The World Earth Day 2017 Environmental and Climate Literacy

The World Earth Day 2017 ‑ Environmental and Climate Literacy

Earth is the planet where life is possible. So, it is very necessary to maintain the natural assets of the earth in order to continue the life on the earth. Therefore, it is important to make people aware about Environment and Climate. In other words, it is essential for public to be literate about the environment and climate.

The 22^nd of April has been marked as an Earth Day. First time in the year 1970, the world earth day was celebrated.

Various steps have been taken by the government of India towards the safety of earth by implementing the variety of legal rules. A group of environmental leaders organize various events and campaigns to celebrate the earth day.

There are reports with alarming evidence of climate change, which can affect food security in India, have pushed the need for climate literacy to the forefront. Since 2009, several parts of India that were never water-stressed faced a drought situation. Indeed, farmers dependent on monsoons and irrigation for livelihoods have been experiencing evidence of climate change for some time now. The wildly swinging weather is a wakeup call for policy makers and others responsible for devising adequate responses. A national response to climate change requires reflection and action.

Government of India has taken several legal actions to protect our environment. The Environment (Protection) Act is one of such legal step. The Environment (Protection) Act was enacted in 1986 with the objective of providing for the protection and improvement of the environment. It empowers the Central Government to establish authorities [under section 3(3)] charged with the mandate of preventing environmental pollution in all its forms and to tackle specific environmental problems that are peculiar to different parts of the country. The Act was last amended in 1991.

The Department of Science and Technology has taken up through the Sikkim State Council of Science & Technology various scientific programmes related to Glaciers and Climate Studies and Environmental Information System.

In the past two decades, environment has attracted the attention of decision makers, scientists and even laymen in many parts of the world. They are becoming increasingly conscious of issues such as famines, droughts, floods, scarcity of fuel, firewood and fodder, pollution of air and water, problems of hazardous chemicals and radiation, depletion of natural resources, extinction of wildlife and dangers to flora and fauna. People are now aware of the need to protect the natural environmental resources of air, water, soil and plant life that constitute the natural capital on which man depends. The environmental issues are important because the absence of their solutions is more horrible. Unless environmental issues are not solved or not taken care of the coming generations may find earth worth not living.

In India, Government measures for awareness among people about the environment safety as well as to demonstrate the environmental protection measures are many.

In India, the environmental awareness gained importance since 1970s after the UN sponsored conference on environment in Stockholm (1972). Indian government took many environment friendly activities. Ministry of environment and forest was established and laws were enacted on environment protection in 1986. The objective of India's National Environment policy, here, are worth stating. 1) Conserve and develop safe, healthy, productive, and aesthetically satisfying environment ; 2) Upgrade, develop and manage rural and urban settlement to enhance the quality of life ; 3) Plan development on sound ecological principles with environmental impact assessment and incorporating appropriate environmental safeguards; 4) Promote environmental safety-technologies, recycling of resources and utilization of wastes; 5) Conserve the biotic diversity in the country by creating nature reserves and sanctuaries for specific habitats such as mountains, rain forests, pastures, deserts, wetlands, lakes, beaches, mangroves, estuaries, lagoons and island; 6) Safeguard the environment within the national maritime exclusive economic zone; Evolve environmental norms and establish effective mechanism for monitoring surveillance and collection and dissemination of information; 8) Preserve science landscapes, as well as historic and cultural monuments and their environs; 9) Promote environmental education at all level and create public awareness; 10) Encourage research in environmental science and technological and social investigation to conserve and improve the environment and Develop adequate manpower within the country, of ecologists, environmental scientists, planners and managers of the highest quality and recognize their work as an important component of national development.

While efforts are being made at the national level to protect our environment, it is also the responsibility of every citizen to use our environmental resources with care and protect them from degradation.