminate clearing of forests and the erection of dams cause havoc. Perrenial floods are the outcome of such planning. It has been seen in the past that the dams have caused heavy damage to life and property. The wreckage of Macchu dam, Gujrat in 1979 has had deep scars, difficult to heal. Similarly, the spectre of Dansa Dam, Delhi gives sleepless nights to the residents of its vicinity.
"The time of talking is over. The world needs to act now" Modi said while concluding his speech. Emphasising that much is yet to be done he very rightly said that a comprehensive and inclusive developmental model should be adopted, people need to be educated and sensitized. Thus with the right step in the right direction and sincere efforts, the goal of a healthy environment would be achieved which our children have the right to get.
Recently, scientific research has shown that the increase in global temperature is on a steep rise without a sign of reaching capstone. An increase in the temperature by up to 03 degrees Celcius has been recorded in the winter of the Arctic region. The impact of a depleting environment and increasing temperature is seen in rising sea levels, dying coral reefs, heatwave conditions, drought and irregular monsoons. It not only causes hardships but causes an irreparable loss to the ecosystems and its components as well. It is a great cause of concern. To discuss the threat and suggest the means to contain the rising temperature resulting from the depleting environment the United Nations called for a summit wherein the participating countries were requested to come up with the idea to mitigate the environmental loss and steps taken by them in this regard.
"I want to hear about how we are going to stop the increase in emissions by 2020, and dramatically reduce emissions to reach net-zero emissions by mid-century", UN Secretary-General António Guterres appealed to the world leaders. Among all senior luminaries, a 16-year-old girl from Sweden Greta Thunberg also spoke on the occasion. Speaking from this platform, Greta - an environmental crusader - expressed her anguish on the pathetic condition of the environment. Admonishing the world leaders she puts her bonafide question, "How dare you?"
World leaders met in Kyoto to discuss the dismal scenario of the environment. The Kyoto Protocol came to existence wherein despite being the party to the Protocol, the developing nations were not mandated to bring down the emission level. Later in 2015, a comprehensive and legally binding Paris Agreement was adopted. About 200 nations reached a consensus to keep the global temperature 'Well below' 2 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial times. This agreement laid down certain norms to mitigate environmental degradation and rising temperatures. It mandated the rich countries for 'Climate finance' to the poorer nations to help them cope with the situation. Later, on June 01, 2017, U.S. President Mr Donald Trump announced to withdraw from the Paris Agreement. "The Paris accord is very unfair at the highest level to the United States" and "puts us at a permanent disadvantage", Mr Trump had said. This gave a setback to the cause as it made a lopsided balance.
A developed and conscious society guarantees its members decent living and surroundings. It is incumbent upon the government to provide roads, hospitals, schools, housing and food to the people. To fulfil these basics, energy is needed. The increasing energy consumption demands more powerhouses, dams, mines, and automobiles to run and contribute to building a developed society. This puts extra pressure on natural resources. Fast-decreasing forest covers, indiscriminate industrialization, and heavy dependency on fossil fuels for energy requirements are constantly pumping obnoxious materials into the air, water and soil causing them to be polluted heavily. The old and obsolete methods of agriculture, burning of stubbles, and archaic methods of cooking compound the vicious cycle and add poisonous gases to the environment. Humanity is gasping for fresh and clean air, water and the environment.
The Single-use plastic and polyethene bags add more poison to the environment. Virtually non-destructible, the polytene remains intact in the soil for a very long period making the soil unproductive and barren. Taking cognizance of the yawning problem, recently the government has banned single-use plastic and polythene. Though certain plastic products like PET bottles for water packaging, and polythene packaging for milk and food packaging have been temporarily exempted from the ban, the ban will positively affect controlling the plastic menace. Conventional cooking methods are being gradually replaced by clean cooking gas or electricity. About 150 million families are now using clean gas for cooking.
A clean mode of transportation is the prerequisite for a clean atmosphere. The use of fossil fuels adds poisonous gases like carbon monoxide and nitrous oxide in addition to carbon and sulphur. The use of fossil fuels is being lowered and comparatively clean and less harmful biofuels are being used now in a mixture with conventional fuel. Besides, e-vehicles are being promoted. These steps would help in diluting the obnoxious gases in the atmosphere.
One of the important aspects is the carbon footprint which is on the increase. To curb its further growth, the process of biotic carbon sequestration is an important step. Development and revival of carbon sinks is the need of time. Indiscriminate clearing of forests and the erection of dams cause havoc. Perrenial floods are the outcome of such planning. It has been seen in the past that the dams have caused heavy damage to life and property. The wreckage of Macchu dam, Gujrat in 1979 has had deep scars, difficult to heal. Similarly, the spectre of Dansa Dam, Delhi gives sleepless nights to the residents of its vicinity.
"The time of talking is over. The world needs to act now" Modi said while concluding his speech. Emphasising that much is yet to be done he very rightly said that a comprehensive and inclusive developmental model should be adopted, people need to be educated and sensitized. Thus with the right step in the right direction and sincere efforts, the goal of a healthy environment would be achieved which our children have the right to get.
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