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 22nd 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.
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