The UN Environment Programme annually organizes events for World Environment Day, which encourages worldwide awareness and action for the protection of our abode. It is celebrated on 5 June in over 100 countries. This year, 2019, China will host the global World Environment Day celebrations on the theme, ‘Air Pollution’. But a healthy planet depends on all of us.
The most important environmental problem that we’re facing today is humanity’s irrational and unsustainable over-exploitation of natural resources. We have come to believe that, with the aid of technology, we can free ourselves of the limits which nature imposes on us. Taking our surroundings for granted has brought us to a point of no return. The darkest hour has come and it is time to fight and restore whatever is left of our mother nature.
Approximately 7 million people worldwide die prematurely each year from air pollution, with about 4 million of these deaths occurring in Asia-Pacific. 1.2 million deaths every year due to outdoor air pollution in India. 3% of our GDP is lost due to air pollution.
We don’t talk much about air pollution but we should, because the air we breathe is slowly killing us. The quality of the air we breathe depends on the lifestyle choices we make every day.
On the bright side, there are multiple leaders coming forth with great ideas to save the world. Sadiq Khan, mayor of London has pushed for an ultra-low emissions zone. Chile has the second largest electric bus fleet in the world, after China. Costa Rica, uses a combination of solar, biomass, wind and geothermal energy to cover the country’s energy needs for over 300 days a year. It has a long-term plan to de-carbonize its economy which includes electric mobility. India is not falling behind as well, in the gold rush for global domination, we too have put our hats in the rings for electric mobility.
Understanding the different types of pollution and how it affects our health and environment will help us take steps towards its improvement. Transport emissions is amongst the significant contributors in air pollution. We need to avoid the need for transport, and shift to more efficient modes and improve transport.
Air pollution from agriculture is majorly contributed by livestock and burning agricultural waste. Moving to a plant based diet and reducing food waste can significantly help in this arena.
Indoor burning of fossil fuels is a major threat. A need to shift to cleaner and modern stoves can reduce the risk of illness and save lives.
As the global movement to tackle air pollution gathers pace, innovators are rising to the challenge, unveiling products and technologies that remove some of the dangerous toxins that are seeping into our lungs and accelerating climate change. I urge you to tinker your thinking hats and look for changes which we can make .We would love to hear from you.
World Environment Day 2019 will urge governments, industry, communities, and individuals to come together to explore renewable energy and green technologies, and improve air quality in cities and regions across the world. However, we should recognize the priceless value of the ecosystem services provided to us by our own biodiversity, and we shall recover the respect for nature which is indispensable if humans are to rediscover our safe place ; our rightful planet.
