June 5, has been observed as World Environment Day (WED) since 1972. This is the 47th year of its observance. Has anything changed? Far from it! Instead the world is heading for a climate catastrophe because of our pursuit of unsustainable development paradigms. The thirst for fossil fuels to meet the growing need for propelling vehicles, railways and for aviation purposes has pushed governments to bring down the strict norms for extracting them. Last year the theme for (WED) was ‘Beat plastic pollution,’ and India was the host country for this slogan. Alas! The theme had no impact in the host country. While many states have already banned plastics (carry bags and wrappers), Meghalaya remains nonchalant on this issue. This despite the fact that rivers, streams and drains are littered with plastic and with the potential for generating methane gas when clogged in drains for a long time. Plastics will be the disaster that Meghalaya is waiting to see happen. Yet it is ironic that neither government nor society, nor school children have given a call to end the use of plastics in the state. This would have been one effective movement to reduce pollution and toxins that leach especially in the cheap black coloured plastics bags that are used to carry food substances like meat, fish and vegetables.
India should have been the country to lead the world in ending the use of disposable plastics but that is a far cry. It only goes to show how WED is observed merely as a symbolic gesture. This year the theme is, ‘Air Pollution,’ and the host country for this observance is China.
In Meghalaya, we have seen advertisements on social media about how one million trees will be planted on WED. This only has the potential to shock and awe and will go into the government’s records. Yet again it will be a symbolic gesture unless the name of every person who is given a sapling to plant is listed out and he/she is given the responsibility to tend to the sapling until it grows to its full potential. While the initiative to involve the communities is commendable but a one-off engagement is not enough. The community must feel a sense of responsibility to tend to the saplings regularly and to protect them from grazing animals. The Dorbar Shnong should guard against forest fires and ensure that deviants who indulge in such pernicious activities are heavily penalized.
One ray of hope is the creation of the Green Volunteers Conclave by some well meaning individuals. They have been cleaning rivers and other commonly polluted areas in their respective localities. This group of nature volunteers should be given recognition and encouragement.