The song 'We Are Walking On', released by the United Nations, is definitely a must-listen composition on the World Environment Day. Not only because of its music and lyrics, but also due to the personal story of the creator of this composition Sadaharu Yagi. The United Nations itself has said that memories associated with Sadaharu's childhood have been an inspiration behind this song.
Sadaharu’s childhood was spent in Japan’s Kitakyushu, which was the most polluted city in the 1960s and the air was not fit to breathe.
But during the decade of 1990, with the steps taken by the Japanese government, private companies, voluntary organisations along with the efforts of the citizens, the air became clear and Kitakyushu got the United Nations Global-500 Award for Clean Environment.
Kitakyushu One of The Least Polluted Cities
Air pollution is the biggest threat to India on the Environment Day, against which war has to be declared.
While Kitakyushu is one of the least polluted cities in Japan today, India has become one of the most polluted countries in the world.
Today, 15 of India's 20 most polluted cities are from India and Delhi is the world's most polluted capital.
Most of the days in the year, air pollution in cities of India remains at extremely harmful levels and 80% of the population do not have clean air. While the air of India is polluted, the government’s thinking is far worse when it comes to their thinking and style of functioning on this issue.
The State of Global Health (SoGA) report released in April this year said that 12 lakh people are dying every year in India due to air pollution. Where the average lifespan in the world is 20 months less due to air pollution, in India it is less by 30 months.
Around 5 lakh people are dying annually due to air pollution worldwide, and half of them are from India and China, but the difference is that while China has achieved a great deal of success in fighting air pollution, India's performance is lagging behind.
China is ahead of India in terms of development and industrialisation, but the air of Indian cities is 70% more poisonous than Chinese cities.
The number of people who died in India due to poisonous air was reported above 10 lakh in two international reports two years ago, but the then environment minister Anil Dave said at that time that the government does not believe in ‘global reports’.
After this, India's most prestigious research body Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) in the field of health also talked of 1.2 lakh deaths annually, but just prior to the election, the then environment minister Harsh Vardhan described pollution as just 'hawa' (hot air). It is not surprising that the National Clean Air Plan (NCAP) which was released in January is very disheartening and frustrating.
Obviously, if India's children and young generation breathe in such a poisonous environment then the future of the country cannot be bright, but the concern of India on the Environment Day is not limited to the dangers of air pollution only. The other major threat facing it is the dangerous effects of climate change which are now openly visible.
Heavy rains and droughts in a very short period, frequent cyclonic storms, rising sea levels and hot spots, as well as the hazardous heat of the cold-hot places are some of its symptoms.
An example of these unusual and surprising changes coming in the weather was seen in Punjab in the beginning of this year when excessive hail on nearly 3,000 acres of land in Sangrur devastated farmers' crops. Similarly, cyclonic storms have destroyed life and livelihoods.
India has more than 25 million people in coastal areas and it has been reported by the government that 40% to 60% of the coastline is in danger. Cyclones such as Ockhi, Fani, Titli and Gaja have not only caused loss to life but have also rung alarm bells for the future.
Big Challenge in Front of India
Carbon emissions from power plants, factories and vehicles are responsible for global warming and India is pushing for the use of battery vehicles and solar energy to fight this danger, but as per IPCC report, which was released last year, countries like India, who have bigger problems, have to fight on rigorously on various fronts.
An Economic Report of HSBC prepared on 67 countries last year said that India will have the highest rate of climate change.
Economically, climate change hurts developing and poor nations more.
Based on the analysis of data from 1961 to 2010, in a reputable US journal, the analysis of the data shows that climate change is pushing the poor and developing countries back. Their income is decreasing by 17 to 30 percent.
It is clearly stated about India that an increase in GDP has been reduced by about one-third due to climate change. This is a matter of concern for India, where economic development and agricultural production are very important.
Countries Becoming Aware of Climate Change
Even if American President Donald Trump does not believe in the threat of climate change, the increasing consciousness across the world and growing seats of Green parties in the European countries certainly sparks a hope. From the beginning of this year, there has been tremendous consciousness against the danger of climate change in many countries of the world, including America and Europe.
In hundreds of cities of the world, citizens and students have performed marches and strikes. With this, on one hand, a teenager like Greta Thüneberg became the first face against global warming, while the UK parliament declared a climate and environment emergency.
Just like the rest of the world, India also cannot fight against climate change without the help of the people and the media.
Where in our country reports of environment on media, especially TV channels, remains marginal, newspapers around the world are making it a mission.
India Should Learn From English Media
The Guardian, which is published in London, has now decided to use updated vocabulary to write reports of climate change. Under The Guardian's new style sheet, the newspaper will now use new 'effective terminology' and will try to avoid the old 'impactless' words.
For example, instead of words like ‘global warming’, ‘climate change’ terms like ‘climate crisis’, ‘emergency’ or ‘breakdown’ are used.
Given the dangers facing the world, it is an initiative that can be learned by media and environmental activists in India, so that clean air can be made a fundamental right and forest, waterfalls and rivers can be saved.
(Hridayesh Joshi is a journalist and author and can be reached @hridayeshjoshi)
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