The environment plays a crucial role in our survival on this planet. It is the most important thing that makes life sustainable. Led by the United Nations Environment Programme, World Environment Day is held every year on 5th June. The day was celebrated for the first time in the year 1973, and is the largest global platform, where millions of people from around the world work commonly towards environment public outreach.
Ziqitza Healthcare ltd, one of the country’s leading healthcare organizations explains that the environment constitutes everything around us – both living and non-living. The living component consists of animals, plants, microorganisms, etc., and the non-living component consists of things such as, water, air, soil etc. Ziqitza further explains that due to rapid industrialization and modernization, the environmental conditions have degraded in the past decades causing global warming which has resulted in climate change.
Ziqitza healthcare stresses on the fact that mankind’s dependence on natural resources for their energy consumption needs has cascaded to the multi-layered ill-effects and issues of climate change. Not only has rampant unregulated development led to diminishing natural resources, it has also increased pollution levels – air pollution, noise pollution, marine pollution etc. Environmental degradation and climate change are multi-layered issues and require solutions or mitigation strategies that are holistic and comprehensive.
#OnlyOneEarth is the theme for this year’s World Environment Day. Ziqitza Rajasthan looks at the scientific evidence available and states that the planet earth faces triple planetary emergencies. First, the global temperatures are rising at an increased rate, rather too quickly for the people and nature to adapt to it. Second, increased temperature, urbanization and development activities have resulted in habitat loss for many species. An estimated 1 million species are on the verge of extinction. Third, nations across the world are dealing with various kinds of pollution which are causing health emergencies and increasing mortality rates.
The time to mitigate this climate emergency is now. Ziqitza Limited believes that the time is opportune now to work towards formulating affirmative climate policies. Scientists and environmentalists across the world believe that the only way out of this dilemma of triple planetary emergencies, is only when economies across the world adopt an inclusive and sustainable way of living. It is only when we regulate our energy consumption and take certain actions to minimize our carbon footprints that the environment can be salvaged. We’ve got just one planet and we must all protect and safeguard it.
The adverse effects of climate change are already harrowing. ZHL Rajasthan points out how countries across the world are experiencing extreme weather events which are direct results of climate change. The recent wildfires in Brazil, United States of America and Australia are prime examples how rising temperatures can cause wildfires and levy huge economic and human costs. Increased incidences of cyclones and typhoons in places with no such history can be reported. Ziqitza Limited Rajasthan explains how India is also adversely affected by climate change. In the recent past, India has witnessed increased incidents of flash floods, erratic rainfalls, droughts and floods. The floods in Uttarakhand can be attributed to rising temperatures and melting of ice glaciers. The heart wrenching Kerala flood in the year 2018, is a prime example how increased urbanization leads to deforestation, which further reduces the soil’s ability to catch rainfall leading to flash floods and soil erosion. The erratic and heavy rainfalls in Kerala state during the year 2018 was due to changes in weather pattern owing to climate change.
Not just, extreme weather calamities, overconsumption of natural resources, deforestation has led to decreased levels of groundwater and reduced amount of rainfall. This has caused cities that were water rich earlier to experience water crises at an unprecedented level. In the recent past, cases of water scarcity were reported from Chennai and Bangalore.
Ziqitza Health care Limited explains the need of the hour is to adopt an environment friendly and sustainable approach and way of living. We cannot continue to consume natural resources at the current rate. We must adopt and practice reuse and recycle wherever possible. The world economies must move away from the consumption only economic model to a more circular model with minimal wastage.
The World Environment Day is a perfect opportunity to pledge and work towards building a cleaner and more sustainable world.