Humans inhabited this earth more than 5 million years ago and since then shared a very intimate relationship with their environment and surroundings. With time, men began to worship every element of nature that they couldn’t understand. They were baffled by the natural phenomenon like sunrise and sunset so they worshipped the sun, they were mystified by the healing properties of herbs and started worshipping plants. Animals like tiger, elephant, bird were associated with deities in various religions. In this way, humans saw divinity in every aspect of the environment.
As humans evolved, they started understanding other living creatures around them, they started domestication of animals and plants for their needs. With the onset of civilization and later industrialization, men started considering themselves as the masters of earth. Human lives mattered more than any living creature, and we started ruling over the world. Although the idea of Biocentrism (inherent value of all living things) remained a core value of many great men, the majority became so absorbed in their needs that they paid no heed to nature and the environment.
Today, rivers are polluted by industrial and household waste, plastic has consumed our ocean and fishes, forests are cleared, animals are exploited, and the climate has started changing. In one part of the world, there are heat waves, other parts are flooded. All of this is leading to sixth mass extinction, which is currently ongoing due to human activities. Earth is dying, slowly but steadily. And we are responsible for that.
In nature, everything is connected. We might consider ourselves to be the centre of the ecosystem but we are a part of it. From the highest peak of Mount Everest to the lowest levels of the Dead Sea, life has the ability to flourish in extreme parts of our planet. Even Ancient humans knew all about this. They used animals for food and clothing but they also knew how to coexist with animals. Modern man started losing the sense of coexistence and exploited animals over the long run that led to the extinction of species. Today, Species extinction rates are 10 to 100 times higher than it was over the past 10 million years. All of this is due to the expansion of urban areas to devote land for agriculture and livestock, pollution, poaching, overfishing and climate change etc. Even the global pandemic we are facing today is due to the exploitation of wild animals by humans.
Where did all of this begin? Even before industrialization, humans were adding pollutants to the air. There is evidence that supports that, but the onset of the industrial revolution increased the addition of fumes and smoke to the environment many folds. In addition to that, industries started dumping their wastes in rivers. Already existing pollution was amplified with the advent of the industrial revolution. Today, the levels of carbon dioxide have increased up to 400 parts per million in the atmosphere. The pandemic might have slowed down the emissions of Greenhouse gases but CO2 levels are still rising. A combination of natural processes on land and in the sea are adding more CO2 to the already existing pile. In our country, we saw the River Ganga was so clean that Gangetic dolphins were visible again during the lockdown and Himalayas were visible in cities where they were last seen years ago. This was primarily due to reduction in water pollution and NO2 levels (another major air pollutant) in urban areas. NO2 is mainly added in urban areas due to human activities and as we were locked in our homes, NO2 levels are reduced.
Carbon Dioxide is a significant global warming gas and its increasing volume has been warming the planet slowly over the decade. Since 1980 each decade has been warmer than the previous one, and this significant trend in warming planet shows that climate change is happening. This is resulting in unexpected rainfalls and floods in one part of the world to forest fires and drought in other parts. Climate change is not new. Earth’s climate has been changing since the beginning of time which has led to 5 mass extinctions. However, the rate at which it is increasing today, it is leading to 6th mass extinction and scientists call it Anthropocene i.e human-induced.
For significantly reducing the atmospheric CO2 and other greenhouse gases humans have to be in lockdown forever, but that is not possible. Let’s be real, we have to live on this planet, and its resources are limited. Humans need to understand the use and value of the natural world. Can we bluntly oppose mining if we are using metal and glasses in our daily lives? But if we continue mining then we destroy our ecosystem too. What can be done?
Instead of development at the cost of the environment, there has to be a balance between development and environment. This is the story behind sustainable development. Sustainability is a path leading towards better present and future keeping in mind environment, natural resources and socio-economic development. The idea originated after the onset of the industrial revolution when scientists started noticing a pattern of crisis. A United Nations conference was held in Rio de Janeiro in 1992 which was the first international attempt to develop action plans and strategies for a sustainable future. But for sustainable development goals to be accomplished, respect for this planet and our biodiversity needs to be ingrained in industries and people. Once people start respecting the planet and life it harbours, they will take integrated measures for growth, in tandem with socio-economic development and environment. More so, people are now consciously choosing sustainability as they begin to understand that we need this planet more than it needs us.
There is still time, nature can heal if we give her a chance. Damage to the environment in the name of development is not the future that we desire. We need to preserve the environment. Humans are not at the centre of the ecosystem, but a part of it. It is imperative to understand this.
In our country various organizations, agencies and NGOs work for the betterment of the environment and promote Animal welfare. We are one such group of conscious people working tirelessly towards wildlife rights, stray animals and conservation in Jaipur. We at RAKSHA understand co-existing harmoniously with animals and nature is what ensures a better present and future in this world and that is the principle we lead by. We have started a campaign called Environment weekend where every Saturday or Sunday we are going to have interactive learning sessions with people through videos, quizzes, posts and articles on our social media handle and website for the sole purpose of spreading awareness. So join us for a fun filled learning weekend where together we lead towards the path of sustainability.
