World Environment Day June 5…… by Kulbhushan Kanwar

Every year on June 5th World Environment Day is celebrated throughout the world. This year Pakistan will host the “World Environment Day” for the first time to show action taken to deal with the issue of climate change and acknowledge the efforts taken to reduce the impact of climate change and global warming in partnership with the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) launched in 2013.

This time the theme of the World Environment Day is “Ecosystem Restoration” Reimaging, Recreate, Restore and is celebrated for the first time with the slogan “Only One Earth” by growing trees, green cities, rewinding gardens, changing diets and cleaning up river’s coasts.

For protection of environment every country and individuals need to spread awareness through NGOs/communities regarding environmental issues, marine, pollution, human overpopulation, global warming, sustainable consumption, to protect nature and earth, to curtail wildlife crime which leads to positive and healthy environment for all.

It is expected that the ground-level ozone pollution may reduce the crop yields by 26% by 2030 is alarming global emergency to save millions of lives. According to new UN report on air pollution in Asia and the Pacific, implementing 25 technology policies could see up to 20% reduction in carbon dioxide and a 45% reduction in methane emissions globally, leading to the a third of a degree Celsius saving of global warming. It is not the primary duty of government to check air pollution rather everyone should come forward and feels their individual’s responsibility only then we will be able to make big dent to this problem. 

It becomes our collective responsibility to check air pollution, ground water, industrial waste, sludge management, solid waste management, surface water, water quality, wastage of drinking water, less use of drinking water, surface water and polythene.

 At present lots of drinking water is being wasted for washing cars, watering the lawns and cleanliness. We should have sufficient rain water collection centres, wastewater collection centres and water treatment plants. It should be made mandatory to all housing societies to get connection of treasury water for lawns and car washing etc. To shun use of polythene bags and water bottles as it takes 1000 years to decompose the polythene and 450 years for decomposing the plastic water bottle.

There are so many types of man-made pollutions like Landfill, Water Pollution, Sound Pollution, Soil Pollution and Air Pollution. The things which are useful for people create pollution in the shape of Vehicle Spew, exhaust pipes, Coal burning, Electrical appliances, Garbage, Sewage, Pesticides, Synthetic Fertilizers and Poisonous Chemicals which seep into waterways/Bodies and not only pollute water but kills weeds and insects and harm wildlife. Single use of plastic, electronic waste and bio-medical waste also add to pollution in a big way. There is some natural disasters causes’ air pollution like Volcanoes eject ash and gases, crops harvesting and dust storms etc.

Required Noise Pollution is 70dBA to 85dBA but due to the COVID‑19 pandemic there is decrees of Air Pollution which came down to be good. The sound pollution also came down to 67.5db (PEC), 63.4db (sector-22) and 59.6db (sector-17). Due to drastic reduce in Air Pollution I have been able to click a picture of Choor Chandni Peak, 3600 metre above sea level from Sukhna Lake, Chandigarh clearly visible the snowy mountains. Jet at the time of Take-Off=150dBA, Air Craft Carrier=140dBA, Military Aircraft=130dBA.

We are fortunate that there is 46% green covers in Chandigarh which maintain the air quality in Chandigarh and the green cover is called” Lungs of Chandigarh”  This year also lots of plantation has been done by the Department of Forests and Wild-life, horticulture department of M.C., Panjab University, NGOs and RWA.

 The decreasing population of insects is a matter of grave concern. At least 41% insects’ species has declined in the past 10 years and it is 8 times more faster than mammals, birds and reptiles. An average decline of 2.5% per year:-

1.   Canddisflies :-      68%

2.   Butterflies:-        53%

3.   Beetles:-             49%

4.   Bees:-                46%

5.   Mayflies:-            37%

6.   Dragonflies: -      37%

7.   Stoneflies:          35%

8.   Flies: -                25%

These insects are very helpful in pollination as they transform pollen grains from the male anther of the flower to the female stigma and create offspring for the next generation by making seeds. This process is very important for the survival of all living creatures on the planet. On can easily imagine if these insects will die all living things on earth are set to die. So conservation of insects is need of the hour for our survival. Reduce all kind of pollutions, use of pesticides and use of synthetic fertilizer.

We should save water. The Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his second Mann ki Baat, after returning to power, made a special mention of the villages saying it a model for the country on efforts towards water conservation.

 There were lots of ponds in every village. But with the passage of time the cost of land increased and people become greedy and fill the ponds and made it to cultivate even the ponds on Shamlat land were not speared and the fatal result is before us. The ponds used to maintain the water level now the water level have gone deep.

Actually, we should conserve the rain water in the shape of check-dams and ponds. This is most unfortunate that rain water goes waste. In the urban area there are no model schemes to conserve rain water from drains. Either there is water-water or no water.

All the earth Oxygen does not come from trees but comes predominately from ocean which is about 70% which comes from marine plants and plants like organisms. One tree produces 260 pounds of oxygen and reduces 2.6 tonnes of carbon dioxide per year. 11000 litres of oxygen is consumed by a person per day but only 20% oxygen i.e. 9.5 tonne per year and 740 litres per year.

About 70% need of water is met with glaciers which are known as fixed deposits for water need. Unfortunately, 2 lakh glaciers are melting at alarming level and dangerous for those living on coastal areas or on island. It is pertinent to mention here that 13 crore metric ton waste have been dumped in to sea in the year 2019 alone. 35% of plastic products have been burnt, 31% land filled and 19% have been flown into the sea. The wildlife of sea is in great danger and sea has developed 400 dark zones where there is no life due to pollution. We have already lost 25% biodiversity and constantly putting human life in danger.

The year of Covid-19 million of people are participating and celebrating World Environment Day digitally worldwide to spread awareness about generation restoration. Long-term goals have to be set and proper implementation of strategies and policies are need of the hour for global environmental sustainability. We should learn from the pandemic to curtail our luxurious life style to save humanity and mother earth.