You Cannot Eat Money

Every year countries all over the world observe Environment Day on June 5. And each year they repeat slogans for the need and inevitability of environmental protection. But this Environment Day in 2022, humanity is faced with the serious reality of the threat of climate change that is a direct consequence of environmental degradation. The earth is reeling under heavy or unseasonal rains and severe droughts which are the side effects of climate change and global warming. Perhaps this reality is the motivation behind the environmental message this 2022, which reflects global concerns about the earth’s soul. The theme this year is #OnlyOneEarth, “In the universe are billions of galaxies. In our galaxy are billions of planets. But there is Only One Earth.”

The first conference of human environment was organized in 1972 by the United Nations. Most countries had built their economies on a visionless exploitation of nature. Representatives from 114 countries took part in the conference that was held from June 5 to 16 in the Swedish capital of Stockholm. Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi represented India at this historic conference which inaugurated the idea of an environmental policy. 2022 marks the fiftieth anniversary of this historic conference in Stockholm. Representatives of various countries came together this year in memory of the Stockholm conference which had given a new dimension to environmental concerns and national development. This gesture gives hope for the future.

‘A healthy planet for the prosperity of all - our responsibility our opportunity’ is the message that the meeting has put forward. The distress caused to the earth by global warming and climate change was the main topic discussed at the meeting called the Conference of Parties.

The level of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere has now risen to 418 ppm. This will increase global warming and the spread of diseases. The ice in the Arctic is melting at 12.85 per cent every 10 years. As a result of this, the sea level will rise by 3.2 mm every year and populated land will gradually go underwater. 1.1 crore ton of plastic waste reach the sea every year. Plastic waste causes death of various sea animals and also accelerates global warming. One crore ton of poisonous materials are expelled into nature every year. They are poisoning the soil and the water bodies. If man’s thoughtless actions continue this way, it is inevitable that the next animal to become extinct on earth will be man.

196 countries participated in the environment conference that took place in Paris in December 2015. The Paris Agreement came out in 2016. The most important decision taken by the participating countries was to reduce atmospheric temperature by 1.5 degree celsius. Almost 70 percent of the carbon emission that causes atmospheric warming comes from the energy and transport sectors. It is certain that the earth will become uninhabitable if countries don’t succeed in bringing themselves to a carbon-neutral condition at least by 2030. Attaining carbon-neutrality is the only solution that the scientific community offers to reduce the dangers of climate change and its consequent disasters that the world faces today. “When the last tree is cut down, the last fish eaten, and the last stream poisoned, you will realize that you cannot eat money.” This Cree Indian saying applies not only to them, but to all who are moved by the greed for wealth.

(The writer is the Chairman of the World Hindu Parliament and a former President of FOKANA)