Earth Day 2020 -- Time to act for Mother Nature

By Kaushik Bhattacharya :

World Earth Day today

World is going to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Earth Day under the dark clouds of COVID-19 pandemic this year on Wednesday. This man-made outbreak taught us to be unite during this situation and the same oneness we require to protect our Mother Earth. It is unfortunate that it took 50 years for authorities concerned to realise that ‘Climate Action’ must be the theme of Earth Day. Every year, we celebrate the day by conducting different outdoor activities like cleanliness drive, sapling plantation, awareness programmes through street plays, competitions, seminars, workshops and lectures on environment.

However, this year all such activities and events got canceled due to COVID-19 outbreak. Instead of outdoor activities, people have plans to celebrate Earth Day with the help of social media this year. Climate change poses biggest challenge to the future of humanity and the life-support systems that make our world habitable. As the Earth Day going digital this year, the goal remains the same -- mobilise the world to take the most meaningful actions to make a difference. “Flora and fauna is degrading on a great speed and it is the peak time when we have to keep a check on it by putting in joint efforts,” said renowned Ornithologist Dr Anil Pimplapure. “The decision makers are now thinking about nature conservation and the theme ‘Climate Action’ is also a part of the same bold step. More action are needed and every individual must come forward to fight against climate change,” Dr Pimplapure added.

Dr Sharad Nimbalkar, former Vice-Chancellor, Panjabrao Deshmukh Krishi Vidyalaya (PDKV), Akola said, “Changed lifestyle and industrialisation affected the atmospheric equilibrium the most. The COVID-19 outbreak is a warning for us that we have to think about the nature.” Dr Nimbalkar further said, “The infectious crisis restricted the lifestyle for some time and the positive result is clearly visible in the atmosphere. We must take it as a warning and work for nature conservation.”

“Amid the recent outbreak, we encourage people to rise up but to do so safely and responsibly,” he added. Kaustav Chatterjee, Co-Founder, Green Vigil Foundation said, “NGOs, environmental activists and environmentalists are instrumental in tackling climate change but governments and citizens must also understand their responsibility towards the nature.” Chatterjee further said, “Every act leads to carbon emission, each citizen need to realise and calculate their footprints and analyze the ways and methods to reduce carbon footprint by adopting low carbon lifestyle.” While talking to ‘The Hitavada’ about the Earth Day theme, Chatterjee said, “By the end of 2020, countries, who have signed Paris Agreement on Climate Change, will be expected to increase their national commitment to the deal. Looking at this scenario it is time now for citizens to act for global aim to fight climate crisis.” On Earth Day 2020, we seize all the tools and actions that we have, big and small, to change our lives and change our world, not for one day, but forever.