By Nishat Anjum
After five decades of celebrating World’s Environment Day, what has changed on the ground? The theme for World Environment Day was “Only One Earth”. Countries around the world pledged to work toward sustainable development and work on climate ambitions. But the reality is much different than what leaders say in their press conferences.
In the recent Environmental Performance Index (EPI) 2022, conducted by Yale and Columbia University, India ranked the last among 180 countries. The study had 40 different parameters such as Climate Change Performance, Environmental Health, etc. Daniel Esty, Director of the Yale Center for Environmental Law and Policy said in a statement by EPI, “Major Countries have much more work to do than they may have realized if the world is to avoid the potentially devastating impacts of climate change.”
When it comes to India, has seen a loss in biodiversity and bio diverse habitats. There has seen been a significant loss in grasslands, wetlands and tree cover. The country’s major cities suffer from poor air quality. While sanitation and drinking water remains an issue in a large part of the country. The recent fires in New Delhi’s infamous garbage hill are evidence of our failure in waste management in terms of solid waste. It is also lacking in the front of recycling and reuse.
According to the EPI, “India focused on its economic growth over environmental sustainability. A similar path was chosen by countries like Vietnam, Bangladesh and Pakistan.” The cost of money cannot be at the expense of lives.
As a tropical country, India is suffering the brunt of climate change. Food security as recently seen by banning the export of Wheat is a disastrous reality we are walking towards.
Whether it’s the flooding of low lying areas such as Kuttanad in Kerala or the severe heat wave across North India, it is a sign of tough times ahead. India’s financial capital, Mumbai, is a city which millions depend on. It has now become the fastest sinking city in the country. According to the annual report by United Nations on
Climate Change, Mumbai ranked second among the 20 largest coastal cities of the world that will incur major financial loss due to flooding and rise in sea levels.
“Almost all countries are not on track to meet the net-zero greenhouse gas emissions goal established by the 2021 Glashow Climate Pact.”, read the EPI. Developing countries in Southern Asia like India, Nepal and Pakistan are more vulnerable to pollutants. More than eight million premature deaths every year from exposure to air pollutants.
The isolated incidents are not happening in a vacuum but webbed together by the struggling Earth. There is a need for countries to work together to strengthen climate change policies.
Atif Ikram Butt, Chief of Public Advocacy and Communication at the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) said that World Environment Day helps to amplify voices and strengthen participants’ agency to impact change. But the question remains if the voices are not converted into actions then how many environmental days would be left to celebrate?
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