A week ago someone called me. The request was – ‘No sir, come to our program and talk a little about the environment!’
I laughed and answered – ‘One is not a matter of my concern, the other – what to say! As much as I will say today or tomorrow, people have come to know from social media.’
‘In any case, your speaking will have more effect, sir!’
If that is the case, I will speak and write something because the general thing is right, even if I find two or four things, I should share them in this celebration! Give me two or three days to update. Because we seem to be born to talk/write more and work less. At least I am a science student!’
He sent a loud laugh in response from there. Then there is the headline – ‘Human Ambition and Environment Day.’
Perhaps the weakness of the human race is this ‘what to do when what to look for’ whenever the day comes, our preparations are intensified, our activity increases, but in the meantime, we always miss the duties to be done, the awareness to be adopted and the role to be played. In any case, once a year, people should be reminded of this topic. Otherwise, there is a fear that even the plastic of the toll market, which has been reduced after harvesting last year, will not be harvested. And even though the ritual is correct, we should not forget that this day is also a day to unite with people around the world and resolve to protect the environment for present and future generations.
Global climate change, loss of biological diversity and increasing pollution due to the unlimited ambition of the growing human race and ruthless exploitation of nature have become challenges today. Nepal was not immune from these challenges.
Our Himalayan ranges, highlands, Chure and Terai regions have been adversely affected by climate change. Among them, the direct impact has been seen in the Himalayan region.
Seta Himal has become forced to change its name to black. There are 20 such dangerous lakes in Nepal which can burst at any time. Raithane is a rare and endangered species of fauna and flora that has been understudied due to attempted and unsuccessful attempts to change its habitat to extinction. On the other hand, activities such as the destruction of forests, coal, excessive use of mineral fuels, industrialization, etc. in the last 200 years have resulted in the emission of green house gases such as methane, nitrous oxide, carbon dioxide and other toxic gases such as chlorofluorocarbon that destroys the ozone layer in the atmosphere day by day.
Although our contribution to the destruction of the environment in the world is insignificant, it is inevitable today to implement the issues and commitments made by Nepal in various international forums to reduce the impact of air, water and land pollution.
The earth’s temperature is increasing because the reflected radiation is not trapped in the atmosphere. Heavy rains, lack of rains are being experienced. Incidents of fires and wildfires are on the rise. Chemicals and pesticides are degrading the soil. Cancer wants to be a guest in our homes. We are becoming victims of more new diseases and disasters. Plastic waste created by unplanned and unscientific use of plastic polymers has become another major environmental challenge of the present time.
The relevance of the World Environment Day, which was celebrated fifty years ago at the call of the United Nations, is increasing every year. Last year, World Environment Day was celebrated with the national slogan ‘Let’s eliminate plastic pollution, use environment-friendly alternatives’, this year we are celebrating with the slogan ‘Our land is our future’. Let’s love the soil and pay special attention to soil health this year.
On this occasion, all of us should take a pledge to keep the environment around our homes clean and make the ecological relationship of forests, water, plants, agriculture and animals life-oriented and make meaningful the right to live in a clean environment provided by the Constitution of Nepal. How could the day be celebrated if this was not done!
According to the concept of sustainable development, the Environment Protection Act, 2076 and the Environment Protection Regulations, 2077 have also made provisions to address the possible impact on the environment from any development and construction work conducted by the Government of Nepal. There was a need to make development environment friendly which is not happening yet.
The dojre development, which was done by ignoring the foreign conservation practices and even the local technology, without looking for any alternative, is the bar-peepal trees on the side of the road, grown by our ancestors with hundreds of years of hard work. If there is a sin-dharma somewhere in the world, we will have to make decisions about the heavy long-term effects of that sin, so let’s be really prudent when making decisions rather than looking at temporary benefits.
Various programs guided by the national level forest, environment and climate change policies adopted by Nepal for environmental protection and improvement have increased the area of forest, increased tree planting, and played an important role in environmental balance. This is an admirable subject but the common complaint is that our cities have become piles of bricks and cement.
Our houses have become hot ovens of bricks, cement, iron and aluminum, and our wood, which stores carbon and provides cooling, is rotting in the forest (according to reports, decaying wood emits about eleven gigatons of carbon every year, if you look at the world’s statistics). It seems that the topic of wood utilization in Nepal should now become a subject of ruthless review.
In addition to this, making farmers and the general public more equipped about climate change and environmental problems, and various programs related to environment and climate change conducted by the Ministry of Forests and Environment, Agriculture and Livestock and other governmental and non-governmental organizations, adopting various measures of climate-friendly agricultural systems, climate Programs that are effective in every corner of the country, such as the urgent and urgent national program (NAPA) needed to adapt to the adverse effects created by the change, and the local adaptation action plan (LAPA) necessary for the quick, swift and effective implementation of the urgent and urgent adaptation program, even if they are paired with the locals to some extent. It is the duty of those of us who know little by little to educate, teach practical knowledge and provide relief on ecosystem base adaptation.
Although our contribution to the destruction of the environment in the world is insignificant, to reduce the impact of air, water and land pollution, implementing the issues and commitments made by Nepal in various international forums is inevitable today.
Finally, the Ministry of Forestry and Environment involved in the intensive care and promotion of the environment and all agencies under it, other infrastructure development ministries, state and local agencies, security agencies, development partner organizations and we all have an equally important role in environmental protection awareness and development. Wishing everyone a meaningful role, interest and awareness on this year’s Environment Day!
(Dr. Pathak is working in Plant Research Center, Salyanma under Forestry and Environment Department of Ministry of Forestry and Environment.)
