SURJIT SINGH FLORA
Plastic pollution is a major obstacle in environmental protection. Environmental pollution is the result of human mistakes.
World Environment Day holds great significance as it reminds us of the importance of living in harmony with nature. The consequences of our actions, such as environmental degradation, have the potential to negatively impact our future and put our very existence at risk. This includes the extinction of species, destruction of ecosystems, and widespread deforestation.
50 years ago, as water, forest, land, and air pollution increased, the UN declared June 5, 1974, ‘World Environment Day’ to raise awareness of environmental contamination’s detrimental impacts. Every year on June 5, governments of more than 143 nations, social service organizations, and educational institutions promote environmental conservation via activities and celebrations. Under this, the globe celebrates Environment Day every year. Land restoration, desertification, and drought resistance are 2023’s themes. The holiday promotes environmental awareness and protection.
Global plastic pollution awareness campaigns will continue this year. The invention of plastic and polythene bags was a major convenience. But its resistance began in 1970. Plastic has permeated our lives. But it polluted the ecosystem. It is harming human health, the environment, fertility, and natural resources.
Eliminating plastic pollution is urgent. 91% of plastic is non-recyclable. This shows city waste flowing from drains, rivers, canals, and rivers to the sea. Urban sewage blockages are severe. Aquatic life faces danger.
Because life is only conceivable on Earth, we consider it the greatest and luckiest planet in the universe. Human, animal, bird, tree, plant, microorganism, and marine creature life has grown nicely here. Nature’s greatest gift is human life. Established moonlight and golden rays to preserve nature’s equilibrium. As humanity evolved, he stole nature’s treasures like a giant and damaged the ecosystem.
The air on which we stand, the water that sustains life, and the living and non-living objects around us make up the environment. Indeed, today’s modern man has contaminated the air so much that people and animals suffer. Sulfur, carbon dioxide, and nitrogen oxide are in the air. Colds, coughs, asthma, and major eye problems are growing due to poisonous gases like carbon. A health study shows that respiratory and asthma illnesses in children are rising worldwide. Air pollution harms human health.
According to Health Canada, the impact of air pollution on human health in North America is quite significant. It is estimated that above-ground air pollution, including pollution from human sources, leads to approximately 15,300 premature deaths annually in Canada. There have been approximately 6,600 premature deaths in Ontario, 4,000 in Quebec, 1,900 in British Columbia, and 1,400 in Alberta.
Two hits impacted Earth’s ocean today. First, water level decline and second, water quality contamination. Though 75% of the world has water, only 0.007% is usable since 97.5% is saltwater in the ocean. Only 2.5% of water is usable, 70% of which is snow and 29.003% is soil moisture. Factory, sewage, and other pollutants degrade usable water.
We consume deadly crops from our huge mother earth. Herbicides, pesticides, chemical fertilizers, industrial waste, radioactive compounds, etc. cause it. A catastrophic food chain collapse resulted.
There are 17 million species on Earth, and one is lost every hour due to pollution.
Worldwide warming due to pollution is a worldwide concern. If it continues at the present pace, glaciers will melt and sea levels will rise, endangering millions of coastal residents.
Growth in population causes the most pollution. Because cutting down trees to create buildings is the biggest source of pollution. In places where motor cars have made life quicker and offered numerous conveniences, pollution has created many severe illnesses. Waste, litter, plastic, and, notably, non-decomposing polythene bags, pollute the environment due to urbanization.
Today, we worry about dust and soil in the home but not about unclean and decreasing natural resources. Today, our ecosystem has fractures; if we don’t fix them, future generations will burn in the furnace.
Today’s environmental alarms have rung, yet we can still safeguard our environment. Respect and preservation of animals, birds, wind, water, and soil are essential to maintaining nature’s equilibrium.
Increasing the number of trees, eliminating plastic bags, installing special silencers on cars, using lead-free fuel, and installing factory chimneys are all important. Environmental protection regulations in our nation are beneficial if enforced strictly and honestly, above politics of votes and nepotism.
This Chinese proverb emphasizes the importance of long-term planning and the impact it can have on the environment. It suggests that by focusing on different timeframes, we can make a positive difference in the world. The curriculum for education should prioritize the environment. If a serious campaign regarding environmental protection is not launched soon, the consequences of environmental pollution will become increasingly severe.
World Environment Day is significant for a number of reasons, including the following:
Raise Awareness: The purpose of World Environment Day is to help raise awareness about environmental concerns such as pollution, deforestation, climate change, and the loss of biodiversity. It motivates people, communities, and governments to take action to safeguard the environment by drawing attention to these challenges and bringing them to the forefront.
To encourage people to take action, the day acts as a rallying cry for people, organizations, and governments to make good changes in their day-to-day lives and policies in order to safeguard the environment. It promotes individuals to adopt environmentally responsible habits and to lessen the influence that they have on the environment.
Global Unity: globe Environment Day is an international event that draws people from all over the globe together to work towards a shared objective of safeguarding the environment. This event is known as “World Environment Day.” In order to overcome environmental concerns, it encourages worldwide solidarity and collaboration around the world.
Policy Influence: The day affords governments and politicians the chance to exhibit their environmental projects and pledges, which is a significant opportunity for them. Because of this, it has the potential to influence policy choices and persuade governments to take more aggressive action on environmental concerns.
Education: Another important function that World Environment Day serves is to educate people about the significance of preserving the environment and promoting sustainable development. It contributes to the dissemination of information to a larger audience about environmental problems and potential remedies.
motivate Change: The celebration of World Environment Day serves to motivate people and communities to take constructive activities in order to safeguard the environment. Changes in behavior and advocacy for environmental protection are both prompted as a result of this motivation.
Long-term Effects: The activities and awareness encouraged on World Environment Day have the potential to have long-term beneficial effects on the environment. It is through the promotion of sustainable behaviors and the raising of awareness that this day helps to contribute to the development of a more sustainable future for the world.
In general, World Environment Day is significant because it serves as a reminder of the critical need to safeguard our environment and inspires people and society to take action in order to conserve the world for the benefit of future generations.
The natural world is constantly reminding us that in order to take care of ourselves, we must also take care of the ecosystem that provides us with sustenance. We are living in unusual times.
Covid-19 serves as a cautionary tale to humanity, demonstrating that in this day and age, everything is possible. The same kind of guarantee does not exist for our life. If we begin our efforts now, we will be able to avert the environmental concerns to a certain degree, in contrast to the situation with COVID. Let us begin by cleaning the shelter in which we are now living, reducing our usage of plastic and other potentially hazardous materials, and beginning to sort different types of garbage according to their respective categories. This is because our responsibility does not stop with just putting rubbish away in the trash can. The process of forming habits is not all that tough. We have reached a level of education and intelligence where we no longer need reminders on these measures. As a result of the fact that this earth is a gift from God to each and every one of us, we need to show a bit more gratitude for it before it is too late.
(The writer is a veteran journalist and freelance writer based in Brampton).