Let’s protect our environment

Introduction

This has become a matter of debate about protecting our environment. But the question lies on the surface of why it has become so important nowadays. This is because there are many instances where the fury of climate change is seen, such as forest fire, flood, drought, acidification of the ocean, the changed pattern of precipitation, melting of glaciers, etc. Many scientists and researchers are making comprehensive efforts to combat climate change that may toll human existence. It has become a global revolution to take part in those measures that can minimize the fury of climate change. According to IPCC (2007), climate change is a change in the state of the climate that can be identified (e.g., by using statistical tests) by changes in the mean and the variability of its properties, and that persists for an extended period typically decades or longer. The climate is influenced by nature itself (biogeographical) and human activities (anthropogenic). Furthermore, various international government organizations are coming forward to mitigate climate change’s fury or suggest numerous alternatives to protect our environment. It is well known that human wants are unlimited but being selfish for their desire is unacceptable. Human activities led to the devastation of the landscape, including rampant cutting of trees, poaching, wasting, or polluting water, polluting the air, etc. All these led to the destruction of our environment and our existence. In this regard, our national father, Mahatma Gandhi well said, “The earth, the air, the land, and the water are not an inheritance from our forefathers but on loan from our children.”It is appalling that we have closed our eyes and recklessly misused our natural resources. If it continues in the future, how can we achieve a sustainable environment?

Discussion

Many factors contribute to climate change, but the foremost phenomenon is global warming due to greenhouse gases.

1. Greenhouse Effect: The main factor that intensifies climate change is the massive concentration of carbon dioxide that causing the warming of the earth for 60 years. The reckless increase of carbon dioxide in the environment led to the unique phenomenon known as the “greenhouse effect.”Gases like water vapour, carbon dioxide, ozone, methane, and nitrous oxide act as heat trappers, which absorb heat radiation from the earth’s surface and radiate back towards the earth. Further, looking at various gases will make us believe that they are devastating our environment.

I. Carbon dioxide: The large concentration of Carbon emanates from the burning of fossil fuels for electricity generation; manufacturing of cement. Massive deforestation reduces the taking up of carbon dioxide from plants and trees. It is shown in figure 1 that how global emission of carbon dioxide in billion metric tons is increasing fast on the other side concentration of carbon dioxide is much higher starting from 1750 to 2000.

Figure:1

Source: eia.gov

                                   

Figure:2

Source: worldpopulationreview.com

The carbon footprint shown in figure 2 represents the total greenhouse gases emissions caused by an individual, community, event, organization, service, or product, expressed as a carbon dioxide equivalent. China is the top contributor to carbon emission, followed by the United States, India, and Russia.

II. Methane: This gas oozes from agriculture, raising livestock, mining, fossil fuels, sewage, and decomposing garbage in landfills.

III. Nitrous oxide: Fertilizer and fossil fuel burning are the leading cause of large concentrations.

IV. Halocarbon: Such gas emits into the atmosphere and depletes the ozone layer, which is present in the stratosphere. The ozone hole over Antarctica is caused because of halocarbon. An example of such gas is chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs). It’s a sigh of relief that it is reducing due to international regulations designed to protect the ozone layer.

V. Ozone: This greenhouse gas continuously increases in the troposphere by releasing gases like hydrocarbon, carbon monoxide, and nitrogen oxide. It is produced due to chemical reactions in the presence of sunlight. Despite the above, the presence of ozone in the troposphere also causes respiratory problems and many other illnesses.

2. Deforestation: Intentionally cutting trees in forested land is called deforestation. Since older times,the land has been cleared to obtain wood for fuel, commercial logging, fodderconstruction, and many other works. Thus, indiscriminately clearing of forest land will lead to an alarming situation where we may have problems getting oxygen as more carbon dioxide is released into the atmosphere, soil erosion, and drought.

3. Air pollution: The air we breathe should be clean. Unfortunately, we have to inhale polluted air with hazardous substances. Polluted air directly affects our health and makes us prone to unlimited diseases and illnesses with a shorter lifespan. The pollutants involved in polluted air include particulate matter, PAHs, lead, ground-level ozone, heavy metals, sulfur dioxide, benzene, carbon monoxide, and nitrogen dioxide. The factors contributing to air pollution are tobacco smoke, combustion of solid fuels for cooking, heating, home cleaning agents, insecticides industries, automobiles, power generation, poor environmental regulation, less efficient production technol, age, and poor maintenance of vehicles. The natural sources include incinerators and waste disposals, forests, and agricultural fires.

4. Water pollution: Water is the basic necessity of human life. What happens when it also gets polluted? According to WHO, one-sixth of the world’s population, approximately 1.1 billion people, do not have access to safe water, and 2.4 billion lack basic sanitation. The polluted water source consists of industrial discharged effluents, sewage water, and rainwater pollution and is polluted by agriculture or households.

Solutions and Way Forward

Various nonprofit, trust and government organizations worldwide have emerged to conserve the global environment. Some organizations are given here to acknowledge how they are devoted to environmental protection.

1. World Nature Organization (WNO): It was started in 2010 by developing countries. These countries are situated around the Pacific oceans, Caribbean, and some parts of Africa. Although it did not come into effect due to lack of motivation and interest, it was come into the picture to promote a sustainable environment.

2. United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP): It was established in 1972 after UN Conference on Human Environment. It was started to address environmental issues to track and suggest measures to protect and spread awareness to support the environment.

3. International Union for Conversation of Nature (IUCN): It came into existence in 1948 and assimilated over 1200 government and non-government members. It has the sole motive of protecting nature and sustainable use of natural resources so that the upcoming generation also has assessed it. This organization also publishes the IUCN Red List, categorizing biological species by conservation status.

4. Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC): It was started in 1988 by the World Meteorological Organization and UNEP. This organization communicates a scientific and unbiased assessment of climate change and its effect.

5. Global Environment Facility (GEF): The GEF was rolled out in 1991 to collaborate among 183 nations and other stakeholders. This organization is the largest public funder, basically finances projects related to climate change, land degradation, water issues, biodiversity, and the ozone layer.

6. United Nations Climate Change Framework Convention (UNFCCC): It was established in 1994. The motive for this formation is to stabilize the greenhouse gas emission and to protect the earth from climate change. The Conference of Parties (COP), which meets every year starting from 1995, is the apex decision-making body of UNFCCC. The most popular Kyoto Protocol in 1997 was adopted in the Third Conference of Parties (COP3) in Kyoto, Japan.

Thus, there is a way forward to protect our environment. We can take many small steps to mitigate the ruin of human existence. As we know, those natures have intrinsic, instrumental, and relational values. Albert Einstein had beautifully said, “Look into nature, and then you will understand everything better.” So, we need to look into nature with open eyes and think about what we can do to protect our benevolent nature. Here are some of the measures.

I. No plastic: Everywhere, plastic bottles and bags can be seen easily. Even oceans are not left. Recreational fishing is responsible for dumping a considerable amount of marine debris in the form of plastic. Now it is our responsibility to restrict ourselves from the use of plastics. Try not to litter plastics here and there.

II. Green technology: Nowadays, the government is more focused on various alternatives for energy generations. Green and clean energy is the motive of every stockholder. Solar energy, wind energy, and hydro energy are helpful in energy production without emitting harmful effluents. Thus, renewable energy is proved to be beneficial in alleviating climate change.

III. Afforestation: It means the conversion of croplands or marginal lands into forests. In simple words, the introduction of trees and seedlings to an area that has previously not been forested is termed Afforestation. This step is helpful in the sequestration of carbon and can be done through tree planting and seeding.

IV. Blue carbon: This concept was emerged in 2009beingsupported and promoted by many organizations to save the marine ecosystem. Blue carbon helps remove carbon dioxide from the earth’s atmosphere, known as carbon sequestration. Algae, seagrasses, macroalgae, mangroves, salt marshes, tidal marshes, and other plants in the ocean and coastal ecosystems help remove carbon.

V. Green tax: In response, to protect the ozone layer, local air quality, biodiversity loss, acid rain, and global warming. Green tax or pollution tax is assumed to be a useful measure to combat environmental degradation. Many countries like Sweden, Denmark, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, Finland, Norway, Germany, and Italy had already implemented. In India, the central government has proposed charging a green tax on renewable registration certificates of personal vehicles after 15 years. Thus, levying taxes will increase government revenue and help in reducing pollution levels.

VI. Mangrove Rehabilitation: Looking at the threat of climate change, Mangrove became vital nature-based solutions to counter climate change in addition to providing socio-economic and ecological services. Carbon sequestration, forestry and fishery products, timber, fuelwood, coastal protection, and ecotourism are some of the economic benefits of mangrove forestry.

VII. Eco-tourism: Tourism is about sightseeing, holiday vacations, and having a good time and involves environmental aspects, social aspects, and sustainability. Thus,eco-tourism emerged to attain sustainable development without affecting the ecosystem. It is one of the ways of tourism that implies visiting a natural environment without interfering with its habitat. Many countries have promoted eco-tourism because it will help to protect the fragile ecosystem and provoke environmental awareness. In India, 90 potential eco-tourism sites have been identified for promoting a better understanding of nature conservation added to income generation.

Conclusions

Climate change poses various threats to ecosystems, biodiversity, and human lives. Thus, the mounting ecological problems must be curbed as early as possible to lead a secure and sustainable life. We have to integrate to conserve our environment. Environment protection is not unilateral but a multilateral action, so taking small steps from each one will make a significant change. Moreover, COP 26 declared significant goals like net-zero by 2050, coherent work to secure and protect the ecosystem, mobilize funds to combat climate change. Recently, Bhutan, Suriname, and Panama have been declared carbon-negative countries. But there is a need for more countries to come to the carbon-negative list to achieve a sustainable life. So, it is high time to engage everyone in combating the factors that provoke an environmental disturbance as there is no planet B.

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Written by Ms Anita Prasad, Research Scholar, Department of Economics, Faculty of Behaviour and Social Science (FBSS) Manav Rachna International Institute of Research and Studies (MRIIRS)